Cade
“Ryder!” My voice rang out in the office, and Ryder turned, standing immediately as I entered the room.
“The GPS stopped at the corner of North Avenue and Peachtree Street.”
“Piper’s GPS?”
“Yeah—had a weird feeling and pulled it up, and I saw that her car hasn’t moved for a few minutes now. Police scanner came through and said an abandoned Mustang was sitting in the middle of the intersection. Rear damage.”
I’d hoped it was all a scare tactic, but Ryder’s words confirmed what Chavez had said on the phone seconds before.
“Chavez has her. He wants a trade. Varga for Piper.”
“Not much of a trade, since we’d planned to hand him over anyway.”
“He didn’t know that. He must have been tracking us or Varga. Either way, we’ve got to get her before he does something terrible.”
We all knew what Chavez was capable of, especially when it came to women.
“I’m on it. Did he give you the address?”
I handed him the address I’d scribbled on a receipt.
“It matches what we found when we followed him with the drone a few days ago. Good. I’ve got schematics.”
“I’ll get Levi. Call Cruz and Oscar. We may have to bring in other agencies on this. I don’t trust Chavez for an even trade.”
“What’s this about Chavez?” Levi leaned against the doorjamb of the computer room, then eyed my bare chest and gym shorts. “You make it a habit of running around half-naked these days?”
I ignored the jest and forgave him since he had no idea what we were dealing with yet. “Ryder, fill him in. I’m going to get changed.”
“Chavez has Piper.” Ryder explained the situation to Levi as I was heading towards the door. He grabbed my arm as I passed by.
“Wait. Take a shower. I’ll make some calls, and we’ll start working on the plan as soon as you get back. Hurry.”
As if he had to tell me to be quick when the woman I loved, the woman I planned to spend the rest of my life with, was in the hands of a psychopath.
I was showered, changed, and back in the office in record time. Levi was still on the phone in the conference room when I entered, and he nodded for me to take a seat. Cruz and Oscar followed behind me, and Ryder brought up the rear. When Levi got off the call, he looked around the table and sat forward with his hands resting in front of him.
“I talked to Washington. He said for you to call Will and pull him in.” He directed his instructions to me, and even though I had no desire to talk to Will Fuller, I knew Washington was right to trust him. The man loved Piper and would fight to get her back safely, whatever it took.
“Okay.”
Levi lifted a brow, apparently expecting a fight. When I didn’t give him one, he continued. I just got off the phone with Kennedy at the DEA. Without us knowing who the mole is, it’s hard to get a whole team out here. I told Kennedy of our suspicions, Cade, and he’s circumventing those three guys. He’s sending a six-man team. Enough for what we need.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yeah, except if Chavez has been in contact with the mole, it won’t make much difference. He could still screw this op up royally.”
“A chance we’ll take.” That assurance came from Ryder, who apparently was one of Piper’s biggest fans. When he caught my stare, he grinned. “I need my sidekick back.”
“I have some flash bangs we can use for distraction if we need them. I’ve also got a couple of other tricks up my sleeve. I never did get to use my battle drone.” Oscar rubbed his hands together in glee.
“Battle drone?”
“Yeah—the drone I’d enhanced with firepower for the buy and never got to use. From the satellite images Ryder showed me, I should have plenty of ground to cover without interfering with the good guys.”
“You have satellite images?”
“Of course I do. And basic schematics for the house.”
Ryder pulled up the images of the Chavez compound with its sprawling green lawns, a pool, tennis courts, and circular drive—it looked as if it even came equipped with a center fountain.
“Nice digs.”
“Yeah, that’s what a life of international crime will do for you. And get you killed.” Ryder flashed his teeth in a humorless grin and went back to stabbing the keys of his computer.
“So—what? We just go in guns blazing?” I directed my question to Levi, hoping he had a better plan than risking Piper’s life in a gun battle.
