Chapter 32

“WHERE?” SAWYER DEMANDED, his gaze locked on Logan. The mission clock ticked in his head. If he didn’t find Janie in the next few hours, she could be lost to him forever.

His jaw tightened. That would not happen. He loved her and would tear apart the world to find her.

“Maria and the Reyes cousins took Janie to Chestnut Springs.”

He stared. “Chestnut Springs?” That made little sense.

Brody scowled. “That’s two hours from here in the middle of nowhere. If you’re wrong….”

“Janie’s dead.” Logan’s expression was grim. “I know.”

“You said the Reyes men could have taken her to two locations.” Jesse folded his arms. “How do you know Chestnut Springs is the right one?”

Logan turned back to his computer and brought up a map of the area. “The last known location of the target vehicle is here.” He pointed to a red dot on the map. “The next traffic cam should have picked them up here.” He pointed at a green dot. “They never passed that camera. The only Vatos Locos compound near there is Chestnut Springs. The Reyes cousins and Maria must have turned off the main road between those cameras.”

He tapped the section, and the map magnified. “One of the Vatos Locos compounds is here. The only way to get to the area is on this road.” Logan pointed. “Since we heard about a Vatos Locos VIP coming to Hartman, I’ve been monitoring chatter on the dark web. Much of it is centered on the Chestnut Springs area. They took Janie to that compound, Sawyer. How long she’ll remain there or remain alive is anyone’s guess.”

“Gear up,” Brody said. “I have a call to make.” He walked outside.

Max said, “I’ll get your Go Bag. Save your strength and save your argument. You’ll need every second of recovery time, and it still won’t be enough.”

Instead of wasting time arguing, he told Max where the Go bags were. His friend returned a minute later with Go bags plus Jesse’s mike bag. “Pack heavy.”

Sawyer donned his gear, starting with his bullet-resistant vest. Layer by layer, he added more weapons and slipped his communication device into his ear.

Brody returned. “We’re set. Maddox is rerouting a helicopter to the airport. Another team is meeting us at the rendezvous coordinates.”

“Who?” Sawyer asked.

“Artemis.”

The knots in his gut eased slightly. Nice. Those women were lethal.

Brody took less than two minutes to suit up. “Let’s roll. Max, drive Sawyer’s SUV. Jesse, ride with them.” He held up a hand when Sawyer opened his mouth to protest. “Save it. No one wants a concussed driver on the road.”

“Fine.” It wasn’t, but what choice did he have? His primary goal was to reach Janie before Hernandez or one of his cronies hurt her. He tossed Max his keys.

The team loaded up in two SUVs and headed for the Hartman Airport. Ten minutes after they arrived, a helicopter landed on the pad close to their vehicles.

The rotors continued to spin as they ran to the helo and boarded. Once they were strapped in, the pilot lifted off and headed for Chestnut Springs.

“How long will we be in the air?” Sawyer asked the pilot.

“About 40 minutes.” Jake Sikorsky glanced over his shoulder. “Maybe less if we have a good tailwind. The boss told me your girlfriend was kidnapped. I’m sorry, buddy.”

“Me, too.”

“I’ll do what I can to cut down on the flight time.”

Sawyer lapsed into silence, running through various scenarios in his head. None of them were good. If anything happened to Janie, he would take out as many of the gang as he could. He didn’t care about the boss’s orders to stay under the radar while on US soil. Nothing mattered but Janie. He didn’t want to live without her.

Twenty-five minutes into the flight, Brody checked his phone and glanced at Sawyer. “Artemis is on site. Everything is quiet.”

Wouldn’t stay that way when they discovered the Fortress teams. “Have they seen Janie?”

A slight head shake. “They’ve split up and are watching every part of the compound. If Hernandez moves Janie now, Artemis will see it. They’ll do what they can to protect her.”

Sawyer’s hands clenched around his rifle and willed the helo to fly faster.

Soon, the pilot said, “We’ll reach the landing zone in two minutes.”

