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If she’d only let me, I’d do everything in my power to create moments as happy as that one had been every chance I could, for the rest of our lives.
“I’m on my way, and I won’t let you down, Bex. I promise,” I whispered into the wind before running over to the helicopter.
When we toucheddown on Gozo, four SUVs were waiting to transport us to a compound that would serve as our command center.
“The NRO has something for us,” Ares reported en route, handing me his mobile.
What they sent showed hot spots inside the villa. Each indicated what was presumed to be human life. According to this, there were approximately twenty in total on the second and third floors. On the first, I also counted twenty. But those hot spots moved about. The others didn’t.
There were also indicators of life outside the villa, leading me to believe we didn’t have them as outnumbered as we’d anticipated.
However, our collective level of training was our real advantage. It would be difficult for any group, even a militaristic one, to match it.
Once at the compound, we prepared our gear while Ares made slight revisions to the op maneuvers.
I looked over at Z, who was outfitted in the same tactical gear as the rest of us. When he’d assured me I would not be entering into this mission alone, he could not have meant it more sincerely. Our eyes met, and I nodded in appreciation.
He motioned to the gathered group, then nodded once at me. I realized he meant for me to address them.
I cleared my throat and called for attention. “Not to usurp those in the room who outrank me”—I nodded to Nemesis—“but I’d like to offer my personal thanks for your participation in this mission.” I did my best to make eye contact with all twenty-seven gathered. “As Ambassador Marchand reminded a few of us this morning, the mandate we’ve been given by the United Nations is a monumental undertaking of the direst urgency. However, there are no others I trust more to lead the fight against human trafficking than those assembled here tonight.”
Next, I turned to each task force leader, starting with Poseidon.
“Team Malta ready to deploy, sir,” he said. One by one, the other COs responded the same way.
Once they had, I turned to Nemesis. “Ready, ma’am.”
“Teams, move out,” she commanded. “Operation Rescue Bexli deploys now.”
“Our guysat the NRO had a brief interruption after they scrambled the villa’s security system, but they’re setting up a live feed from the overheads now,” Ares informed me as we waited for each of the teams securing access to the property to report they were ready for us to enter the villa.
“Jesus, look at this.” He handed me his mobile.
“Bloody hell,”I muttered, watching as five men, most of whom looked like bodyguard-types, as Poseidon had called them, piled into an SUV similar to the one we were in. Three more came out with leashed attack dogs and got in a second vehicle.
“My guys are running facial recognition now, but so far, no one matches the lock they have on Mithras,” said Ares.
“They’re heading out.” I handed the mobile back to him.
“Tank, over?” Ares said through the comms.
“Copy, sir.”
“Two vehicles headed your way. Tail them, and wait for my order to intercept.”
“Roger that, sir.”
“What the fuck are we about to walk into?” I muttered.
“What are you thinking?” Ares asked.
“Might be a trap,” I responded.
“It appears they’re looking for someone,” Tank reported a few minutes later. “Currently, they’re in the vicinity of the beach, just beyond the seawall.”
I raised a brow. “An escapee?”
Ares nodded. “It would explain the canines.”