“Nope. You and I will bring Varga to make the trade, only I don’t expect Chavez to go along with that so easily. Oscar will be posted outside the gates with the drone and will take down anyone coming to Chavez’s rescue on the back lawn. Cruz will lead the FBI team along with Will, once you bring him up to speed. Ryder will go with the DEA team. The two teams will flank the house, leaving Chavez no room for escape. You and I will grab Piper once all hell breaks loose and get out of there.”
“It’s as good a plan as I can think of.”
“Glad I have your approval.” Levi rolled his eyes. “Give Will a call. Now.”
I took the phone from my pocket and dialed Will’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“Cade?”
“You have my number programmed in your phone?”
“Of course I do.”
“Oh.” That threw me for a loop, and I stammered before gaining control over my emotions and thoughts. “Um, look, Will, I know I’m not your favorite person, but Piper needs our help right now. Can I count on you?”
“Tell me.”
So I did, and when I finished, he promised another six-man team to assist us—only those he trusted without a shadow of doubt—and said he’d be on a plane and in Atlanta in four hours, just in time.
“When do we go in?”
“Meet here at midnight. We’ll gear up and go together.”
“Roger.”
Will hung up the phone, and the rest of us took to the shed to gather our firepower and suit up for the mission. Oscar assembled his drone while the rest of us suited up in Kevlar and our weapons of choice. Levi and I took our Glocks, leaving the heavier firepower for the rest of the team, knowing the chances of getting very close to Chavez with them was slim to none. At eleven thirty, Will Fuller pulled into the lot with five of his men.
“I thought you said you had a six-man team.” I stuck my hand out for him to shake. He took it and grinned.
“I do. You think I’d let anyone else lead the charge to get my girl out?”
Guilt hit me hard and heavy in the chest. “Look, Will. I’m sorry for getting her into this.”
He held up a hand. “Do you really think you could get Piper to do anything she didn’t want to do?”
“Well, no, but still. If it weren’t for me—”
“If it weren’t for you she’d never have reached for the stars. She would have lived the rest of her life in isolation and seclusion. She’d push everyone and everything away, leaving a shell of herself in place of the vibrant, passionate woman we both know and love.”
“But I thought…”
“You thought I hated you. That you weren’t good enough. I was wrong, Cade. You are exactly what she needs.”
He lifted his hand to touch my shoulder, the action fatherly and comforting.
“I thought Jake was what she needed. A man who was willing to take what she’d give him and love her in spite of the walls she’d built around herself. And he did love her. But he let her get by with just giving a fraction of the love she’s capable of. I have a feeling you’d never accept that from her.”
He was right. I wouldn’t. I wanted all of her or none at all. It wasn’t enough just to have some of her heart. I wanted everything. Not because I was selfish, but because Piper would never be whole until she learned to love with all that was within her.
“No. I won’t accept just a piece of her heart. I want it all.”
Will slapped me on the back. “Good. Now, let’s go get our girl.”
The DEA team called to check in, saying they’d meet us at the compound. At midnight on the dot, we rolled out, Levi driving one of the smaller vehicles we had, and me riding in the back seat with Varga, my gun at the ready in case he made any sudden moves.
“You ready to tell us who that mole is?”
Varga remained quiet, not uttering a word.
“Chavez has Piper. He wants a trade. We’re going to give it to him. Now, if you want to see the light of another day, you’ll tell us who that mole is, and we’ll make sure Chavez doesn’t have Santiago flay you open with his magical knife.”
I saw Varga stiffen at the thought of what Santiago could do with his butterfly knife, but he kept his mouth closed.
“Suit yourself.”
The ride to the compound didn’t take long as traffic at midnight in Atlanta was fairly quiet. When we reached a mile from his place, we parked the vans and SUVs on the side of the road, and the teams unloaded to make the rest of the trek on foot. Levi and I waited till we got the call that the teams were in place, then we drove to the front gate of the Chavez compound.