“Copy that.” Brody turned to the rest of the team. “Check your comm devices.” When everyone had checked in, he called Zane. “We’re one minute out. Join the loop.”

A minute later, Zane said through their earpieces, “Artemis is looped in as well. Maddox also has Durango on standby in the area if you need them.”

“Copy that,” Brody said.

“Copy,” a female voice murmured.

“Iona, have you seen the Reyes cousins?” Brody asked.

“Affirmative. No sign of either woman.”

“Janie is the priority, not Maria,” Sawyer said. He refused to apologize when Brody glared at him for breaking protocol. Too many people speaking on the comm loop would create confusion.

“Roger that,” Iona replied, voice soft.

They maintained radio silence for the rest of the flight. As soon as the helicopter touched down, the Texas Team opened the side door and hopped out. Once they were out of danger, Jake lifted off and flew to a nearby location to wait for word from the team.

“We’re on the ground, Iona,” Brody murmured. “Rendezvous in ten minutes.”

“Copy.”

Brody motioned for the team to move out. As they jogged toward the compound, Sawyer and the others scanned the area, looking for perimeter defenses.

Logan held up a fist.

The team froze.

Brody glanced at Max and pointed to a camera secured to a tree fifteen feet away.

Max circled around to get behind the tree, shimmied up the trunk, and disabled the camera. The gang would know something was wrong, but Logan didn’t have time to create a loop. Hopefully, the gang would assume the problem was some kind of technical malfunction.

When he finished, Max came down the tree trunk. “I don’t think the camera caught sight of us, but I can’t be sure.”

A nod from Brody, then, “Let’s move. The faster we reach our destination, the better. If they saw us, let’s not give them time to prepare for an assault.”

Although running made Sawyer’s head hurt worse, he sucked it up and ran full tilt with his teammates.

Minutes later, they arrived at the rendezvous site to find Iona, leader of Artemis, waiting for them.

“Sit rep,” Brody said.

“Something is going on. Not sure what yet. The rest of the team stayed in place to keep watch for your girlfriend, Sawyer.”

“Still nothing?”

Sympathy filled her eyes as she shook her head. “We would have told you if we’d seen her. We know how important she is to you.” Iona turned her attention to Brody. “How do you want to approach this?”

He sighed. “If it was night, I’d use infrared to find Janie. Since that’s not an option, we’ll have to do it the hard way.”

“Breach and search?”

A nod.

Another woman broke into the comm feed. “Iona, I think I found Sawyer’s woman.”

Iona tapped her earpiece. “Location, Teagan?”

“A building at the back of the compound. The Reyes cousins left together a few minutes ago. I saw a curtain move on the second floor. Whoever is inside the building is being very careful not to be seen.”

“We need visual confirmation before we launch the distraction.”

“Copy that.”

Sawyer tapped his earpiece. “Zane, can you get us a satellite image of the compound?”

“Working on it.” His fingers tapped on the keyboard, then, “Coming now.”

Texas Team and Iona grabbed their phones. “Where is the building?” Sawyer asked her.

She studied the photo for a minute and pointed. “Here. The wall is close to the building. Is your woman an athlete?”

He smiled. “Nope.”

“She won’t be climbing the wall without help. A gate’s back there as well. We can disable the locking mechanism. Access is key card.”

Brody studied his phone screen for a moment, then said, “All right. This is what we’re going to do.” After he laid out his plan, he glanced around. “Anyone see holes in the plan?” When no one voiced a concern, he said, “Iona, if you or your teammates see an imminent threat to Janie, I want to know about it. Understood?”

“Copy that.”

Brody slid his phone away. “Move out.”

They covered the distance between the rendezvous point and the compound in minutes. Brody gave the signal for his team to scatter, and Sawyer headed for the back of the compound.

He activated his earpiece as he skirted bushes and scanned for roaming guards and more security measures. “Teagan, heading your direction now,” Sawyer murmured.

“Copy.”

