Page 84 of Her Forever SEAL

“Not ten.” Angie said. “That would look odd for a businessman to be carting around more muscle than ten men, I don’t care how much he’s worth. He won’t want to attract attention.”

“We plan for high numbers,” Mason said. “We don't go in assuming light.”

“We can't go in at all until the men land,” Rylie said. She said it carefully, watching Mason.

He didn't argue. Which told Sophia exactly how seriously he was taking the threat. Any other op, he'd have been already moving.

“What about the road?” Angie asked. “You said visible for a quarter mile on approach.”

“I go in where I’m invited, you and the men go in through the vines.”

Sophia watched Mason look down at his phone… again.

Lydia continued to parse through the blueprints on her screen.

Rylie and Angie were looking over the Google aerial footage of the vines, as well as from the old websites.

Mason’s head shot up. “Drake’s calling. I’m not answering. Someone call him.”

“I’ve got Clint,” Lydia shouted. “They’re on the ground. They’ll be here in thirty-five minutes.”

“I’ve got an incoming call from an unknown number,” Mason said.

The room went quiet.

He answered and put it on speaker.

Lydia made a motion for Mason to keep the call going as she would attempt to trace it.

“Sula?” Mason answered.

There was a pause.

“You’ve figured out who I am. Good. That makes this easier. You know what you need to atone for.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“We don’t have time for that now. I’ll wait until we’re together.”

“I’m not going anywhere until I have proof of life. I want a video.”

“I have something better,” Ibrahim said.

There was a longer pause.

“Dad?” Kayla’s voice was hoarse but unmistakable.

“Honey, are you all right?”

“Dad! I’m—” Her words ended with a shriek.

Sula’s voice came back on the line. “Enough of that. There’s your proof. Wait for my directions.”

The call went dead.

27

He hadn't known.