Page 92 of Sutton's Shadow

“And when they’re done with you, they’ll hunt down your boss next.”

“Iam the boss.”

“Right. And I’m the queen of England. I bet El Sombra would be extremely dissatisfied with you. By now, Valeria has probably informed El Sombra about how you fucked up his operation in the states.” His eyes widened almost imperceptibly before narrowing with rage.

Pain erupted as his fist plowed into her face, and her head flew to the side with the force of the blow. Before she could take a breath, another sledgehammer fist slammed into her stomach. She doubled over as much as her bonds would allow, and her lungs spasmed, stealing her breath. Tears streamed down her face for real now.

The man grasped her chin and bent down to meet her eye to eye. “You know nothing. You’ll be gone before anyone can get here. I’d break you in myself, but I promised our client first dibs. But who knows, after he tires of you...” He let the thought go unsaid, but his meaning was clear. His fingers tightened on her jaw, squeezing the delicate bones. Her teeth cut into her cheeks, and she tasted blood.

He leaned even closer, his breath fanning over her face. She couldn’t help the whimper that slipped out when he stuck his nose in her neck. “I bet you taste as good as you smell,” he taunted before licking her throat. “I can’t wait to find out.”

With a final laugh, he pushed her face away, causing a twinge of pain in her neck. Reaching up, he pulled the light’s chain, plunging the room into darkness once again. His laugh ricocheted around the room as he marched up the stairs. The door slammed shut, and with the snick of the lock, she took her first breath since being hit in the stomach. It was painful and shallow, but welcome.

Closing her eyes, she took stock of her injuries. She could already feel her eye swelling shut, her jaw ached, and her lungs still struggled to expand enough for a full breath. But she was alive. And she’d hit a nerve if his rage was any indication.

She could only hope her bravado wasn’t all for naught. She prayed Wyatt and his friends would find her soon, even as doubt crept in.

Wyattstudiedthehouseat the address Bethany had given them through the passenger window of Jude’s truck. How could one place look so unassuming yet hold such unspeakable evil inside? A human trafficking ring, right here in his sleepy hometown. It was unfathomable.

“I’d ask if you were going to wait for the cops, but I’m pretty sure I know the answer,” Jude said.

Wyatt grunted.

“So, how do you want to play this? Stealth or shock and awe?”

“I’m not feeling very stealthy at the moment. I say we go for shock and awe.”

“Fuck yes.”

Wyatt climbed out of the truck and checked his weapon. Jude and the others performed similar actions. Seemed he wasn’t the only one who was always carrying. Seeing as most of them were former military, he wasn’t surprised. He just hoped they wouldn’t have to use them. That would be too messy.

“Let’s try not to kill anyone, okay?” he suggested.

“What about maiming?” Jude wondered.

“That’s acceptable.”

“Enough chitchat. Let’s do this,” Finch griped.

“Jude, Wade, and I will take the back. Finch, Logan, and Evan take the front. Count to sixty, then breach. That should give us enough time to get into place.”

The men all nodded, then he was off, with Jude and Wade on his heels, keeping the count in his head. They arrived at the back door without incident with fifteen seconds to spare. His body fell into old habits, familiar with this feeling, the anticipation of the unknown behind the door he was about to breach.

He gave himself two seconds to rub out the ache in his leg, hoping it wouldn’t fail him on this mission, the most important mission of his life.

He counted down from five using his hand, then stepped aside for Jude to kick in the door. Then rushed into a kitchen, gun at the ready. A woman stood at the counter, shoving water bottles into a bag, a teenage girl helping her. Screams from the living room where the other Nighthawks had breached rang out. That would be the little ones Lia had told them were still inside as she drew the layout of the house for them.

A man rushed into the kitchen from a door to Wyatt’s right, but Jude quickly dispatched him. One blow from Jude’s powerful fist, and the guy was out. With a practiced ease, Jude had the guy zip tied with his hands behind his back.

The biggest surprise was the other woman in the room, who stood frozen at the archway between the kitchen and living room. Ronnie Tinsley was dressed similarly to the other day. Designer skinny jeans that appeared painted on and a pink halter top that showcased her new attributes.

She’d look like a celebrity somewhat past her prime, if it wasn’t for the black eye and split lip. Someone had not been happy with her and had worked her over pretty hard. There were bruises around one wrist where someone had grabbed her with a vise-like grip. He wanted to feel sorry for her but couldn’t find it in him with his gut tied in knots over what could possibly be happening to Sutton. That was what he needed to keep his focus on: finding Sutton.

The other woman stood still, a smile tilting her lips. His stomach sank. That smile could only mean one thing?he was too late.

Then recognition had his brows shooting to his hairline. He’d seen that smile before. In Sutton’s pictures of Colombia. This was the woman who had betrayed the village. The one who’d had a hand in getting Liam killed.

Again, his blood boiled with rage as he eyed her. While it was shocking to discover El Sombra’s woman here, he pushed the ramifications aside for the time being to focus on finding Sutton.

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