He’d covered two hundred feet when someone brushed up against a bush and kicked a rock, muttering curses. Sawyer slipped behind the cover of a large tree and waited. Despite his driving need to get to Janie, he couldn’t let this guy continue tromping through the woods and stumble across one of the other members of the Texas Team or Artemis. He didn’t have to wait long.

A man dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt, and tactical boots walked into view, scowling down at his phone. He shoved it into his pocket as he passed Sawyer’s position.

Sawyer slipped out behind him and wrapped his arm around the gang member’s neck, putting him in a sleeper hold. The guy was out in less than ten seconds. He made quick work of cinching his wrists and ankles with zip ties and slapping a piece of duct tape over his mouth to keep him quiet.

He activated his comm device. “One down.” Sawyer resumed his journey to the back of the compound, stopping twice more to handle roving guards.

He returned to a job to cover the remaining distance between himself and Janie when Teagan broke into the comm chatter.

“Janie’s in trouble. I don’t have a shot. Permission to create a diversion?”

“Go,” Brody said. “Sawyer, go.”

“Copy.” Weapon in hand, he ran. No need to work around the security cameras now. Vatos Locos would know Fortress was on the scene in seconds.

Rifle fire broke the silence of the woods. In the compound, shouts and curses peppered the air as much as return fire from handguns and rifles.

“Lorenzo Reyes has Janie,” Teagan reported. “They’re leaving the compound on foot.”

Sawyer pushed himself harder. “Location?”

She gave the coordinates. “No shot, Sawyer. Iona?”

“Track and maintain a visual.”

“She’s priority,” Sawyer said. “Whatever it takes, don’t let him escape with her. I’m two minutes out.”

“Copy.”

A ball of ice formed in his stomach as Sawyer raced toward the coordinates Teagan reported as she kept pace with Reyes and Janie.

Minutes later, she hissed. “Reyes hit her. Orders?”

“Stop him now,” Sawyer snapped. Seconds later, he heard Reyes curse.

“Who are you?” the thug shouted.

“Your worst nightmare,” Teagan said.

“Get out of my way or I’ll kill you.”

“I can’t let you leave, buddy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I have orders to stop you from taking the woman. The person who gave the orders will be seriously ticked off if I fail. I don’t want to face his wrath. If you’re smart, you won’t either.”

“He’s not my problem, but you are. You’ll be dead in two seconds if you don’t get out of my way. When I shoot, I don’t miss. Move.”

Weapon up, Sawyer moved into sight. “I don’t think so, Reyes.”

Reyes dragged Janie in front of his chest as a human shield and pressed the barrel of his weapon to Janie’s temple. “You. I should have known. How did you find us?”

“Drop your weapon, Reyes.” He didn’t dare let himself look at Janie. A distraction could be the death of them all. “Now.”

“She’s mine. Diego gave her to me. I leave with her now or she dies.”

“I don’t like those options.” Janie was wheezing. Reyes was holding her too tight, choking her. “Baby, turn your head to the right.”

“You talk to me,” Reyes snapped. “I own her. I speak for her.”

Janie turned her head, and the wheezing subsided. She slid her hand into the pocket of her hoodie. What was she doing?

Afraid to give away her movements, Sawyer kept his expression neutral as his woman pulled out the knife she’d taken from his pocket. What was she planning? Whatever it was, he needed to provide a distraction to cover her movements.

He took two steps forward. “You’re not leaving here, Reyes. This is your last chance to come out of this alive. I’m not letting you leave with her. You’ll have to go through me to take Janie.”

An ugly smile curved the other man’s mouth. Reyes did exactly what Sawyer wanted him to do. He moved the barrel of the pistol from Janie’s head, pointed it at Sawyer, and fired.

The impact of the bullet sent Sawyer sprawling on the ground. He sucked in a breath. Oh, man. That was going to leave a bruise. Thank God for bullet-resistant vests.

“No!” Janie pressed the button to release the blade and slammed the steel to the hilt in Reyes’s thigh.

Reyes screamed and reached down to yank the blade from his body.

Janie dropped to the ground and rolled away from her captor.

