AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There you are, Hawke,” Sean hails. “We are ready to roll.”
Standing behind his son is Antony, talking with Hadley. “Are you sure you want to be a part of this Hawke?” Antony asks when he sees me.
“Never been surer of anything in my life,” I confirm.
Nodding, he directs Jackson and his team toward the exit. If there is one thing I can count on, it’s his readiness for a fight.
“Please be careful, Mr. Hawke,” Camila begs.
Promising I will, I assure her I’ll bring her sister home safely.
Outside, three vehicles await us.
“Should I ask how these were secured?” I ask no one in particular.
Smiling, Jackson informs me they borrowed them from some sleeping para-militants in Bello. According to Mark, it was like taking candy from a baby.
Those two never cease to amaze me.
“Let’s get this party started.” Someone shouts into the night.
As I take my place beside Antony, he signals for Sean to go. From Mariana’s home, it’s only a short drive, but because we couldn’t do any recon, we’re unaware of what awaits us at Antonio’s compound. We received the intel from Gerrick that the gate Hadley and I used during Peyton’s rescue has been sealed permanently. He has also confirmed that Antonio doubled his security in preparation for his anticipated arms deal.
“How are we entering the compound, Sean?” Antony asks as we approach.
“Through the front door,” he replies.
“What on earth do you mean?”
Turning in her seat, Hadley informs us, “He means I’ll be your access.”
“It’ll never work; there is no way Andres and Antonio will allow you to walk into their compound,” Antony argues.
“They will if they believe Gerrick sent me,” she smiles. “That brother of mine has gotten us our in.”
“And you’re okay with this, son?” he then directs at Sean.
Sighing from his position behind the wheel, Sean tells his father he isn’t, but if anyone can get us through the front door, it’s Hadley.
“You know he is right, Ant.” I interrupt, placing my hand on his shoulder. “She has a history with Andres and won’t be going in alone. We will be right behind her.”
Grunting, he begrudgingly accepts.
“That grandbaby of mine needs her mother, Hadley, so please be careful.”
The tense atmosphere that suddenly engulfed our tiny confines vanishes as quickly as it’s created when Hadley teases her father-in-law for caring. When Hadley and Sean first came together, my friend strongly objected, yet she has worn down his defenses over time. That one sentence demonstrates precisely how much she now means to him and, subsequently, to all of us.
“We’re here,” Sean informs us. “This is as far as we can go, and we’ll have to travel on foot from here on.”
Although Antonio has sealed the gate Hadley and I used the last time we invaded his compound, we are still planning a flanking maneuver to cover all bases. Knowing we’d also need to enter from the rear of the property, satellite surveillance was used to confirm just how dense the shrubs surrounding the six-foot concrete walls were.
In preparation, Quinn brought machetes, harnesses, and rock-climbing equipment to aid him, Mandi, Liam, Jackson, and Mark in gaining access to the rear of Antonio’s yard in time to receive Hadley’s signal.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this, Hadley?” a concerned Sean asks his wife.
Touching his face, we watch as she reassures her husband that he will be right behind her. If history is anything to go by, I’d be worried more about them than Hadley.
CHAPTERTWELVE
