Page 103 of Striker
“He’s got a point,” Havoc said with a grunt. “I hope we don’t run into a bad storm. Water looks rough as it is.”
Atlas didn’t even glance at the water lapping and splashing below the wooden planks. He didn’t give a shit if they hit a storm. He was going out on that water whether any man here liked it or not.
Anton stopped at one of the speedboats sheltered beneath a roof. Atlas stepped under the enclosure and only half listened to the boat owner’s precautions.
When Anton was done talking, he slapped the keys in Rogue’s hand. “Don’t smash my boat if you can help it.”
“I’ll try not to.”
Anton didn’t laugh.
They got in the boat and Rogue fired up the engine.
“Life jackets, guys,” Anton said impatiently from the dock. “Come on. Didn’t you hear a thing I said?”
“Yeah, don’t crash the boat.” Rogue smirked and steered out of the enclosure.
Atlas took the bench near Rogue, bringing up the coordinates on his waterproof satellite phone once again. As his boss increased the boat’s speed, the rain came down harder. The droplets were like nails on his skin.
Viper and Havoc sat near the back of the boat while Atlas shouted directions at Rogue. After fifteen minutes the rain slowed. They continued, the light from the bow illuminating their path. Nothing but rippling water stretched as far as the headlight.
Atlas watched their dot move over the map. He checked his watch. Molly had been gone for hours. His chest cinched at the thought of the email offering up Molly to a buyer.
He could only hope that the poor weather would’ve deterred anyone else from coming out this way. His stomach bunched in knots with every passing minute.
There were a lot of things Willy could do to Molly before he sold her. Atlas clenched his jaw. He’d kill the bastard. Tear out his fucking lungs and beat his face to a pulp. When he was done with Willy, there’d be nothing left of him for the authorities to prosecute.
Wind whizzed past his face, and he had to dip his head to avoid the spray from the waves, but at least they weren’t being pummeled by water from every angle anymore.
His clothes were soaked, his vest heavy. None of it mattered.
I’m coming, Molly.
They cruised over the water for another half an hour—and damn he was glad Rogue wasn’t shy about speeding. His body rocked and swayed.
When they got close, he tapped Rogue’s shoulder, and his boss cut the engine.
Silence replaced the roar of the motor. Waves lapped gently at the side of the boat as they bobbed in the wake.
“Get the drone,” Rogue ordered.
Atlas stood and walked the few steps to Havoc and Viper. Viper already had the case open. The drone was military grade and waterproof.
Within minutes they’d launched the robotic spider skyward. Viper passed him the shock- and water-resistant tablet.
Atlas flew the machine toward shore. They’d stopped a good mile from the island. If anyone had heard their boat approach, they’d hopefully assume it’d passed on by. On the screen of the tablet was a dock along with a small cliff and bundles of trees and forest. The house came into view, cloaked in the mountain like an exotic fortress.
He slowed the drone and hovered it high above the property, taking in the images on the screen. Along with the shape of the building, the device would pick up heat signals. There were four red- and orange-colored forms stationed around the perimeter. Some moved as if pacing, others were still.
Inside the house were a few more bodies. Two were lying horizontally. He hoped one of them was Molly.
Because if her body was letting off heat, she was sure as shit alive.
And, according to the drone’s reading, alone.
“How many guards inside?” Viper asked.
Atlas counted. “Looks like three or four inside and six outside. We’ve got two unmoving sources inside the house. One’s gotta be Molly.”
