by Maddie Wade
“Zack,” Kanan called. The tension in his voice made them move toward the vehicle and the laptop he was staring at. “We have a visual.”
Dane looked at the screen and immediately searched for Lucy. He found her in the corner with Aubrey and Celeste. All the hostages were against the wall and he looked for Drew, finding him on the floor cradling a woman’s hand in his. The body of a female hostage was about five feet in front of them. Will was further along, on his own, and Jace, Jack, and Zin had managed to garner themselves the attention of Karol Snopek.
Kanan shook his head. “Jace was singing fifteen bottles of beer loudly so Luce could relay some information back to us.”
“He was drawing attention away from Lucy,” Dane responded.
“Exactly. Zin joined in and the three of them are taking a beating at the moment.”
“What was the information?” Zack was clipping a K-bar into his ankle holster as he spoke.
“Fifteen tangos, bombs on the doors, bar is a hot zone, and they have a perimeter wire on the cliff but nothing else as far as she can see.”
Daniel grinned. “They don’t see it as a threat.”
“That’s because only crazy fuckers would do a climb like that,” Smithy added.
Dane slipped the strap of a rifle over his head. “Good job we’re fucking ready for the cracker factory then.”
“Have we heard from Liam or Bebe?” Zack asked.
Kanan nodded. “Yes and no. Liam says the bombs are basic and he can disarm them all except the one on the bar which he can’t see. Bebe hasn’t checked in.” As he spoke, Astrid’s phone rang. They looked at her expectantly as she spoke.
“Hey, Bebe,” she said, listening silently for a second and then looking up in surprise and with a tiny bit of alarm in her eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Dane felt his patience stretch to breaking. “Yeah, yeah, keep K in the loop.” She hung up and looked at them with anger on her face. “They won’t pay the ransom or even entertain it. According to the Prince, his sister has been courting disaster for years, and they’re not prepared to pay twenty million dollars to bail out a woman.”
Disgust wormed its way through Dane.
Smithy shook his head. “So it’s up to us then. The police won’t get here in time, and the locals are running around like headless chickens.”
“Yep, time to climb lady and gents.” Zack clapped Kanan on the back and nodded solemnly, a host of meaning in that one action. Zack and Kanan had been best friends growing up and after a long hiatus they were again. Dane knew Kanan would look after Ava if anything happened to Zack, God forbid.
But what about Lauren and their kids? Who would make sure they were okay? The man he had made guardian of his children if anything happened to him and vice versa was beside him on this climb. His best friend since childhood—Daniel.
Seeming to sense his mood, Daniel laid a hand on his shoulder, “Don’t go there, man.”
Dane stopped and turned to him. “How can I not? You know as well as I do anything can go wrong on a mission, even a well-planned one. This is anything but.”
“Of course I do but going in with that attitude will fuck with your head. Shake that shit off, or you’re going to get us killed.”
Daniel was harsh and honest, and the words steadied Dane, reminding him who he was and what he did. He needed to stop being a fiancé, a father, a brother, and become an operator. He nodded at his friend. “Thanks. I needed that.”
Daniel grinned. “Always happy to tell you you’re a dick, man.”
He, Daniel, Astrid, Smithy, and Zack stood at the bottom of the cliff with the sea behind them and looked up.
Zack looked at the group then. “I want Astrid to go up first, then me, followed by Daniel, Dane, and you last, Smithy.”
Astrid bristled. “Why am I first?”
Zack gave her a cool look. “I don’t know how it works over at Zenobi, but here we do what the fuck I say. I want you first because if we slip, we’re going to be fucking heavy on you if we fall.”
“Fine,” she said, crossing her arms.
“When we get to the top, I want Smithy with me to clear the way for the hostages. Astrid, I need you to get to Lucy and Aubrey and give them a weapon. Smithy and I will get weapons to the three men on the ground. Dane and Daniel, I need you to clean house.”
