Page 55 of Condor’s Vow

Chapter 20

Clay and his team approached the cabin up in the hills of Texas, a light drizzle falling silently around them. The structure he was looking at was a single-story wood construction surrounded by trees on all sides.

When he, Hawk, Sandstorm, Lyric, and Reid had arrived ten minutes ago, he’d wanted to rush inside but had stopped when Omega called to say he had someone on the phone saying he could cut the power to the cabin. It was just as well because going on emotion instead of training would get Hattie killed. Just the thought of her hurt in any way made his stomach clench painfully.

Reid confirmed it was Will, who was offering his not so legal help in this. As part owner of Eidolon and a genius hacker, Will never had a problem breaking the rules when he needed to. They could go through the power company, but it would take longer, and he instinctively knew Hattie didn’t have that kind of time.

“Do it but wait for my signal.”

Sandstorm pulled him aside. “This isn’t protocol. You sure you’re good with this? It could cost you your career.”

“I don’t give a fuck about my career or protocol. The woman I love is in that cabin and nothing else matters to me at the moment. You want out, I’ll understand though.”

Sandstorm shook his head. “Nope, I’m good. Just checking. Where do you need me?”

“I need you with me.” Clay glanced at Hawk who was waiting, the rest of his team were suited up and ready to go in at his word. “You’re a sniper. Can you get up in those trees and see if you have a shot from the back?”

“Of course.”

Hawk was gone in the next instant, blending into the woods like a ghost.

Another car pulled up with Dax and Cruz, and Clay tensed, wondering if he was going to have to fight his friends on this. If it had been the other way around, he knew he’d be encouraging them to let others handle the case, and he now knew he’d have been wrong.

“What have we got?” Cruz was no bullshit, and both he and Dax knew precisely how he was feeling right then. Dax especially, having nearly lost his own woman to a serial killer.

“Paddy Wood is inside, but we don’t know who else is with him. The heat signatures show three, plus what we think is Mr. Chester.”

“I have EMT crews standing by just down the road. You want to wait or go in?”

Clay felt the tension ease knowing his friends supported him. “Go in. He wants her dead, and God knows, he’s had enough time already.”

Reid clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t go there, man, it serves no purpose and will cloud your thinking.”

“Agreed.” Dax nodded. “You have SWAT experience, so take the lead.” Dax looked at Reid who was listening but staying silent as was his way. “Your friend coming in too?”

“Yep, and before you say it, I know it’s not protocol.”

“Wasn’t gonna say a word. We met when he and his team helped Henry English.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.”

Clay explained what he wanted, and in minutes they were all in position.

“Omega, tell Will to cut the power.”

Moments later the cabin went dark, the moon casting an eerie light on the woods and they moved in. Reid threw a flashbang in through the door and Clay went in knowing his team had his back. Just through the door was a living space that was basic but functional, with a couch and a fireplace with wood stacked alongside it.

In seconds they had cleared the small living area and were headed for a door near the back where he could hear a dog barking wildly and then a commotion. Forcing himself not to rush and miss any threats, he moved forward, motioning for Dax and Cruz to clear the rooms further down. In his heart, he knew Hattie was behind the door and for a split-second, fear pierced him at what he might find, but he ruthlessly buried it.

Kicking the door in, he took in the scene. Paddy Wood was wrestling a dark-haired woman over a hammer, Hattie lay silent and unmoving on a table covered in blood. Rage encompassed him, and Clay rushed Wood, knocking him to the ground with a tackle as Hawk grabbed the woman and subdued her. Clay punched Paddy in the face twice, taking out his fury on him before flipping him over to cuff him.

“Clay, get over here quickly.” Lyric took over arresting Paddy as Clay jumped up and ran to the love of his life who was lying on the table with a stab wound.

“I need the fucking lights on.”

No sooner had he issued the command than the lights came back on. What he saw made him want to rail on Paddy Wood again. Hattie was covered in so much more blood than he’d realized, and it was seeping from a wound in her side and puddling on the ground beneath her. She was hooked up to a heart monitor that was going crazy with the power being on.

His hand, which was shaking, went to her neck looking for a pulse, and he saw her eyelids flutter open and the beautiful blue eyes he loved so much looked up at him. Even hazy with pain, she was the most gorgeous woman in the world to him.