Page 44

Chapter 44

Constantine

As Hudson drove us to our target location in Brooklyn, I flipped my Ruger AR-556 rifle onto its side, inspected the magazine, and waited for Izzy to recheck the intel she’d already shared over speakerphone.

“One more second,” she said.

I confirmed the mag was full, slapped it back in place, then racked the charging handle, chambering a round. My thumb slid over the safety, but I left it on for now.

The scope was already dialed in for mid-range combat. My plated vest was stocked with ammo, smoke grenades, and flashbangs. My Glock 19 was secured at my side, my helmet in place—despite the rushed exit, I was ready.

I just prayed I wouldn’t have to fire a single round. That we’d get to Colin before he arrived at the location they sent him.

I’d rewatched the video message they’d sent him three times. A gun pressed to Lennon’s head, her eyes full of tears, as a computerized voice demanded: “Come alone, without your father, or she gets a bullet to the head. Your life for hers.”

I rested the rifle on my lap and tried calling Colin again. Like every time before, he sent me straight to voicemail after the first ring.

If he’d just answer, I could reason with him. Talk him off this hero ledge he was trying to jump from. Which was precisely why I knew my hardheaded son wasn’t picking up.

Just. Like. Me.

Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I glanced at my brothers in the backseat of the Suburban.

Alessandro had my laptop, studying the location sent to Colin, already devising our GTFOF (get the fuck out fast), full-throttle infil plan to pull my son out before it was too late.

We were minutes from catching up to him.

Hudson had called in a favor from his governor father, gave him our plate number, and told him to ensure the NYPD didn’t pull us over for blowing past every speed limit and traffic law in the city.

We couldn’t risk sending officers to the location. Too many variables. Too many things that could go wrong. Colin could get caught in the crossfire, for one. No, this had to be us.

“I was right. It’s him.” Izzy’s voice cut through the tension with tight certainty. “I’ve triple-checked. The fake cop from the parking garage was at the place where you guys are headed now. I have a clear shot of him on the security cameras at the warehouse, leaving an hour before he showed up at the garage.”

The mercenaries had been tracking Colin’s phone, which was how they found us at the mall. That’s why I hadn’t detected a tail. I hadn’t missed it because I’d been distracted, but because we hadn’t been followed. We’d been hunted.

“Giuseppe Messina left that same location shortly after the mercenary did,” Izzy added.

A muscle jumped in my jaw.

“And Vinegar Hill on the East River Waterfront between Dumbo and the Navy Yard, is the base of the Sicilians’ operation,” Alessandro said, backing up Izzy’s intel.

I shook my head, refusing to believe what was being suggested. “I talked to Giuseppe tonight, and he confirmed the Sicilians’ hands are clean of everything. They’re not involved, I’m telling you.”

I faced forward, catching Hudson’s eyes, and I knew that look. He was concerned about me. And well, fuck, he had good reason to be. My son is out there alone, heading into enemy territory. New driving skills and no idea what he was up against.

“There’s no way the Sicilians are in league with those mercenaries,” I said with conviction.

“Listen to Constantine. I just got off the phone with Giuseppe myself.” My father joined in, having my back. And if he was listening in, was Juliette as well? “I can assure you he’s not involved. He’d never cross us. Think outside the box.”

“Dad, this can’t be a coincidence,” Izzy told him, and I took a deep breath as the pieces clicked into place.

“It’s not a coincidence,” I confirmed. “Someone wanted us to see that footage, and those men from the garage were unknowing sacrificial lambs. That’s why they sent amateurs.” Taking my father’s advice to broaden our horizons, I unloaded the rest of my theory: “The mercenaries knew they’d never be able to get Colin away from me out in the open. They couldn’t send a small army to a public place. It was all a setup for tonight. A diversion. Pitting us against the Sicilians. They’re hoping we show up and start a war with them. And while we’re distracted with them, Colin will wind up a million miles away from me.” The blood drained from my face as it hit me. “Because Colin won’t make it to the location they sent to him. They’re going to intercept him.”

“What?” Juliette shot out in panic, confirming she was listening.

Before I could say anything to comfort or reassure her, I overheard my mom urging her from the room and out of earshot of our call.

Tension coiled tight beneath the surface, and bile rose in my dry throat.

“They don’t need you alive for their plan with Sebastian to succeed as long as Easton’s still involved,” Izzy added, following along, and I wished I wasn’t right this time. “He was their original target for the deal. You were an unexpected issue for them.”

“He’s stopped moving,” Alessandro gritted out.

Despite my best efforts not to, I couldn’t help but fall back into parent mode, terror grabbing hold of me.

