Chapter Six

Ciaran

Even after we’re reunited at the team lodging, I can’t shake the feeling from earlier. Our doctors checked in with the people we saved, and they’re waiting to be interviewed. As expected, Silas’ tip didn’t bring much traffic. Law enforcement showed up, but the details were grainy, and we’re still waiting on the written report to be entered into their database. My hands rub over my head, messing up my hair, and I don’t care. This is the second time that a mission feels like it was only half won.

“They easily could have moved them and the drugs within the time it took us to get here. It’s not like finding that kid’s body was going to stay a secret. They have to have known they would be chased,” Kai reasons, and I nod. It could happen.

“The lot could have been a secondary location. I heard some of their conversations, and it seems like this group was being moved elsewhere in the next few days,” Silas adds.

“Where though? Nothing in our intel suggested another site,” I sigh, this is the real problem. Reed does great work, and his tips and intel are always accurate, but usually when we get here there seems to be more going on than we planned for.

“Hey, Jakobe, law enforcement just posted their report. You need to see it,” One of the guys on the team sticks his head into the room and warns us.

Silas whips out his laptop and starts looking. Kai and I crowd around him while he works his way into their system, undetected. My eyes widen, and I can feel anger rising when I start to read the preliminary findings.

“A baggie of marijuana that was field tested. Are they serious?” I grit my teeth.

“Well, there’s your answer,” Kai shrugs, “Whoever has the real big drugs, and is hiding the rest of the people, is untouchable, and they are most likely protected by law enforcement.”

“Shit,” I huff and run my hands through my hair, pacing the room. I’m not aware of the audience we now have until I hear voices speaking. A woman and a man are speaking fluent Spanish, and I only catch half of it.

“What are they saying?”

One of the team guys turns to them and asks about their conversation.

“The coke?” One of the women speaks up, and points to the board.

“You know about it?” I turn to her and she starts speaking in Spanish.

“She said they have a luxury house in Del Rio. That’s where they make it. More people and workers are there too,” the Zulu team member translates.

“ How many? ” I ask her, needing to know how many people. I hear their exchange.

“She said at least fifty-five, maybe sixty.”

“That’s a big extraction rescue,” Kai breathes out.

“We haven’t prepared for this, and if they’re protected by the authorities, or other higher government, we would need another team at least,” Silas responds.

“Who’s the next closest team?” I ask Zulu.

“Probably Yankee or Victor. Although Victor had that storm last week, and some power went down around their area. Yankee would be the best bet to mobilize right away.”

“Call them,” I turn to Kai, “We need to move on this.”

“This could take at least another week to prepare,” Silas warns, and I hear what he is saying. If we extend our trip, it also puts our targets back at home on a stricter watch. Usually, Matt and Jason will step up to help, but Matt is with Erika right now. “Call Lux and let her know she needs to be at Rogue. I’ll call Saylor.”

I grimace a little knowing she may not be happy with me being gone another week, especially after having her out house hunting all day, but she and Lux will be needed. They might even need Oaklynn to come in. I hear Silas talking to Lux, and I quickly message Jason and Matt to let them know. I also text Reed, but don’t get a response, like always. Although I know he is out looking for the guys who got away last time.

The phone rings once when Saylor answers, “Ohmygod Ci! I tried calling you, but it went to your voicemail. Are you on your way home?” Her voice is frantic, causing me to stand a little straighter.

“No, that’s actually why I’m calling. There is another group of hostages being held by the same group. We’re planning a large-scale extraction to get them out,” I let her know, and silence follows, “Say?”

I hear her muffled cry and a sniffle, like she’s trying to hide the fact that she is crying, “Is it a few more days?”

“It’s probably going to be another week,” I hold the phone tighter, “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“No,” She sobs, “It’s Mila. She’s gone, Ci.”

“What do you mean?”

“We got home, and she wasn’t here. My mom checked her room and her office area, and all her things are gone,” Saylor starts crying harder.

“Did she leave a clue, or a note, or anything?” I ask, trying to keep calm even while my brain is splitting in two directions. I can’t leave the issues here, and I know Saylor needs me. Where the fuck would Mila go?

“There’s a note, but it just says she’ll contact us later,” Saylor replies.

I sigh, “Look, babe, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but that’s a good sign. It means she left on her own, and plans to communicate. Maybe she just needed a break.”

Saylor huffs, “Or she was coerced to write it. Seriously, I don’t know what’s been going on with her, and I’m scared, Ci.”

“As soon as I’m done here, we’ll head back and figure it out, okay. I promise,” I tell her.

“You aren’t supposed to make promises,” She sighs, but I can hear in her voice that the waterworks have stopped.

“I can make promises to my fiancée, just not targets,” I joke with her and it gets me a small chuckle. I bet she’s at least smiling. “I’ll call Reed too.”

“I think my dad was going to have Matt contact him,” Saylor informs me. I hope he does, so it is one less thing on my plate.

“I have to get going, but keep me updated okay. Lux should be calling you soon too. We’re mobilizing the Yankee team, and I need you and her to help run point at Rogue until we get back. Level Yellow is being activated,” I make her aware of the plans.

“We’re on it,” Saylor answers. “Be safe. I love you.”

“I love you, Princess,” I tell her and hang up, pocketing my phone.

“What happened?” Silas and Kai both ask at the same time.

“Mila is gone,” I tell them. I see the look of anger and panic cross Silas’ features.

“She left a note, but all her things have been cleared out. We need to take care of what’s here so we can get home and help our family,” I tell each of them, and they both nod, but their faces are grim.

Mila is like a younger sister to us all. Silas was really worried in the beginning about how she would feel towards him because of his dad, and her dad, but Mila accepted Silas right away. She treated him as a brother from the first day, and never looked back. For a guy who never had siblings growing up, suddenly having two sisters was a lot for my best friend, but in a good way. He has two sisters who love him, and care about his burly ass. I know he would do anything for either of them.

“Let’s get this done so we can get home. They already identified the house. We need surveillance pictures of the area, and blueprints of the property,” Silas grits through his teeth.

“Oak is on it,” Kai reassures us, and slaps a hand on Silas’ shoulder. The next week is going to be long, and I wonder if we can accomplish everything in that time. Fifty-five lives hang in the balance. Mila’s safety swings right next to them.

It’s time to go Rogue, or go home.