Page 59 of Stolen Salvation

“You two good?”

“Yeah, she was just checking I was okay because this is Andrea.”

“And are you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. She has the best of the best coming to rescue her and once we get her home we’ll deal with everything else as it comes up.”

“I’m proud of you, Charl.”

His words stuck in her chest. He was the only person to ever have said them to her. “Thanks.”

“Let’s roll out.”

They were using five vehicles, three for the teams and two to transfer the women to hospitals. Jack had also managed to have private emergency vehicles on stand-by a few miles out from the property. They’d dump the SUVs one klick out and hoof it in closer so as not to draw attention or noise. From there they’d get into position on the three sides and wait. At exactly three am, Watchdog would take out the internal and external cameras and kill all the lights. Smithy would have taken out the backup generator and they’d infiltrate with Reaper, Jack, and Daniel taking out the lookout guards at the same time.

It was planned down to the finest detail but they all knew they couldn’t plan for the unexpected which always happened. They just had to be aware and swivel if needed.

The vehicle she was in bumped over a pothole as they drove the fifty minutes across Leeds to the outskirts, each SUV taking a different route so a convoy wouldn’t be obvious to anyone watching.

Duchess had kept the teams together with Eidolon as one, Fortis as two, and Shadow as three. It was a good call as far as she could tell because each team knew each other’s moves and could anticipate a reaction from the person who had their back. She was the unknown and she wouldn’t let them down. Not Noah, not Andrea, and not Duchess. She wouldn’t let anyone get hurt because of her. The urge to lay her hand over her belly was strong but she resisted, not wanting to bring attention to it. Noah was far too astute and he already suspected something. He was too aware sometimes. Nausea swirled and she couldn’t tell if it was nerves or morning sickness, which was clearly named by a man who’d never carried a baby, because it was any time of the day or night sickness.

“Chewy?”

Noah offered her some gum, and she grinned, knowing he’d noticed her nerves or perhaps the tinge of her skin. “Thanks.”

The dip of his head and the way he rested his hand on her thigh was comforting and she had a good feeling that if they could get past this, they could make a real go of it this time. With some talking and some healing, perhaps the past could teach them enough to make the future shine.

The vehicle drew to a stop amongst the dense landscape of the countryside, the late summer vegetation working in their favour. Adjusting her vest and securing her weapon at her side, she started the trek to the property where she prayed her sister was safe. Noah’s back in front of her and Hurricane behind her, she felt safe as she listened for the sounds of the night. An owl call, followed by a female fox scream made a shiver pass down her spine. Reaching the edge of the forest, Duchess held her fist up beside her head for them to halt. Hunkering down they waited, the comms checks had been done and now it was a waiting game before they got the go-ahead.

The team from Eidolon were taking the front, Fortis the service entrance, and Shadow would be handling the side where they’d pinpointed most of the girls.

Cameras inside had shown women, in different stages of pregnancy being held in what looked like ordinary wards, except these women were drugged to a point they were barely conscious. Andrea hadn’t been identified, but Charlie was certain she was there. Some of the single rooms that showed heat signatures had no cameras inside, and that in itself was a thought Charlie didn’t want to consider.

“Go in thirty.”

The thirty-second warning had Charlie tensing and forcing any thoughts other than the mission out of her brain. A hand on her ankle made her glance at Noah who nodded his encouragement and she offered him a smile to reassure him she was okay.

“Go.”

Reaper took out the guards closest to them as Jack and Daniel did the same.

“Clear to breach.”

It was go-time as she fell into position between Noah and Hurricane. Keeping low, she shot the first man who ran around the corner completely unaware and he dropped to the ground. Stepping over him she heard the sounds of gunfire and blocked it out as she continued inside through the side door.

Inside, a large kitchen was to the left and a hallway in front. Noah motioned he was going to go ahead, and as a practised formation they spread out and began to clear the rooms. Sweeping the kitchen she almost missed the man crouched behind the large butcher block but caught his movement and spun just as he knocked the gun out of her hand.

Off balance, she dropped low as he threw himself at her and she rolled, feet in the air to block him from landing on her body. As they grappled she tried to reach her knife at her ankle but couldn’t quite get her fingers to it.

As his fingers closed around her throat, she felt his body bow and then he went stiff, wide eyes looking at her in shock as his fingers went slack and he slumped against her. Kicking his inert body off her she saw Reaper holding a hand out to help her up.

“Thanks.”

“Pleasure, Angel.”

“Oh, please don’t start with the Charlie’s Angels references.”

Reaper chuckled as he handed her weapon back to her and they continued up the back stairs from the kitchen to the second floor. Seeing Jack and Blake coming up the main stairs, she nodded.