Annie.
Her name plagued his mind throughout the journey to where Gregg's phone signaled his whereabouts. No matter what he did, he couldn't stop thinking about her. The horror of her being hurt and crying out for him slammed into his gut with the speed of a battering ram. It pained his heart when his son's toothy smile flashed in his mind.
Oh, how he missed them-missed them with such ferocity he could hardly take a normal breath. The Fates would not be so cruel to reunite him with his family only to take them away in the blink of an eye. No. Such devastation would never be his to bear. Then why the feeling of hopelessness?
Andy's shoulders slumped and his fingers relaxed its tightened hold on the gun in his lap. Julian had insisted they suit up and load up their weapons. The bulletproof vest weighed heavily on his body, but being uncomfortable was worth it. He was going to find his woman and son; to hell with anyone who dared stand in his way.
The van swerved, and his head slammed against the side. "Shit."
"Motherfucker!" Julian exclaimed. He righted himself and scowled as if he wished he could wrap his hands around the driver's neck.
Andy cast a look at Vane. The man was grumbling under her breath. He shook his head and looked over at Denielo, the young man's hand moved over the keyboard so fast it blurred. With his eyes glued to the screen, he didn't even blink. The veering of the vehicle didn't even unsettle him.
Suddenly the engine sputtered and coughed. Andy grabbed hold of the handle above his head to keep him in one place. The van bounced high and his backside came off the seat. Before a groan could escape his mouth he fell back down hard enough to send shock waves of pain up his waist and hip.
"What the hell was that?" Louie asked. "I think I broke my ass."
"Mine too. My inwards are in knots." A voice croaked.
The van vibrated and jerked them forward. Hands failed and grunts filled the air as the men lost their seating. The van rolled to an abrupt stop yanking them back. A breath swooshed from Andy's lungs when his back connected hard again the vehicle. Christ.
"Get the hell off of me!" Louie growled.
"Whoops, sorry. My bad."
Ignoring his own pain, Andy watch as Denielo peeled his body off a sneering Louie who was sprawled on the ground with the side of his face pressed tight against the weapons case.
"Why did we stop?" Vane asked rubbing the side of his head.
"More like what the hell did we hit."
"Or ran over." Andy groaned rubbing his aching backside. God, his back ached.
"I think my senses are on backward I can't remember how I ended on Louie's body." Denielo grimaced and give Louie a sheepish look.
When the man growled, Denielo muttered: "I said I was sorry."
The look Louie shot at Denielo was enough to make the man flinch.
"What do you think happened?" Andy asked.
Denielo scrambled around for his Laptop. Grabbing it from the corner, he fixed the wayward screen. His finger clicked over a few keys. He hummed. "We are about two houses away from where the signal's pinging. Check out the address Andy, do you know it?"
Andy glanced over and studied the computer screen. "No, it doesn't look familiar."
Julian grunted and banged on the side of the van. "What's going on, Shaquille? Why did you stop?"
"Uh boss, I'm sorry for the shake-up back there but I narrowly missed an old woman and her dog, but I ran over a child's bicycle."
"Well kick me in the armpits!" Vane cussed. "I think you just alerted those bastards of our presence."
Andy sighed. "Look, we are not exactly close to where Gregg is so I doubt they heard or saw us."
"Are you sleeping over there, man?" Julian called out to the driver.
"No, boss, I just took my eyes off the road for a second and there she was with that mangy dog."
Julian huffed. "Be more vigilant next time and keep your damn eyes on the road."
"Wait."
"What is it now Denielo?" Julian snapped.
"There is a turnoff just around the corner. We can stash the vehicle." Denielo said not taking his eyes from the Laptop.
"Shaquille, did you hear him?"
"Yeah."
"Take us there."
Julian looked at Andy as the engine rumble to life.
"How do we approach?" Vane asked.
"If there are cameras, I'll hack into them and disable every one," Denielo said.
"That would be an advantage for us."
"Do you want me to cut the power too?"
"Yeah, do that." Julian nodded.
"I'm sure they are guards present at every entrance and exits," Andy said.
