Page 82 of Tony

Tony’s men, in military precision, quickly grabbed their mission gear that was always within ready reach and jumped into the SUVs. Gabe drove one with Tony as shotgun rider. Jobe in the back seat had Matt on the phone following what the police were doing. Vinny driving the other, had BJ on his laptop pulling up the floorplans of Sherrie’s little Victorian house.

“Jesus, Tony. Her old house has twists and turns and little rooms,” BJ groused, knowing that could impair access.

Jobe reported from Matt, “Back glass door at the dining room was shattered, setting off the alarm. Hernando surprised her and has her hostage. The police verbally engaged him but he’s back in the house, holding her hostage.”

BJ pulled up the security camera footage, then clipped, “There’s a second man inside. Snuck in while the police were just pulling into the front. Looks like he went from the dining room door through the kitchen and is hiding in the laundry room.”

“What the hell?” Tony roared. “There’s someone with Hernando?”

“Don’t think so. Looks like he came in and is hiding. And Tony? He’s armed. And swear to God, it looks like a little old man.”

“Goddamn it,” Tony cursed. “Get Matt on the phone.”

Jobe patched back through to Matt and handed the phone to Tony. “Matt? Have someone go next door and see if Bernard Kotowski is home. He’s a neighbor. Former military from the Vietnam era and we think he’s snuck into Sherrie’s house and is hiding. May be armed.”

He could hear Matt shouting orders and cursing at the same time. “We don’t need some rogue old man reliving his glory days with an attempted hostage rescue,” he growled.

Tony tossed the phone back to Jobe. His stomach churned.I should have kept a man on her. I should have not let her go home alone. I should have?—

“Tony?” Gabe’s voice broke through his tortured thoughts. Tony’s gaze jerked toward him as the lights of the night passed the windows, casting shadows over the face of his friend.

“Stop. Whatever the hell’s going through your mind right now, just stop. This isn’t your fault. You gotta get your head back into the mission, sir, or I’ll personally sideline you,” Gabe continued.

Tony lifted an eyebrow at the threat, but knew enough about successful missions to know if he went in half-cocked, Sherrie’s life could be compromised. So, a nod was his only response as he turned back to Jobe to ask about an update.

“ETA is three minutes, boss,” came Vinny’s voice over the radio. BJ chimed in, “Tony? Looks like Sherrie’s house has a partial basement and partial crawl space. You ever been down there?”

“Crawl space, no. The basement is little more than a cellar. It’s about ten by twenty and is used for storage. Door is off of the kitchen near mid-hall.”

Gabe added, “It’s only got two small crawl-through windows that we alarmed when we were at her house.”

“What about the attic?” BJ asked. “Where do the attic stairs come down into?”

“The hall outside the bedrooms. Never been up there.”Shit, how could I have not checked out the attic?

“Then, sir, it looks like the attic is still the best entrance into the house,” BJ added.

Tony nodded and, glancing back at Jobe, growled, “Get Matt and call it in.”

Parking away from the driveway Tony and his men jumped out of their vehicles, grabbing their gear. Kevlar under tight, black, long-sleeved shirts, black cargo pants, night vision goggles and armed to the teeth, they headed over to meet Matt and Shane.

Shane nodded his greeting, then said, “Hostage negotiator isn’t happy about you being here but the chief gives his support.”

“Fuck the negotiator,” Tony bit out.

Matt placed his arm on his friend, saying, “Easy, man. His job is to get everyone out alive, including the neighbor who you say may be in there.”

“Don’t give a damn about Hernando and I hate to see Bernard get hurt, but damnit it, he put himself in harm’s way when he snuck in wanting to play the hero.” Turning to stare Matt, and then Shane, directly in their eyes, he continued. “Got one plan. Get Sherrie out alive. Anything else? Don’t give a fuck.”

Matt and Shane having both rescued their wives from dangerous situations just nodded. They got it. Family first. And Sherrie was family.

* * *

Sherrie’s mind raced, trying to decide what to do. Bernard was hiding in the laundry room and was armed.Tony has a gun in the nightstand by his bed, but that’s upstairs. No way could she get to it.She wiped her sweaty palms on her pajama bottoms, trying to still her pounding heart.

I know Tony’s outside. I know he’s planning something. Think. Think.Her eyes darted around, desperate to help. Closing her eyes for a moment, she quickly thought of her house.What would Tony do? Attic?Her eyes popped open as she thought about the stairs to the attic from the upstairs hallway. Her breasts heaved in panic as she thought it through.No, he’s never been up there…he’d never chance it.

Her gaze moved to Hernando as he stood over her, shifting his gaze between the front door and the back. Her cell phone rang, the sound coming from the kitchen counter.

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