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Speaking of weapons…
Ryan hauled one of our hardcases from the back, the one containing grenades.
“Maybe we need to take a page from the cartel book and go with shock-and-awe,” I said.
“It has to be quick.” Elliott nodded in agreement. “From the moment we charge, it’s safe to assume they will try to use hostages for cover.”
Over my dead body were they gonna harm Blake any further.
* * *
Crew found a good hiding spot for us at the foot of the hill, behind a cliff expansion that protected us in case anyone patrolled the peak and looked down. Carillo’s property was just some twenty yards down the peak on the other side, so we had to be ready for anything.
“More good news from Willow,” Elliott said, jumping out of the car with the laptop in his grasp. “Their security cameras don’t have night vision, which means they’re angled where they have spotlights. We can assume their property is lit up plenty, but we can get close before we have to worry about getting caught on camera.”
That was great.
The other two cars rolled in and parked next to ours, and we all looked to Mercier. Coach had reported that Petrov had been on the phone once more, and the Russian really loved to speak German.
“It was about security.” Mercier answered our unasked question. “I believe Carillo has appointed Petrov to be the chief of security, and he was on the phone talking to someone about upgrading the security around the property.”
Even better. I glanced at Elliott. “That’s gotta mean they don’t expect an immediate attack, right?”
“It’s not a bad sign, anyway,” he replied.
Good.
I grabbed a pair of binoculars from the back of the SUV and trailed over to where I could peer up the mountainside. I adjusted the focus and estimated we had roughly fifty-five…maybe fifty-six yards to the top, and the surface level was all grass and smaller rocks. Some parts had steps built into the soil, from when the slope had been used to grow grapes. Approximately twenty-five-degree angle… I checked my watch and measured the humidity at 76%, wind speed at—
“Joel.”
I glanced back at the others. Those who were part of the combat units had gathered at the hood of one of the SUVs, where Elliott was ready to, presumably, talk entry strategy.
I walked over there, grabbing a marker from one of my pockets, and jotted down the digits on my hand. Humidity, elevation, wind speed.
“Bless Google Street View—it ain’t much, but it’s better than nothing.” Elliott pushed back the screen on the laptop so everyone could get a look. Then he placed a second laptop next to the first and pulled up the satellite images we had to work with. “As you can see, the main house of the vineyard forms an L with the warehouse, so our best way to get in is to walk around and approach from the front. I suggest Ryan and Joel each take a side. Joel, you’ll round the corner at the warehouse, and Ryan, you get the corner of the main house.”
I nodded pensively and studied the images. The front of the property was an open courtyard-type of area, and unless anything had changed since the images were taken, not much would obstruct our view. Some benches, a well, an old tractor to the side, and we could assume all the cars they’d arrived in. Cars that were good to take cover behind.
The main house was a one-story ranch, hacienda-style. The warehouse had more height to it. It wasn’t built to house hostages unless they had cages—and I fucking hated thinking about that word—secured inside. The outer walls of the warehouse needed to be replaced. The metal sheets were damaged to the point that the rust was visible on crappy images off the internet.
“The rescue unit—you’ll wait down the slope for our signal,” Elliott continued. “And before then, keep talking to a minimum because we’ll all be on the same frequency.”
“Mercier and I spoke in the car,” Darius said. “We wanna do more. Let us cover the back of the property—we’ll shoot first and ask questions later, and we’ll be the barrier between the house and Gray and Shay.”
“That’s up to you,” Elliott replied. “You both have children to go home to.”
“And we will,” Darius answered firmly.
Mercier inclined his head, agreeing.
“Fair enough. Darius and Mercier will cover the back.” Elliott zoomed in on the satellite image that showed the property from above. “Crew, you can team up with Ryan. No advancing past the corner until I say so, at which point Ryan will cover Crew. I’ll do the same with Joel.” He lifted his stare to me. “You cover me when I advance.”
“Roger. But I’ll join you when I can do more good in combat than with my rifle.” I wasn’t being left behind for a fucking minute.
“Naturally, and that will be River and Reese’s cue as well,” he said. “River, you’re with Ryan and Crew. Reese, you’re with Joel and me. Javier—” He turned to Ortega. “The main house has a terrace facing east from the front. I want you to stay there and basically kill anyone who tries to make a run for it.”
“My pleasure,” Ortega answered quietly.
