Page 26 of Paradise Ties

Daniel was standing beside him, assessing the rock face. “Yeah, there’s a few bucket holds but mainly undercut grabs. Will Astrid have the strength for those?”

Dane studied the woman wearing black sports leggings and a vest. An undercut hold needed a hell of a lot of bicep strength to pull it off, and this climb was going to be soloing on sight, risky without practice. “I don’t know but I’m sure as fuck not going to be the one to suggest it. Anyway, she looks like a woman who knows her own weaknesses.”

“True,” Daniel agreed.

It would be much easier for them with their years of experience, and especially for Daniel with his new-found strength. Even Smithy, who still had residual effects from the drugs he’d been given, would find this climb easier than most people.

Kanan had arrived on the beach minutes after them with a truckload of rifles and handguns, as well as K-bar knives and holsters. He also had, by some spy magic, managed to get all-black combat trousers with long-sleeved, skin-tight shirts. Zack had explained the plan to Kanan who agreed, and they were now in position.

“Zack,” Kanan called. The tension in his voice made them move toward the vehicle and the laptop he was staring at. “We have a visual.”

Dane looked at the screen and immediately searched for Lucy. He found her in the corner with Aubrey and Celeste. All the hostages were against the wall and he looked for Drew, finding him on the floor cradling a woman’s hand in his. The body of a female hostage was about five feet in front of them. Will was further along, on his own, and Jace, Jack, and Zin had managed to garner themselves the attention of Karol Snopek.

Kanan shook his head. “Jace was singing fifteen bottles of beer loudly so Luce could relay some information back to us.”

“He was drawing attention away from Lucy,” Dane responded.

“Exactly. Zin joined in and the three of them are taking a beating at the moment.”

“What was the information?” Zack was clipping a K-bar into his ankle holster as he spoke.

“Fifteen tangos, bombs on the doors, bar is a hot zone, and they have a perimeter wire on the cliff but nothing else as far as she can see.”

Daniel grinned. “They don’t see it as a threat.”

“That’s because only crazy fuckers would do a climb like that,” Smithy added.

Dane slipped the strap of a rifle over his head. “Good job we’re fucking ready for the cracker factory then.”

“Have we heard from Liam or Bebe?” Zack asked.

Kanan nodded. “Yes and no. Liam says the bombs are basic and he can disarm them all except the one on the bar which he can’t see. Bebe hasn’t checked in.” As he spoke, Astrid’s phone rang. They looked at her expectantly as she spoke.

“Hey, Bebe,” she said, listening silently for a second and then looking up in surprise and with a tiny bit of alarm in her eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Dane felt his patience stretch to breaking. “Yeah, yeah, keep K in the loop.” She hung up and looked at them with anger on her face. “They won’t pay the ransom or even entertain it. According to the Prince, his sister has been courting disaster for years, and they’re not prepared to pay twenty million dollars to bail out a woman.”

Disgust wormed its way through Dane.

Smithy shook his head. “So it’s up to us then. The police won’t get here in time, and the locals are running around like headless chickens.”

“Yep, time to climb lady and gents.” Zack clapped Kanan on the back and nodded solemnly, a host of meaning in that one action. Zack and Kanan had been best friends growing up and after a long hiatus they were again. Dane knew Kanan would look after Ava if anything happened to Zack, God forbid.

But what about Lauren and their kids? Who would make sure they were okay? The man he had made guardian of his children if anything happened to him and vice versa was beside him on this climb. His best friend since childhood—Daniel.

Seeming to sense his mood, Daniel laid a hand on his shoulder, “Don’t go there, man.”

Dane stopped and turned to him. “How can I not? You know as well as I do anything can go wrong on a mission, even a well-planned one. This is anything but.”

“Of course I do but going in with that attitude will fuck with your head. Shake that shit off, or you’re going to get us killed.”

Daniel was harsh and honest, and the words steadied Dane, reminding him who he was and what he did. He needed to stop being a fiancé, a father, a brother, and become an operator. He nodded at his friend. “Thanks. I needed that.”

Daniel grinned. “Always happy to tell you you’re a dick, man.”

He, Daniel, Astrid, Smithy, and Zack stood at the bottom of the cliff with the sea behind them and looked up.

Zack looked at the group then. “I want Astrid to go up first, then me, followed by Daniel, Dane, and you last, Smithy.”

Astrid bristled. “Why am I first?”