Page 46 of Fatal Intent

“Look, I get it, all right? But I’m telling you, nothing is going to stop me from getting out of here with my family, even if I have to drag myself the whole way. I swear I won’t slow you down.”

Although Grant was skeptical of Sean’s assessment of his ability, he took the man at his word. He and his teammates would adjust on the fly. It’s what they were best at doing. He gave a curt nod, then tapped his comm device. “This is Team One. We’ll be ready in two minutes.”

“Copy that,” Seth replied. “Hold until I give the word.”

“Copy.”

When Riley entered the room, Grant glanced at her with one eyebrow raised. Her answer was a slight nod.

Excellent. All they needed to do now was get out of this building and the compound before someone checked on the second set of guards who weren’t responding.

Piece of cake. Not.

Grant crouched beside Sean and Tara again. “Let’s get you on your feet.” He needed to know how physically stable the husband and wife were while standing and walking. “Riley, give me a hand. Mr. White, let’s get you up first.”

“It’s Sean.”

“Grant. This is my teammate Riley.” He grasped Sean’s left upper arm while Riley gripped the right one. Together, they lifted Sean from the floor and steadied him until he regained his balance. “Got it?” he asked Sean.

The other man nodded.

Riley crouched beside Tara, who still lay on the floor. “Where are you hurt, Tara?”

“An easier question would be where am I not hurt?” She sighed. “The guards spent a lot of time working me over. They viewed me as the weak link.”

Riley laid her hand over the other woman’s. “They knew your husband would cooperate if they hurt you. You weren’t the weak link, Tara. The cartel used you as leverage to control Sean.”

“It worked, too,” Sean said wryly. “Every time I tried to convince them to let us go or at least let the children go, they threatened Tara.”

“Let’s see if you can stand.” Between them, Grant and Riley lifted Tara to her feet.

The injured woman groaned, wrapping her arms around her stomach. “Man, that hurts.”

“Can you walk?” Grant assessed what he could see of her body. Bruises and a few scrapes and cuts that would have to be treated as soon as possible to prevent infection. He didn’t ask detailed questions about her physical health. If the cartel members had sexually assaulted Tara, bringing it out in the open now wouldn’t help matters. He and Riley couldn’t treat her. That uncomfortable conversation would be up to Jake and Ted Sorenson, the Fortress trauma surgeon based in Texas.

“I won’t break any land speed records, but I can and will walk. I’ll do anything to get out of here and reunite with my children.”

“Then let’s make that happen, okay?” Grant led the way out of the room, down the hall, and toward the back door of the building. He frequently glanced over his shoulder to check on the progress of the couple. At least they were moving under their own power. How long that would last was anyone’s guess. No way they would make it back to the SUVs without help.

At the back door, Grant nudged the Whites to press their backs against the wall. When they were out of sight of the doorway, he opened the door wide enough to scan their surroundings.

Seconds later, he jerked back and slammed the door shut. Bullets peppered the surface. Grant tapped his comm device. “Team One under fire.”

Rifle fire broke the silence of the night and announced the presence of Fortress in the compound. No help for it, though. Time wasn’t on their side.

Teagan said, “Go, Grant.”

He motioned to the Whites. “Time to go. Stay behind me. Follow our orders immediately without question.”

“Got it,” Sean said. “We won’t give you any trouble.”

Grant eased the door open again. When no gunfire pummeled the door, he scanned the area for immediate threats. Not seeing any, he threw the door wide and led the others from the building. Signaling Riley to take the lead, Grant dropped back to cover the Whites. Although grateful they were moving under their own power, they were moving too slowly for the group to escape without further confrontation with the cartel.

Riley wrapped her hand around Tara’s upper arm and propelled her faster toward the concrete barrier between them and freedom.

A shout sounded behind them. Grant spun and fired, taking down the cartel soldier barreling toward the group. He wouldn’t be the last of them. Even with Teagan guarding their six, the cartel outnumbered the Fortress operatives.

Tara stumbled and fell. Grant caught up with the women, bent, and scooped her into his arms. “Go,” he ordered Riley and Sean.