Page 191 of Barinov

Cade crashes his mouth into mine. Our tongues clash in a war I’ll gladly die in any day of the week. When we finally pull back, we’re both breathless.

“Go get our girl,” he whispers.

I lean back in for another quick kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Gravel crunches under our boots as we stride back to the van. I reach for my pistol and eject the magazine.

“Looks like Bella’s up in her room,” Knox says, handing over my comms.

“And Zeke?” I ask as I shove the thing in my ear.

“Briggs said that Brett got to her before he left.”

His fingers hover over a stairwell on the blueprint sprawled out on the tailgate of Tex’s truck. The wind kicks up, the blueprint snapping and fluttering. Tex grabs a heavy wrench from the toolbox and drops it on top to keep the damn thing down.

“She told him that Zeke’s being held in the basement somewhere,” Knox continues, tapping the paper.

I nod, sliding bullets into the mag. “Guards?”

Knox picks up his tablet and swipes his fingers over the glass. The thermal feed illuminates the beads of sweat on his brow. “Looks like two out front, one back by the pool, and three inside,” he says while pointing to each one.

“The basement?” I ask.

He glances up, his gaze meeting mine. “Not sure.”

“In position,” Kenji’s voice comes through the comms. “Just say the word.”

“Not yet,” Knox replies sternly. “Bella still hasn’t gotten him to turn the remote on.”

“She’s too scared.” Cade’s hands grip the bed rail. “Can’t really blame her.”

“Yeah,” I cough, rubbing my throat. “Who would willingly want to feel the shock of that thing.”

“She will,” Roman adds. “She’s strong.”

“Movement out back,” Kenji says. “I’ve got two out here now.”

“We should go,” Laing says. “Before they all start moving around.”

Nate pops his head out of the van. “Laing’s right.”

Knox rubs his temples, elbows on the tailgate. “Okay,” he says. “You guys go ahead. I’ll keep sending the signal to Bella’s wrist and hopefully she’ll make the move soon.”

“Tex,” I start. “Once Kenji takes the guys out by the pool, you go in from the back and get to the basement and find Zeke.”

“I’ll get him out,” Tex confirms.

“Laing, you come in from the side. Take out this guy here…” I drag my finger across the paper. “And here.”

“On it.” Laing nods, sliding a pistol into his ankle holster.

“Rez and I will go in from the front.” I shoot a quick glance toward my cousin.

Rez steps up. “I got your back.”

Tex velcros the final strap down on his vest. “Let’s move.”