Dane nodded and Zack pushed the comms into his ear. He did a mic check, which they all acknowledged, and they began the deadly ascent.
* * *
Lucy continued to watch the clock noting it was only fifteen minutes until the deadline. So far, the armed men had ignored Jace, Zin, and Jack lying on the floor at the Princess’s feet, not seeing them as any kind of threat. Scarface had let his men rough the three up for fun, Jack, Zin, and Jace taking each blow silently until a call had come in distracting them. She watched as the leader became submissive, pleading quietly. She cocked her ear to try and listen.
“I told you, my men will get the money. We should have waited until they were at sea—”
He stopped as if he’d been verbally shot down, and Lucy knew that somewhere up the chain was a much more powerful and cunning person. He hung up swiftly, his face a mask of impotent fury, before turning to the three men at his mercy. Jace was already sporting a black eye and split lip, and Zin and Jack were similarly bruised and bloodied. If they ever got out of there, it was going to make for some fascinating wedding photos.
“So, you think you are a funny man?” the leader said as he paced in front of Jace, Zin, and Jack. He turned to one of his men and spoke in Polish before laughing.
“You are making a mistake to think you will live through this,” Zin spoke in perfect Polish. In fact, he spoke many languages.
Scarface looked at him with interest before approaching with a smug impression. “And why is that, my friend?”
Zin looked up at the man and Lucy saw it was not the Zin who was in love with Celeste. Not the man who fed his dog steak, and not the man who loved his family with love so deep it was bottomless. No, this was the Viper, and Scarface had just made a colossal mistake. “I ain’t your fucking friend,” Zin snarled.
“Do I know you?” the leader asked, as if some buried survival instinct was trying to escape from the idiot’s brain.
“No, but you will beg my name for mercy before I kill you. You will know the last face you see on this earth will be the Viper’s.”
His voice was so cold Lucy wanted to shiver. She watched as the leader reacted to what Zin had said. The Viper had a fierce, almost reverent, reputation in Eastern Europe and Russia. His name was spoken in hushed whispers as if saying it could make him materialise. Most thought he was a myth, but those that knew him either died in untold pain or hailed him as a hero.
“No, you are not him.” Fear was tangible as the men in the room began to shift in fear.
Zin angled his head and smiled. Scarface lifted his gun in a shaky hand and pointed it at a smiling Viper, and then he pulled the trigger.
Chapter 12
Dane ducked as tiny bits of dirt and rock fell on him. The cliff face was sheer with very little in the way of footholds. It took him a minute to get a rhythm, not having climbed in over a year. Astrid seemed part monkey though, climbing as if it was as natural as breathing.
“How’re you doing down there, Smithy? I know you’ve been ignoring the gym to spend all your time watching Netflix.” He was joking. Smithy spent every minute keeping himself in peak physical condition.
“You just worry about your own flabby ass in my face.”
Dane chuckled low at his friend’s response. He grabbed for a hold as Zack pushed off with his foot. The grip was so small he could only get his fingertips on the ledge. Using every ounce of strength and determination, he pulled himself up, grabbing for the next hold.
He watched as Astrid neared the top of the cliff and saw her look down at them. Her signal to hold was sent down the chain. Silent tension held them as Dane watched her scan the poolside area, barely po
king her head over the side. When she ducked back down, she pointed towards the left side where it would be more challenging to scale over the top. The right side was dense with greenery and a rocky outcrop where they could regroup while the left had no flat surface or greenery on which they could stop, just sheer rock face.
“The trip has a gap on the left side.”
Dane acknowledged, as did the others and they followed Zack as he headed in that direction. It meant they’d have to go over in quick succession and it also meant Astrid would have to go over first as there was no way to pass her and maintain the surprise entrance.
Kanan’s voice came over the comms. “Tangos have Jace, Zin, and Jack in the middle of the room on their knees. Nate’s returned and is taking over watching the targets from a sniper position.”
“Good copy,” responded Zack, falling back into his position of mission leader, as if he’d never had time out.