The gate was guarded by several men, and Levi gave an unaffected glare at the man who asked him what his business was.
“Chavez is expecting us.”
“Who is us?”
“Levi Slater and Cade Montgomery. We have a gift.”
The man looked to the back seat, and I gave him a finger wave. Pissed, the man whirled around and radioed to the main house that we were there. Seconds passed before he nodded and waved us in as the gates opened.
We drove down the long driveway to the circle in front of the house, parking next to the elaborate fountain that sat at its center. The doors were opened by two more of Chavez’s thugs, and we were marched to the front door and inside to the foyer, with its grand ceiling and luxurious chandelier dimmed to the perfect setting for the evening.
“I’ll tell you,” Varga whispered in my ear as we waited for Chavez to give us entry.
“Tell me what?” I didn’t even look at the man, feigning indifference.
“The name of the mole. I’ll give it to you as soon as we’re out of this death palace. Just get me out of here alive.”
I nodded. “Fine. I’ll save your life if you give me the name of the mole, now. I’m not waiting till after this is done. But I give you my word—if you give me his name, I won’t turn you over to Chavez.” I kept my voice low, aware that anyone could be listening.
Varga paused, glancing around at where we were, fidgeting and bouncing from one foot to the other.
“Fine. Reynolds.”
I knew it. I looked at Levi, and he nodded, slipping his phone out and pounding a text out to Kennedy, then sliding it back in just as Juan Carlos stepped through the office door.
“Montgomery, good to see you, amigo.”
I snorted, unable to help myself. “Yeah—likewise.”
Juan Carlos grinned, motioning us inside the office where Santiago stood flipping his butterfly open and shut. Open and shut. I glanced around the room looking for Piper.
“She’s safe. Have a seat.” Juan Carlos pointed to a small sofa and two chairs across from the large mahogany desk with a plush Persian rug tying it all together.
“We’ll stand.”
“Okay, then. Stand. Chavez will be with you shortly.”
He and Santiago walked out through a hidden panel in the wall, and I took advantage of their absence to look for escape routes.
“Two windows and the door behind us. Not to mention the crazy hidden door they just disappeared through. Ten bucks says there’s an underground tunnel that leads them off the property.”
“Not taking that bet. I agree with you. That or a helipad on top of the house.”
“Probably both.”
“Do you find it strange that they didn’t pat us down for weapons?”
“I noticed that. Something doesn’t feel right.”
I moved to the window, glancing out to the expanse of lawn that spread out behind the house, hoping our teams were in place and ready to go.
“What’s that sound?” Levi asked as his eyes moved around the room.
The soft shushing sound was coming from the vents around the room, as well as a light-gray mist that billowed up from it.
“Gas!” I pulled my shirt up over my nose as we broke for the door. It was locked. Of course it was. I took my gun out of its holster and shot three times at the lock before it came loose. We kicked the door in, and it splintered at the hinges.
“Get Varga out of here. I’ll go find Piper!”
Levi raced out the front door, dragging Varga with him, yelling into his comm device for backup. I ran down the hallway looking in doors as I called out Piper’s name. Nothing.
I doubled back, racing up the stairs, but all the rooms were empty. I saw that in one room the bedding was disturbed, and I thought I caught the faint smell of her lotion lingering in the air. She’d been here, but she wasn’t there now.
“Cade! Out back! Now!” Levi’s voice was panicked, and he wasn’t one to panic.
As I ran through the house, down the steps and out the back door, I tried to tell myself it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Piper was fine. She was tough. We’d just found each other. Nothing was going to keep us apart.
I’d started to believe those lies until I saw the scene before me.
A man stood next to Piper, a gun pointed at her head. Varga lay on the patio, his chest covered in blood. A chopper sounded from above, and I knew that was Chavez getting away. Nothing mattered, though, but the woman in front of me. The woman whose eyes were filled with tears and that silently spoke one word: Goodbye.