And she’d done it in brilliantly.
If he wasn’t already head over ass in love with the woman, that moment right there would’ve done it.
“You guys there?” Shadow’s voice came over the speaker in the center of the table.
“We’re here,” Owens answered her. “Tell me you’ve got something.”
“I’ve got something,” the mysterious woman answered. “A whole lot of somethings, actually. Sending you her coordinates now.”
Their phones dinged simultaneously with the incoming location. Just as Avery had said, she was back in the DR.
“Property belongs to one Emilio Garcia.”
“The presidential candidate slash drug lord we talked about a while back?” Garrett frowned.
“Yep.” Shadow confirmed. “And the phone call your girl just made originated from his personal residence.”
The room erupted in several what-the-fucks and groans.
“Shit.” Apollo shook his head and looked at Garrett with concern. “If that’s true, we’re going to need more manpower than the four of us.”
“He’s right.” Digger chimed in. “If Garcia is as bad as they say, he’s going to be armed to the teeth. If Avery saw six guards, plus him and another one working closely with him, there’s bound to be at least six more on the other side of the property.”
“But Tac-Ops Two and Three are both still out of the country working other shit,” Bones pointed out.
“Which is why”—Owens entered the room—“I’ve already got another team gearing up to meet us there.”
“Which team?”
“Remember the Delta Force guys who helped us with hostage transport?”
“Ghost and those guys?” Garrett piped up.
Owens nodded. “Just spoke with Colonel Robinson. He’s given them the green light to head back to the DR to help us get Avery back and take down Garcia once and for all.”
“Hell, yeah!” Bones cheered. “I liked those guys.”
Garrett did, too. And while he hadn’t expected to be working with them again so soon, he was more than willing to have an extra set of guns. Especially if it meant getting Avery the hell out of there and bringing her back home, where she belonged.
“Let’s gear up, boys.” He stood and headed for the door.
His teammates followed. But when he got to the door, Garrett stopped and turned to face them. Taking precious seconds Avery didn’t have, he addressed the entire group as one.
“In case I forget to say it, thank you. Avery, she’s…important.”
“We know, brother.” Apollo squeezed his shoulder. “She’s with you, that makes her one of us.”
The flight back to the DR was the longest of his entire life. Garrett kept watching his phone, praying Avery would call again. Not that he really expected her to after the way their brief conversation had ended.
He felt heartsick knowing there was a chance they wouldn’t get there in time. He wasn’t blind to that fact, and his years in the Army and with Tac-Ops had taught him to be realistic. But he’d also seen miracles happen and people who should’ve died in the worst of ways make it out with barely a scratch.
So, Garrett focused on that. Hecountedon that. Because for him, with his Avery, there was no other choice.
As promised, the Delta team was armed and ready by the time they got to the rendezvous site. They were positioned a mile out from Garcia’s property line.
Since they’d only worked together briefly before, and that was just a simple hostage transfer, Owens had provided them with basic intel on each operative prior to boarding the plane to come here.
Garrett and the others knew each man’s call sign, rank, field specialty, and training. But because this was an op—the most important one of Garrett’s life—they gave up precious seconds so Ghost could run through a quick introduction before they headed out.