Page 70 of Viper

“Shit.” Atlas looked down at his speedometer. “I wasn’t even fucking speeding.” He slowed the car and pulled over.

A sick feeling formed in the pit of Paige’s stomach.

Chapter Eighteen

“You sure we should do this in broad daylight?” Havoc asked, sending Troy an irritated glare.

Troy screwed the silencer on the end of his weapon, then pulled his Kevlar over his head and tugged on a baseball cap. They were parked in the alley behind Hedley’s house in Striker’s rented SUV. A white fence surrounded the brick bungalow. Orange trees swayed in the yard near the detached garage.

“I’m not waiting until tonight. He’ll be on duty at 8:00 p.m., remember? Now put on your hats, boys.”

Havoc muttered something under his breath.

“Quit bitchin’ and let’s go, chum,” Wraith said. “Get her over with.”

“Anyone else live here?” Reaper asked the group.

“He’s married,” Havoc said, “but his wife’s out of town for a work convention.”

Anticipation buzzed through Troy. He couldn’t sit still another fucking second. Talking to Hedley would result in answers—he’d make sure of that. But they’d still need to get to Craig.

Wraith pulled a black baseball cap low over his eyes and Reaper and Havoc did the same.

Unspent energy fermented inside his body. He climbed out of his truck before he combusted and moved to stand near the garage. He’d already taken a look from his vehicle to be certain Hedley didn’t have cameras pointed at the alley. The guys piled out after him, and he moved to the back gate beside the outside wall of the garage.

Wraith leaned in close to peek through the slats in the fence. “Rotating camera on the south wall.”

“Is that all?” Reaper asked.

“Aye. Probably another at the front, facing north.”

Troy nodded at Havoc. “Hit the scrambler.”

Havoc pressed the button on the device in his hand. “Done.”

Troy pushed open the back gate and stormed through the yard. His team moved one step behind him. His muscles roared with adrenaline as he stalked up the brick path leading to the small wooden deck, and he welcomed the rush. He stopped short of the door and glanced at Havoc, Reaper, and Wraith behind him, their guns at the ready.

“On your go,” Havoc murmured.

“Now.” He booted a spot next to the handle. The metal door busted from the frame, wood splintering everywhere.

They hustled inside. Troy ran through the kitchen and into the living room with his gun drawn. His team fanned out to different parts of the house.

Footsteps sounded from the hall. Troy turned to see Hedley with his weapon aimed in front of him, tighty-whities hanging off his hips and a wife-beater covering his chest.

“Freeze! H-Hands up!” The man’s gray hair stuck out in all directions, and his gaze bounced around haphazardly.

Havoc, Wraith, and Reaper flanked the cop. “Hold your panties there, boss,” Havoc crooned. “You’re outnumbered.”

Hedley’s stance faltered.

“Drop your weapon,” Troy commanded. He took a step forward.

Hedley gently lowered the gun to the ground, his finger off the trigger. Despite his surrender, his eyes flared with indignation. “What the hell’s the meaning of this?”

Troy moved forward and kicked the weapon away. He set his hand on the man’s shoulder, and pushed him onto the reclining chair just behind him. “We’ve got some questions for you.”

Hedley pressed his hands on his knobby, hairy knees. “I don’t know you. None of you!”