Page 59 of Jersey

We know there are three men inside, not counting Adair, and that makes us outnumbered by two.

Hemlock and others on the team are on their way, but the current situation isn't where my focus is, although it should be.

Adair is known to pull out no stops when it comes to getting away. He doesn't care who he hurts or kills so long as he makes his escape.

There's no telling what the man is doing inside the house. Although it's very likely he could be assaulting one or more of the women in there, we have to wait until we have reinforcements. Letting him get away isn't possible, and with the way we need things to go down for us to ensure Adair and his organization never hurt another person makes tonight's outcome more dangerous than a lot of situations any of us have been in.

The man has a team of attorneys and so many judges and prosecutors in his pocket that there's no other way for tonight to end than with that man taking his last breath, and as much as I would love to have been the one to make that happen, I can't seem to get my mind on anything else other than Caitlyn Rudd.

The woman is already complicating my life when she was never meant to be anything more than a tiny blip on the radar.

"How long?" I growl, needing this to be over sooner rather than later so I can get back to Gatlinburg.

I know better than to think that the idea of her is going to dry up and fade away, and although I have no idea what needs to be done to satisfy whatever obsession my mind has with the woman, I need to find a resolution quickly.

"Hemlock and the rest of the team are twenty minutes out, but the plan is to wait until Adair leaves the house and take him when he's about ten minutes away," Zeus explains. I can hear the excitement in his voice. "They have a team of federal agents who will hit the house at the same time to ensure none of those assholes come up behind us to defend their boss. We aren't sure how many other houses he has around here or how many men he has in a small enough radius to cause us problems."

Knowing Adair's history, he has several teams ready to mobilize even if it's just enough to keep us busy so he can get away. But with this being the first sighting anyone has seen of the man in months, maybe his guard is down a little, which will benefit us greatly.

I keep my eyes locked on the house, wishing the goon on the front porch would just go back inside, but I know better. He's there as the first line of defense to protect Adair. Despite the man inside not caring if his man lives or dies, I know for a fact this man would protect the demon inside with his last dying breath. Hell, I'd be surprised if the bossman even knows the guy's name, although he'd know everything else about the man.

Adair’s attentive to those around him. Although he considers them all expendable puppets, he has always vetted everyone very closely. It's why Jericho burning his position in the organization was such a big deal. Adair doubled down on who was allowed near him and what information he shared with others, making it impossible to get another guy inside. The man's paranoia is second to none, and it's one of the very things that has kept him safe and operational for so long.

I don't pull my eyes from the front of the house when Zeus gets another notification on his phone half an hour later. I know he's going to relay the information to me.

"Everyone is in position," he says as he drops his phone back into the console, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard it squeaks.

Anticipationlights me up, but as time drags by, I can't help but want to raid the house just so we can get this damn shit over with.

I know it complicates things. I know Adair would use anyone inside as a human shield to stay alive, and that endangers the women inside, but I also want to get back home.

The sun is beginning to peak on the horizon when the sedan pulls back up in front of the house. Adrenaline rushes through my veins the second the front door opens, and Adair steps out onto the front porch. We're seconds away from go-time, and just like every other case I've worked, I know that the culmination of this is what so many have been waiting for.

For the first time since I got the text from Caitlyn, my heart rate stabilizes. My eyes are laser-focused on the car ahead of us when Zeus cranks our vehicle and follows it. He doesn't turn on the headlights, but when the car takes the first turn too quickly, I realize we've already been spotted.

Zeus turns off, letting the car move ahead. Another car will turn in behind them, and this will happen several times in order to make them think they are simply being paranoid. It may work, or it may not. Adair has been in the game long enough to know how different agencies work when tailing someone, but it doesn't matter. There are at least a dozen different teams on his tail, and every corner of town is covered. Adair will not have the chance to go underground again.

Hell, if things go as planned, the ground will be the only place he'll end up—six feet under with his organization shattered beyond recognition. He'll be a whisper of warning on other criminals' lips. Maybe it'll be a deterrent for others who want to make their life fortunes on the backs of others, or maybe taking out this guy will only open space for several others. Regardless of the outcome, we'll keep fighting the good fight. There's no shortage of people willing to take advantage of others to make a quick buck.

"Jericho stayed back in Tennessee," Zeus says as we make another turn, once again replacing the vehicle behind Adair. "He said his family is more important than his revenge on Adair."

I can fully understand the reasoning. If I ever had to choose between work and my family, I would choose my family. I know the pain of what can happen when the wrong decision has been made, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Eli needs his dad, but Jericho also needs his son. It takes a good man to know that his place is at home with them. He trusts us to get this job done in his absence.

The driver is still flying through town, narrowly avoiding several parked cars.

This time of night, right before the rest of the world starts waking up, is perfect. I know this isn't a battle that will happen without Adair fighting for his life and freedom, and the fewer civilians out and in the way, the better.

Zeus slams on the brakes when Adair's driver speeds through a red light on the edge of town, an unsuspecting vehicle hitting the broad side of the car. I press my palm to the dash to keep from smacking my face on the windshield. We're not as far out as we wanted to be, but this will just have to do.

I'm out of the car, gun raised the second the vehicle comes to a stop.

Zeus is right beside me, eyes locked on the driver's door.

"Get out of the fucking car!" I yell, my steps toward the car slow and methodical.

The windows are pitch black, the glint of the first rays of sunshine reflecting off them, making it impossible to get a feel for what is happening inside.

"Out of the car, now!"

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