Page 64 of Saved from Obsession

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

LEO

Now that I’m this close to Georgia,nothingis going to stop me from reaching her.

And noone.Especiallynot this piece of human garbage who’s taken the woman I love from me.

He has no idea what he’s gotten himself into. If thisFrankthinks he has a chance against five former special forces soldiers—one of them out for vengeance—he’s in for a rude awakening. I won’t hesitate to kill him if he tries to stop me from rescuing Georgia.

The rest of the team keeps shooting worried glances at me when they think I’m not looking. Like they think I’m going to lose it or something. But I’ve got too tight a lock on my emotions for that to happen. The bone-crushing worry, the gut-twisting fear, the stabbing agony of missing Georgia—thoseemotions have no place here.

Not if I want to find Georgia and bring her safely home with me. But incendiary rage and absolute determination—thoseI can use. It’s not that I think Frank himself is dangerous. He’s a five feet ten inch, one hundred and seventy-five pound IT guy with no offensive experience. I could take him in my sleep.

But crazy people are dangerous in other ways. Like harming people around them when they feel trapped. Hurting a woman they’re obsessed with to keep anyone else from getting her. So I’m not takinganythingfor granted.

We’re on our way to Fairport right now—it’s about a twenty-minute drive from the airport and since it’s midnight, the traffic is light. Which means in less than half an hour we’ll be breaching the house and putting an end to this nightmare.

I hope. There are still so many variables. We think Frank is there with Georgia, but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know what he’s done to her, if sheiswith him. Has hehurther,assaultedher? And what if she’snotthere?Thenwhere is she?

“Leo, man, are you okay?” Zane leans closer to me, pitching his voice low. He’s sitting next to me in the middle row of the Expedition Cash arranged for us to use, watching me with a concerned gaze. “We got this, alright? We’re going to get your girl back.”

I’m saved from having to come up with a response when Cole turns around in the front seat and looks back at us. Rylan is driving, and Niall is in the third row with all our weapons. We all snap to attention as Cole says, “Let’s go over the plan one more time, so we’re ready to roll when we get there.”

Years of military training and experience have us all sitting up straighter as we listen to Cole. There’s no need to ask questions when we’ve worked together so long—Niall might not be a part of our team, but he’s experienced enough to follow along.

“We’ll park two houses down from Frank’s—that house is set furthest back from the road and has good tree cover, so we shouldn’t be noticed.” Cole turns to look at Rylan. “Once we get on the street, cut the headlights.”

“Once we get there,” Cole continues. “Leo, Rylan, and Niall—you’ll head along the western side of the yard to the back. Zane and I will go past the house and circle back through the trees to the front door.”

“Leo, you have all the security cameras bypassed, right?” Cole knows I do, but he likes to reconfirm everything.

“Yes. They’re all on a loop.” As soon as I found out the address, I hacked into the security system and set up a bypass, so the cameras won’t be recording, and instead just showing a continuous repetition of earlier footage.

Cole gives me a quick nod before continuing. “Before we enter, we’ll search for heat signals. Depending on where they are will determine our direction once we get inside. And once we have eyes on Frank, the goal is to incapacitate him before he has a chance to do anything to Georgia.”

A growl rumbles up my chest. “Or kill him.”

“If necessary, yes,” Cole says, “but if it looks like he can be taken down using non-lethal methods, it will make things less complicated when we deal with local law enforcement.”

I understand the reasoning, and I’m not typically the murderous type, but after knowing everything this man put Georgia through, I wouldn’t be upset if he ends up not making it.

“We’re at the street.” Rylan turns the car and flicks the headlights off. We travel the next quarter mile in silence, running through the mission in our minds. Before I know it, Rylan is slowing to a quiet stop in front of a split-level ranch with a realtor’s sign in front of it. I take a quick look around at the darkened neighborhood, the only spots of light from occasional porch lamps and lamp posts at the end of driveways.

Like phantoms, dressed all in black, we slip out of the SUV—the only sounds the quiet snicks of the doors closing. It’s a residential area, middle class, mostly ranches and split-levels separated by medium-sized yards. Not many places to hide, but we move stealthily and quickly from tree to tree until we’re gathered in the shadows behind a large pine on the side of Frank’s property.

Zane pulls out the thermal camera and scans the house. After a moment, he murmurs, “Found them. Looks like both are in the primary bedroom, fairly close together.”

My jaw clenches so hard I think I hear my teeth crack. Rage flares red-hot, but I tamp it down ruthlessly.Not now. Whatever he did to Georgia, we’ll get through it. I just need to get herhome.

“It’s not the ideal location,” Cole whispers, “with only one point of entrance. If we try to use a distraction, it may tip him off. We’ll enter the bedroom in two waves. First, Rylan, Zane, and I will target Frank. With the three of us coming at him, it should take his attention away from Georgia.”

“Then Leo, Niall—you shield her and focus on getting her out of range. Then we can take down Frank without worrying about her getting hurt. And Leo,” Cole puts his hand on my arm, his voice barely audible in the quiet. “No matter what you see, letushandle Frank.”

”Iknow,“ I answer quietly, impatience making my voice curt. “Let’s get inside, already.”

In the dark, we’re just five large figures in a huddle, deadly weapons ready to attack. Cole raises his hand. In a murmur, he says, “Ready.”

Then with a short sweep downwards, he gives us the signal to move.

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