Liam nodded. “Charlie Team, room found. No Raven. Appears to be two hostages. Retracing steps.”
The comms remained quiet. He assumed his team had gone dark while they searched the house.
“I’ve got a computer room with voices.” Rafe’s deep timbre cut through the comms, giving them directions to his location.
“Copy that. On our way.” Liam and Xander took the stairs two at a time.
They meandered their way to Rafe’s whereabouts.
His eyes met Rafe’s.
“Two female voices,” Rafe informed him.
“Raven?”
Rafe nodded.
“Charlie Three and Four?”
“Covering approaches.”
Liam took a deep breath. His men had it under control. “Quiet. Secure the women and fall back.” The team had already discussed calling in reinforcements if time allowed, letting the local officials take over the arrests. “Let’s do this.”
The door opened, and the three of them moved with precision into the room.
The sight of Raven alive at a workstation stole Liam’s breath. They’d found her. Tamping down his reaction, he assessed the room. No guards. No Evan Rhodes. Just a woman with long brown hair looking over Raven’s shoulder.
Gesturing for Rafe to secure the entrance, he and Xander moved to the women’s side.
“Raven.” She spun, and he held a finger to his lips. “No time for greetings, stay quiet. Let’s move.”
Xander clutched the other woman’s arm and guided her out of the room.
The team stole through the house. With the back door and safety in sight, Evan Rhodes, along with four armed men, popped in front of them.
“Going somewhere?” Evan smirked.
The team snapped their guns up and pointed at Evan and his men.
Liam narrowed his gaze. “That’s the plan.”
“I don’t think so. Jade here hasn’t finished her task.”
The woman under Xander’s protection cowered and whimpered. What had these men done to terrify her like that?
Liam studied the guards. Their twitchy trigger fingers worried him. One word and his men would end it, but he had to be careful not to act irrationally.
“I can guarantee she’s not going anywhere with you.” Liam continued to assess the scene.
A small motion from Evan told him all he needed to know. He’d signaled for the guards to fire.
“Do it.” His command, the only thing his team needed to hear.
Chaos ensued, and within seconds the room silenced. Four Guards lay on the floor, bleeding out while Dax secured Evan’s arms behind his back. Not possessing a weapon had saved Rhodes’s life.
Raven pulled her arm from his grip and marched over to the other woman.
He watched in shock when Raven raised her fist and clocked the brunette in the face, sending the woman sprawling.