Reyes cursed, aimed his weapon at Sawyer again. “Get back here or I’ll shoot him a second time.”

Teagan threw her knife at the other man, her aim true. A split second later, another blade buried itself in Reyes’s other thigh. He screamed again, clutching the hilt of the second knife.

Ignoring the pain in his chest, Sawyer scrambled to his feet and covered the distance between him and Reyes at a dead run and tackled him. Two rabbit punches to the gut and one right cross, and Reyes was out.

Sawyer wasn’t finished punishing the man who had taken Janie from him. He continued to pummel Lorenzo Reyes until his face was a pulpy mess. He wanted to kill the man who had hurt the woman he loved.

A small hand clamped on his shoulder. “Sawyer, I’ve got him,” Teagan said. “Ease up. He’s not worth the cost you’ll pay if you kill him. Go check on Janie.”

Janie. Sawyer shook his head to clear the tunnel vision, leaped to his feet, and raced to Janie’s side. She was still sprawled on the ground. Was she hurt worse than he thought? He couldn’t look at her when Reyes used her as a human shield. Sawyer knew himself well. If he’d seen Janie’s injuries, he would have lost his focus.

Gently, he moved Janie to her back and froze when he finally saw her bruised and swollen face and the split lip. “Oh, baby.”

Fury boiled up inside Sawyer. He turned his head to glare over his shoulder at the culprit and started to climb to his feet. Lorenzo Reyes was a dead man.

“Sawyer!” Tears trailed from Janie’s eyes. “You’re alive. I thought Lorenzo had killed you.”

“I’m wearing a vest.” He kissed her forehead and again shifted his focus to the man who hurt Janie. “Give me a minute. I’m not finished with Reyes.”

A soft hand clamped over his wrist. “No. Stay with me,” Janie murmured.

His gaze swung back to the woman he needed more than his next breath. “He hurt you. No one hurts you and gets away with it.”

She smiled slightly and winced as her lip bled more heavily. “I think you hurt him worse than he did me. Stay with me, love.”

He settled by her side again. “I reserve the right to revisit the plan to make him pay. He’s earned it.”

Janie laughed. “I think he’ll be in jail.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t get to him,” he muttered, glaring again at the unconscious man.

“I don’t want to visit my husband in jail. You hear me?”

Laughter from the Fortress operatives sounded over Sawyer’s comm device. He brushed his mouth over hers, light as a feather. What he wouldn’t give to take the kiss he wanted so badly. Soon, he consoled himself. When Janie’s mouth was healed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Let’s finish this business and get out of here,” Brody said. “All the alphabet agencies and local cops will be here in a few minutes. Jesse, check Janie while we tie up the garbage.”

“Copy,” operatives from both teams replied.

Jesse emerged from the trees with his mike bag and knelt by Janie’s side. “Let me check you for injuries, then we’ll get out of here, all right?”

“I hope you have cold packs in your bag.”

“Restocked everything after we flew in from Mexico.” He winked at her. “I have you covered, sugar.”

“Thank goodness.”

Sawyer wrapped his hand around Janie’s and waited in silence while the medic checked her for injuries.

His throat tightened and his eyes burned. What if she had internal injuries? He should have the helo pilot take them straight to a hospital. If he did, though, Sawyer bet the medical staff would report her injuries to the authorities, and he’d be the prime suspect in her assault. They’d separate him from her.

Not happening. He was never leaving her side again if he could help it.

Two minutes later, Jesse sat back on his heels. “I’m seeing multiple bruises and those scratches on your wrists. Janie, we’re going to ask you a few questions and we need you to answer them with complete honesty, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. Got it?”

Her hand tightened around Sawyer’s. “All right. What do you want to know?”

Sawyer knew what was coming. He hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on the possibility, but the time for denial was over. Whether or not the worst had happened, nothing would change how he felt about this woman. “Look at me, sweetheart.”

Her gaze locked on his. “What is it, Sawyer? What’s wrong?”

