Page 68 of Niall

But in here, in the utter silence, we could hear it. Muted voices, footsteps.

I checked my gun and tugged on the straps of my vest. We were well armed, protected, and this time, not a silencer in sight. I wanted Juan to know the sounds of the gun that would kill him.

We knew the floor plan. Up the stairs and down the hall to the left. According to the blueprints our IT security team managed to produce, a set of living quarters was tucked behind the office Finn and I had been inside.

That was where they were.

We also had information on a small plane arriving early in the morning to transport them across the border. Another flight plan was found of them heading to Colombia.

None of them would be on time for that flight.

Two would be dead, and Anna would be where she belonged.

Safe in my arms.

Slowly, with utter precision, one by one, we crept up the cement stairs. Then we made our way through the door and down the hall. Ghosts, moving like shadows in the darkened corridor. A sliver of light spilled from a closed doorway. I could hear arguing coming from behind the door, one woman and one man.

We stopped and listened.

“If we drug her and put her in the suitcase again, there will be fewer questions. Less hassle.”

“She has barely recovered from earlier. She is already half dead.”

I froze, and Finn’s hand landed on my shoulder.

Calm.

“She’s pretending.”

“The amount you would need to keep her knocked out is too risky. I’ve paid plenty for the loyalty of the pilot. He doesn’t care if she’s struggling and screaming. We can give her a dose before we land.”

“It sounds as if you care too much for your little pet, Juan.”

“I have risked everything to get her. To kill her before I enjoy it? No.”

I’d heard enough.

Aldo bent, carefully sliding a tiny device under the door. Over his shoulder, I could see Juan standing with his back to the door. Heidi, who looked vastly different, stood across from him at the entrance to what looked like a closet. Her arms were crossed in anger. There was another door at the other end of the room.

I couldn’t see Anna.

Aldo lifted his eyebrows. All three of them looked at me. It was risky to go in and not know where Anna was. Bursting through the door and firing meant she could be caught in the middle.

Finn pointed to the door where Heidi stood and pointed to himself. Then he indicated the other door, and I nodded. We’d each look for Anna behind those doorways.

I nodded and Aldo withdrew the device.

I held up my hand, all five fingers spread wide.

We positioned ourselves, guns drawn, nerves steady. We had the same goal.

In. Out. Done.

I counted down, lifting my gun as I closed my hand into a fist.

And we charged.

Aldo was first through the door, shooting Juan in the leg. He spun around like a ballerina, his arms raised, the look of shock on his face almost comical as he fell.