Astrid had reached the left side and stopped. “Let me go over and clear the way. The guards are facing the drama in the middle and won’t see me.”
Dane waited as Zack mulled it over for a second before he realised it was the best choice. Time was running out, especially for their friends, and Dane knew Lucy would never let Jace die without trying to stop it.
Zack nodded to the team. “Execute.”
Within seconds, Astrid slid over the side in silence. Dane moved up behind Zack and a moment later heard, “Come over slowly, they’re looking away.”
One by one he, Zack, Daniel, and Smithy scaled the space coming to land on the edge of the pool area on noiseless feet. They were near the day beds and used them for cover as they surveyed the situation in front of them. They saw the man they knew as Karol Snopek addressing Zin, and they moved into position as a unit as Kanan’s voice came over the comms. “Zin has managed to engage the leader in a discussion. You need to move fast because he’s about to go full Viper on them and then we’ll be mopping up blood and puke.”
Astrid headed towards Lucy and Aubrey, her movements small and swift. Both women had clocked them coming in, as had Will and Drew. The relief on their faces was something he knew he’d never forget. Dane acknowledged them with a tight nod as he and Daniel skirted towards the main body of guards on the perimeter nearest the hostages. Zack and Smithy moved towards a group of sunbeds and then waited.
Snopek looked agitated as he spoke to Zin, and then they got the signal they needed as he lifted his gun to Zin’s head. As he went to fire, Zack took a shot and Snopek went down, with a bullet through the heart. Jack dove for the Princess, covering her with his body. Dane fired as the guards began to realise what was happening.
He and Daniel moved with practised precision, securing the perimeter. He saw Lucy and Astrid take out the guards nearest the doors with calm, deadly assurance. Each got a quick, clean, clinical bullet. Aubrey and Celeste began to usher the hostages towards the doors with Drew and Will behind then. Dane saw a guard lift an automatic weapon to fire on the hostages and put a bullet through his head, ending the threat from that direction.
Jack had picked up the Princess and was carting her towards the exit doors as Leonid Ihorovych Vakulenko moved in behind him. Lining up the shot, Dane fired, and Leonid hit the ground, dead. Jack turned and lifted his chin in thanks.
He stepped back at a sharp sting to his ribs, turning in time to see Zin snap the neck of the man who’d fired at him. Dane’s ribs burned from the impact of the bullet and he’d never been happier to be wearing a bulletproof vest, even though the bruise would hurt like a son of a bitch for days.
Though it seemed longer, it was only seconds until the team, including those on the inside, had secured the hostages and killed ten of the kidnappers. The other five were on the ground, Zack and Smithy guarding them with weapons as Astrid secured their wrists with zip-ties.
Dane checked the area was secure before heading towards Lucy, Jace, and Drew who were with a woman weeping beside her friend’s body.
“Dane.” Lucy released Jace and hugged her brother tight.
He held her close, not wanting to let go. “You’re not happy with the kids giving me grey hairs, now you’re joining in?”
Lucy laughed at his words as she stepped back to Jace, his arm going around her back to pull her into him. Dane understood. He would’ve been the same if it’d been Lauren. Lucy may be a badass with mad skills, but she was the love of Jace’s life. Any fool could see that and as such, he understood Jace’s need to protect her.
The door opened behind them, and they raised their weapons in unison.
Liam walked in a cocky smile on his face. “No need for that kind of reception.” His smirk was relaxed but he scanned the room for injuries, his shoulders relaxing when he saw nobody from their group was harmed.
A man wearing a Saint Kitts and Nevis’ police uniform pushed through, his face stern and angry as he surveyed the scene. His eyes landed on Zack and he strode towards him with purpose. “What is the meaning of this? You have no authority to lead an assault like this on foreign soil.”
Dane smirked as Zack crossed his arms and braced his legs shoulder-width apart as if settling in for something. The policeman had no idea of the bear he’d just poked. “Is that right? Well, how about you tell me how you and your men were faring with handling the situation?”
