Page 2 of Striker
“Hold your panties. I’ll have the drone up and running in a few minutes and then we’ll have more intel.”
“We also need to wait for them to be asleep, dipshit,” Havoc said to Viper with a snort.
Atlas reached for his canteen and took a long gulp of water loaded with electrolytes. Wraith did the same.
“Reaper, any movement?” Viper said into his mic. Their pilot waited with the heli in the open field they’d found.
“Negative. I’ve got my lights off. I’ll fire ’er up when you give the go.”
“Copy.”
Rogue took the compact drone from his backpack, then removed a satellite tablet cased in black rubber. After testing the device to ensure it was secure, he zipped it straight into the air. Its motor murmuring almost silently, it ripped through leaves until it was out of sight.
Not even a metallic whisper could be heard.
Rogue perched on a fallen log as he maneuvered the drone, gathering images.
Atlas moved to sit next to him. Rogue tilted the device to show him the live feed of the compound.
The drone’s heat-seeking sensor revealed three forms moving around outside and one moving inside. Two others were stationary in separate parts of the dwelling.
“Looks like there’s a patio entrance on the south side of the structure as well as the east,” Atlas said.
Rogue nodded briskly. “We’ll move in on the east side and see who’s sleeping in that room. Could be our asset. There’s only one guard patrolling near that part. The other unmoving person on the south side could also be our target—or a resting guard.”
Viper stalked toward them and glanced down at the screen. “The asset must be close to the south entrance since there’s two men posted outside there.” He pointed. “We’ll take out the guy on the east side first, then whoever’s patrolling inside.”
Rogue nodded again. “Havoc and Wraith, stay here for backup.”
A minute later, he landed the drone and zipped it back up in its bag. “Leave whatever you don’t need here,” Rogue commanded, shaking open a small camouflage backpack in which they could stash their items.
Atlas fit his NOD over his head, and the other guys followed suit. His vision instantly transformed. It was as if he’d switched on a glow lamp only he could see.
With his AR-15 braced in his palms, he motioned to Rogue to take out the sensor in a tree near the property. It would pick up their movement once they got close.
His leader grabbed a rock and threw it against the little device. The lens broke, and pieces fell to the ground.
“On my go,” Rogue announced.
Wraith and Havoc positioned themselves low in the trees, their guns aimed at the house.
The sound of footsteps down the hall jerked Molly from sleep. She let out a small cry. Her face still throbbed from their last inquisition . . . yesterday? The day before? She couldn’t remember. The gritty texture in her mouth told her she hadn’t had water in hours. Or longer.
They’d given her food yesterday morning. But nothing since. The darkness shrouding the patio door told her she’d passed out. She was getting weaker by the minute. Her window to attack grew narrower.
Her weapon was hidden beneath the mattress. A jagged piece of the plate she’d broken during her previous meal. Too far away, because she’d fallen asleep from exhaustion on the floor outside the bathroom.
Keys tinkled outside her door.
Not enough time.
The door swung open and two men entered the ten-by-ten room. She pushed into a sitting position, refusing to let them see her vulnerable. If it wasn’t for the chain around one of her wrists, she’d have tried to attack. Resting her back against the wall, she clenched her teeth and wished she hadn’t fallen asleep. If she’d heard them coming earlier, she could have retrieved her weapon.
Fear cinched the back of her throat. She wanted to leap to her feet, scream, fight them. Do anything but sit here passively.
Exhaustion kept her in place. She needed to keep what little energy she had.
The leader, an older man, approached. He knelt in front of her, his white hair and George Hamilton–style tan almost sickeningly perfect in this godforsaken place.