"I'm counting on it."
"We need to come up with a good strategy I'm sure they outnumber us," Vane added.
"Hear what we'll do," Jullian started, "Denielo, you will give us fifteen minutes-no less-no more. As soon as we leave, get your watch counting down. When the fifteen minutes are up, contact the police."
"I'm staying with the Van?" Denielo asked.
"Yes, someone has to stay here. Shaquille will accompany us but he wouldn't be going inside."
"Why?" Andy asked
"He's the best shooter we have presently and we need a man on the outside."
"Someone to watch our backs." Andy agreed. Thinking to himself it was a great idea. Shaquille had a better chance of taking out anyone who try sneaking up on them.
"Hold on." Denielo pressed on a few keys and brought up a map. "There is an abandoned building just across the street."
"Shaquille, get your butt back here," Julian shouted.
Andy heard the door open then closed before footsteps sounded. Louie lifted the latch on the door and it swung open to a grinning Shaquille.
"What are you smiling for you jackass? Get in here."
"I heard your head banging against the van. I see you're still hardheaded."
Vane growled.
"Easy there, ugly. No need to grind your teeth at me."
"Shaquille," Julian warned. "Stop messing around."
"Sorry boss man but he started it."
"Well, I'm finishing it. Now shut the hell up and listen."
Shaquille chuckled and folded his big body on the narrow seat. Andy watched as the seat groaned under his weight. He was a big man; his East Indian features striking. Bronze skin peeked out where his skin showed. His midnight eyes concentrated on Julian while his mouth stretched into a frown.
"You'll go to that house." Julian pointed to the screen.
"I'll set up on the second floor and I'll take out every one of those bloody bastards," Shaquille spat.
The men didn't know how grateful Andy was that they'd agreed to help him rescue his family-now Gregg and his wife. He knew a big part of their determination played in getting justice for their fallen friends.
"Andy?" Julian called.
Even though he didn't know much about the man Andy consider him a friend. He wished he could say the same for Vane. Even now the man lips still curled in disdain when their eyes locked. Andy would bet everything that the man blamed him for his best friend's death. "I'll go after Kyle. Leave him to me."
"You heard the man, leave that bastard to him," Julian addressed the men. "Louie you'll back him up. While he tracks down Kyle, you look for his family."
"What if Kyle's in the same room with his family?" Louie asked.
"Never mind that; do whatever you can to get Annie and Reon out of there. I'll deal with Kyle." Andy snarled.
"Get them back to the van," Julian continued. "Vane you will track down Gregg's wife and find out where there are keeping her, I'll look for Gregg."
"We're going in blind so we need to have each other's back. Shaquille will cover over backs as we move out. When you rescue the women and child, he'll be right there to kill anybody who follows. Understand?"
A series of yes boss flowed through the van.
"We have fifteen minutes before the police show up," Julian continued, "kill anyone who poses as a threat on sight."
"Ready? Everyone?"
"Yeah, let's go deal with those sons of bitches," Louie sneered.
"Be careful, and remember to find the women and child first-Louie," Julian eyed them, "Vane."
"You don't have to say it twice."
With a meaningful look at Vane, Julian turned to Andy. "Are you sure you could take him by yourself?"
Andy grinned his teeth. "Don't worry, Kyle's mine. Just get Annie and Reon out of there."
With a sharp nod, Julian told the men to move out and take their positions. "Vane and I will take the front. You and Louie go 'round the back."
The door opened again, and they pooled out the van. Andy was the last to get out. He took a deep breath and take in his surroundings. A place he'd never been before. He adjusted the gun in his hands then nod at Louie.
"Denielo cut the electricity and cameras now. Stay on the alert for when the men come back."
"Aye Aye, boss." He saluted then slammed the door close.
"Shaquille, we'll give you two minutes to get in position."
The man was already moving, weapon in hand and determination on his face.
Julian looked at him, Vane and Louie. "Don't get killed."
"Not counting on it, Julian," Vane answered before he strapped a huge knife to his thigh.
"Ready, Andy?"
"Always."
Julian chuckled. "Let's move the fuck out."
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