The officer visibly bristled. “We were handling it in our own way.”
Zack leaned down towards the smaller man. “Seems to me your way was about to get hostages killed.”
“Casualties are inevitable in a situation like this.”
“Not on my watch they aren’t,” Zack replied, his jaw clenching.
“This is not your watch. You are murderers.” He turned to his officers. “Arrest these men.”
Dane rolled his eyes at the idiocy of the man. They had saved lives and handled a potentially volatile situation with no further people being harmed. This man was posturing, and he knew it.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jack growled and then turned to Will as those from the incoming team were cuffed. “Make the call.”
Dane knew he was referring to the Eidolon contact in the British Government. He grinned as he heard Kanan laughing at Zack’s situation through the comms.
“K, you have thirty seconds to get your ass up here and sort this out before I lose my shit,” Zack growled.
The next few hours were a clusterfuck. Kanan had managed to pull some strings and get a call into Prime Minister Hennrick Deveaux. He had promptly arranged for them to all be released, and they had received a profuse apology and gratitude for their help.
Princess Taamira had made a call to her family. Learning they’d been willing to let her suffer and not pay the ransom had been a bitter pill for her to swallow. Dane felt sorry for the woman. She was entitled but she knew little else, and he had a sneaky feeling that under the jewels and money was a good person who just wanted to be loved. Her antics spoke of a woman looking for attention and not knowing the right way to go about it. It wouldn’t surprise him to see this have a profound effect on her life.
After the initial shock of her family’s betrayal had waned a little, she offered Fortis any amount they wanted if they took over her security detail. Zack had patiently explained that they couldn’t do that at this time and passed the conversation over to Jack. He told her he’d have a private jet ready within the hour and Liam would escort her to meet Mitch and Waggs in Miami.
Dane had laughed when the Princess lifted her eyebrow in a haughty regal manner as she looked over Liam in his navy and large pink-flowered swim shorts.
“What? I’m on holiday!”
The exclamation was met with a toss of her beautiful head as she walked towards her suite, leaving Liam to follow.
“Thanks, boss.” He heard as he passed Jack, who was smiling for a change.
It was late evening before all the hostages had been checked for minor injuries and interviewed. They’d been moved into a large conference room so the scene could be pr
eserved for evidence. Dane knew from bitter experience that it wasn’t the physical wounds that would wake them in the dead of night, it would be the emotional and psychological ones.
He and Drew were sitting on the edge of a raised stage drinking water when Lucy and Jace came towards them. Drew’s friend Mara had been moved back to the sister hotel with her other friends a few minutes ago.
“How’s Mara doing?” Lucy asked Drew.
He shook his head. “Not great, but she’ll get there. This is a lot to process but she’s strong and has good people around her, so that’ll help.”
Dane nodded. “It sure will.”
Jace had still not let go of Lucy and she had been similarly keen to keep him in her sights. “Be nice if we could go to a wedding and it didn’t end with a hostage situation,” Jace commented.
Celeste and Zin moved in beside them. The deadly Viper still seeming to ripple around the edges of the man, who was still wired.
Celeste laughed. “Yeah, it’s totally put me off the idea of getting hitched. I think I’m cured.”
Zin looked at her sharply, making Dane smirk. The man totally wanted to marry Celeste now the idea had been put in his head. Served him right for dragging his feet, now maybe he’d have to work for it. The thought pleased him.
“What’re you smiling at?” Zack asked as he and Kanan walked towards them.
“Celeste was just saying how she’s been put off getting married by all this.”
Kanan grinned. “That’s my girl. And remember, if you ever want to ditch this loser and come live with Roz and me, the door’s always open.”
Celeste rolled her eyes and snuggled closer to Zin. “Yeah, I’m good where I am, thanks.”
“Well if you change your mind...”
Dane heard Zin growl low in his throat as he glared at Kanan.