Page 51 of Declan's Hope

"What is it?" Cal whispered.

"They knew about Hope because someone’s been watching," Jennings provided. "Reporting. For a while."

"Trussell?" the colonel interjected.

"I have no idea," Jennings answered.

"Does this change anything?" Declan asked as he zeroed in on Salazar’s head where the man continued to expound.

Declan waited—as did the rest of the team.

"Duncan," Solace said. "He’s winding down."

"Nothing changes," the colonel finally answered. "I’m coming up behind them."

"The door’s still open," Chance said. "So be cautious."

"I’m climbing aboard the bus," Garrett said. "Let’s just hope I can keep these kids’s head down. They don’t need to see…"

No one needed Garrett to finish. These children had been traumatized enough.

"On Declan’s shot, we strike," the colonel said.

"I’ve got the one on Mercy and Kara," Jennings murmured.

"Affirmative," the colonel said. "I’ve got the one on Hope. Declan…" Silence, then, "Stand ready."

"Chance," Declan murmured. "Let’s do this."

"Go to glass."

At Chance’s quiet words, Declan sprawled his body flat with his eye trained on Salazar through the scope. "Upper, middle door opening. Light fixture directly behind and above his head."

"You’ve got your target. Check parallax and mil."

Declan adjusted his parallax knob until his target became crystal clear, then canted his scope, pausing when the reticle lined up exactly where he needed it.

"One point three two." Declan held the cant level

"Check level. Holdover six point two."

Declan blocked out everyone else around Salazar—Salazar’s men, Mercy, Kara, Hope—as he took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly as he gently pulled on the slack in the trigger. "Ready."

Within a heartbeat, Chance gave him the wind call. "Right, point eight."

Declan didn’t hesitate and squeezed the trigger.

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