“I love you, Janie. No matter what you tell us, nothing will change how much I adore you. And by the way, we’re getting married as soon as I can arrange it. I’m not waiting any longer. I know I promised to give you time, but I almost lost you today. No matter what you tell us about your experience at the hands of the Reyes cousins, nothing will stop me from marrying you.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Sawyer.”

“Want me to do this?” Jesse murmured.

Sawyer shook his head, gaze still locked with Janie’s. She was his. He’d walk through anything she faced, good or bad. They’d deal with it together as a team. He would always be there for Janie. “Were you unconscious after you were kidnapped?”

She stilled. “No.”

Man, he hated to ask her these questions, hated more that they were necessary. For the sake of her health, though, he had to know the truth. “Second question, and this one is harder. Were you sexually assaulted after you were kidnapped?”

Janie’s eyes widened. “No, Sawyer. I promise.”

He lifted her hand and turned it to examine the scratches on her wrist and forearm. “These injuries resemble those I’ve seen on survivors of rape who fought their bonds and their attackers. How did you get these injuries, baby?”

“Your knife. My hands were secured behind my back with a zip tie. I tried to be careful, but the knife slipped several times. I give you my word, Sawyer, that none of the men touched me.” She swallowed hard. “If Lorenzo had been successful in taking me away, he would have assaulted me.” Tears spilled down her cheeks again. “You saved me.”

His own eyes filled with tears at the relief he felt. He’d still love her no matter what, but convincing a traumatized Janie that he loved her beyond reason would have taken a while. Sawyer brushed her lips with his.

Jesse reached over and squeezed her free hand. “You did well, sugar. We’re making you an honorary member of the Texas Team.”

“Really?” She beamed at the medic.

“We saw the security footage from the shop. You protected me and Sawyer from further harm, took one of Sawyer’s many knives, and were strong enough to use it when, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t hurt anyone. You are one tough lady, and we’re proud to call you ours.”

“Enough with the mushy stuff,” Max complained. “Get a move on already. If we don’t leave soon, I’ll be late for a date with my wife.”

Laughter sounded over the comm device. Sawyer smiled. “Max is complaining that we’re taking too long. He has a date with Willow.”

“Not to mention the law enforcement officials about to descend on us,” Brody said dryly. “I’d rather skip that part of the program. We’ll have to deal with the feds eventually, but I want to do it on our turf, not here.”

“Yeah, yeah. We’re moving.” Sawyer helped Janie to her feet and swept her into his arms.

“I can walk,” she protested. “You must hurt after being shot.”

Jesse stopped him. “Where were you hit?”

“Vest. Only a bruise. I’ll live.” Janie was hurting and there was no need for her to suffer if he could prevent it. “I need to hold you, Janie. Let me.”

Her arms tightened around his neck. “I love you, Sawyer.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”

“Get a move on,” Logan groused. “Save the mush for later.”

First step was to get Janie out of these woods before law enforcement stopped them. Second, Sawyer needed to have her checked out by a doctor he trusted. That meant a trip to Nashville. “Brody, have the helo pilot meet us at the landing zone. I want the doc on duty at Fortress to check Janie.”

“Jesse?”

“I agree. We need to make sure she doesn’t have internal injuries or fractures. Reyes was rough on her.”

“I’m fine,” Janie protested. “But Sawyer should see a doctor.”

“I’ll see the doctor if you will,” Sawyer said.

“Dirty pool, Chapman.”

“Deal with it, Moran. Besides, we need to do as much as we can to reduce the swelling and bruising on your face before your brother sees you. Otherwise, he’ll think I’m responsible for your injuries.”

“David,” she murmured. “How will I tell him Maria is responsible for his injuries and mine?”

“Lead off with ‘you’re a lucky man, David,’” he suggested. If Maria had roamed free for much longer, she would have asked someone to finish the job of making her a widow.

“Good plan.” She kissed his jaw. “David will need help to recover, love.”

“Let’s make sure you’re all right first, then we’ll tackle the rest of it, one step at a time. We’ll handle everything together.”