Page 125 of Hot for Hostage

I sent another order to the group. “Let’s plan for more. He has plenty of time to call in reinforcements.”

“Yeah, if only some jackass hadn’t told him to expect us,” Vince muttered dryly.

I fought back a smile. Not my brightest moment, but…

“I didn’t want Sadie to worry,” I said, before giving in to the urge to grin. “Besides, I’ve always liked a challenge.”

Vince shook his head, but it was the truth. And there was something different about tonight. I could feel it in my veins the closer we got to where Zain had taken her.

I’d grown numb to this life over the years. The killing and cruelty had lost their thrill a while ago. It was just another day at the office.

But not anymore. Like a fog had lifted, my blood sang for violence.

That motherfucker would die by my hands, and I had no intention of making it quick.

It took eleven minutes to assemble a team and meet up at Sadie’s location.

Eleven minutes too long. The suburban street didn’t pack in houses like sardines like the city did, and Zain’s large safe house loomed at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. Cars filled the driveway and the shutters weren’t level, but the place was otherwise nondescript.

Malcolm parked the Dog-Mobile down the street and hidden around a corner, where Bear and Sadie’s friends would be safe. The last thing our operation needed was them getting involved—even if they had proven quite the rescue team.

We had six SUVs lining the curb further down the street, hidden from sight of the safe house. I spent another precious three minutes going over our plan with everyone and passing out earpieces, then we split up into teams of three. We traveled through backyards, jumping chain-link fences and slinkingthrough the brush before finding our positions around the perimeter of the house.

Vince, Malcolm, and I crouched near the garage. With the element of surprise gone, we were counting on stealth and accuracy. That meant no mistakes.

I checked in with our sniper, who’d found a spot on the roof of a neighboring house. “Dante, any intel for us?”

“Windows are boarded up, and I can’t get a read on any heat signatures.” His deep voice came back crystal clear through my earpiece. “Strongly advise going in with weapons hot.”

“Copy. Keep us updated if you see any runners.” I turned to Vince and Malcolm. “Shoot anything that moves and doesn’t have pink hair.”

Vince’s lips formed a thin, unamused line. “Davian.”

“And no negotiating with Ali until I get eyes on Sadie,” I added.

Touching my earpiece again, I made sure the other teams were in position and ready before giving the order. “Move in.”

We crept toward the front porch, where Vince smashed through the door with a single well-placed kick. He led the way inside with a ballistic shield.

Chaos erupted inside. Shouts and gunshots. Men leaning around corners to return fire.

Malcolm and I shadowed Vince, covering him as another crash sounded from the back of the house—followed by more gunfire.

I emptied two bullets into bodies before we cleared the foyer. We kept forward, hugging the wall, and Vince took down another one in the next room.

Through the chaos, I didn’t see any sign of Zain or his brother.

“One down in the kitchen,” Shane called through my earpiece. “Kitchen cleared.”

“Three down up front,” Vince responded. “Foyer and study cleared.”

“Heard. Heading downstairs,” Shane said.

I signaled across the foyer. “Next room.”

A flash to our left drew my attention, and I swung my gun over.

“Vince,” I hissed, not taking my eyes off the spot. “Ten o’clock.”

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