In theory, that should make locating the hostages a much easier task. But after clearing the five rooms positioned along the path they’d recently entered, his gut tightened with worry that they may not even be here.
Digger pointed to another turn up ahead. After confirming no immediate threat was present, Beckett and the others began their march in that direction. Every booted step they took carried with it another layer of dread as Beckett and the others were met with more of the same…
Empty rooms with no sign of life.
But as they approached yet another narrow pathway of rooms, Digger held up his fist, and all three men halted their steps immediately. The former SEAL motioned to something at the end of the shadowed hall, and it took Beckett and Apollo each a split second to realize what their leader had spotted.
A man was there, and he was standing guard outside a closed-off room.
Bingo.
Beckett’s grip on his gun tightened. He readied his trigger finger and didn’t dare take his eyes off the asshole. Digger gave the signal to begin their approach, but before the trio could take their first step, their target turned his head toward them.
The surprise in his eyes was clear to see, even from where Beckett stood. The man shouted something he didn’t understand as he raised his rifle and aimed it in their direction.
Digger’s bullet tore straight through the terrorist prick’s head before the other man could even start to pull his trigger.
“There!” Beckett pointed to the crude wooden door where the deceased had been posted. “That has to be where the hostages are being held.”
With their weapons held steady and their eyes laser-focused, the three members of Tac-Ops approached the door with caution.
“Watch my six,” Digger ordered as he slung his rifle over his shoulder. Squatting down, he began inspecting the door for possible explosives.
After giving them a thumbs up to let them know they were in the clear, he stood and readied himself to make entry through the door. Beckett and Apollo got into position. Beckett stood to Digger’s right, keeping his back against the rough rock wall adjacent to the door.
To Digger’s left, Apollo stood with his back to the wall, his head moving from side to side to keep watch on the section of hallway from which they’d come.
Their team leader dipped his chin, letting them know he was ready to make entry. Mimicking the man’s move, both Beckett and Apollo let the man know they were ready.
Please let them be okay.
Digger opened the door. The stench of sweat and fear filled Beckett’s nostrils as he and the others kept their weapons up and at the ready.
Someone screamed. Another whimpered. And in the very next moment, Beckett realized…
It’s them!
Terror filled the girls’ faces as they remained huddled in one of the back corners of the room. Squished together for comfort, it was clear these were the four students from the file their boss had provided.
Their olive skin was ashen with dirt, and their hair matted and disheveled from days of neglect. Dark circles marred theskin beneath their innocent eyes as they stared up at him, but other than being dirty and weak—most likely from being dehydrated and malnourished—the girls thankfully appeared to be unharmed.
And right now, they were looking back at him, Apollo, and Digger as if they were public enemy number one.
With Digger watching the door for any threat that may arise, Beckett quickly lowered his weapon and put a hand in the air. Keeping his tone soft and his movements slow, he inched his way toward them.
“It’s okay,” he promised. “We’re Americans, and we’re here to take you home.”
One of the young girls rose to her tiny bare feet. Her accent was thick, but he understood her perfectly when she asked him, “Are…are y-you really here to save us?”
“We are,” Apollo backed the claim.
Beckett glanced around, his gut tightening when he realized the fifth hostage was nowhere to be seen.
“Your teacher,” he prompted. “Where is she?”
“They took her,” the little girl he recognized as Benesh spoke up next.
“Took her where?”