“We’re right on the ass of the SUV. He’s a block away,” Alessandro alerted as Hudson slowed down so we could locate the Suburban Colin stole. “It’s parked somewhere here, but . . . fuck. His phone went offline.”

I secured a firm grip of the Ruger on my lap, as if its lethal familiarity would keep me from getting sick. “Whoever baited Colin must assume we’re not far behind. They won’t risk us seeing his abandoned SUV. They want us to reach that final location where the Sicilians are.”

“They had to have already boxed him in and taken him,” Enzo said in a low voice, his words dredging up a brutal if only.

If only I hadn’t taught my son to drive, he’d never have been able to take off on me.

“They have to be close by,” I snarled, surveying the area as I fought with everything I had in me to switch back to operator mode.

“Wait, I think I know where Colin’s being taken!” Izzy yelled out. “The Brooklyn Navy Yard. Our facial recognition software got a hit. The fake cop was also there today, and based on the timestamp, it was right after he left that warehouse in Vinegar Hill. He went through the security checkpoint alone, then he drove out with another guy—the same asshole with him in that garage today.”

“There must be more of them there. Good work,” I said as the unrelenting chills continued to crash down over me.

Hudson immediately U-turned to take us in a new direction and hit the gas.

“I just texted Alessandro the layout. It's the best I can do. We don’t have time to get real-time aerial footage, and their security cameras were killed at the same time the power went out at Jamie’s hotel, so you’re going in blind,” Izzy shared. “But it should be empty of civilians tonight. Probably a few night-shift security guards, but they may have already been taken out by whoever has Colin.”

I directed Enzo to relay the change in plans to the two SEALs Hudson had instructed to meet us as our backup. Since they’d already been in Brooklyn, they’d rolled up behind us a few minutes ago to trail us.

“Stay safe. Love you. All of you,” Izzy said in a shaky voice. “I’d stay on the line, but I don’t want to distract you.”

“Love you, Bella,” Hudson murmured just before he killed the call in preparation for the extraction.

“Comms?” I looked back at Enzo.

He distributed our wireless communication devices, and I placed mine in my ear.

“It’s a maze of warehouses, narrow corridors, and shipping containers. They won’t expect us, but if they’re smart, they’ll be prepared for us,” Alessandro said, scanning the map. “Looks like a service tunnel leads to an abandoned dry dock. They could be planning to leave with him and Lennon from there. Or they’re hiding him in one of the shipping containers. Exfil’ing by boat. There are a lot of options.”

Too many fucking options.

“We’ll follow the bodies,” Hudson remarked, drawing my attention forward. He pointed to the security gate, already broken from its hinges and run over. “Blood on the windows inside the security checkpoint booth.”

“No mercy,” I hissed as Hudson killed our headlights. It was nighttime, but a few minutes too early to switch to our night vision.

Hudson drove over the downed gate, my focus razor-sharp. I’d been to Hell before and made it out alive, and we’d do it again tonight.

I’m coming for you, Colin. We’re coming.

I took another deep breath and then did what I’d never done in the middle of an op, something Bianca had begged me to do all those years ago. I mentally recited one of the prayers from the note in my wallet. That note had brought me to Colin once, and I needed it to happen again tonight. I needed a miracle.

A round ripped through the SUV’s front end, shattering one of the headlights.

So much for prayers.

“They know we’re here,” I said as gunfire opened up from above. “Rooftop sniper, driver’s side.”

Hudson veered toward the nearest warehouse, our second vehicle mirroring us.

We exited on the right side, using the SUVs and building for cover as Enzo quickly handed comms devices to our other team, Foxtrot.

“I’ll handle the rooftop sniper,” Hudson said, already assessing the route. “I’m going for that crane over there. Cover me.”

I gave him a quick nod, then pulled a smoke grenade, lobbing it in his path. The moment the smoke billowed, we drew fire, giving him the window he needed to move through unseen.

Rounds popped off around us as we engaged, laying down fire.

A few seconds later, Hudson’s voice crackled over the comms. “This is Alpha Two. I’m in position. Sniper down.”

“Roger that.” I tapped Enzo’s shoulder, signaling for him to move out.

Our two teams moved into formation and flowed through the open grounds, precision shots taking out the hostiles that came at us from every angle.

“This is Alpha Two. I’m changing positions and moving to higher ground for a better vantage point.”

“Roger,” I acknowledged.

A gunman on the catwalk lifted an RPG launcher. Autopilot kicked in.

“Take cover!” I warned, lining up my shot.

Two to the head. He crumpled over the railing, dead before he got the shot off.

One more down. An unknown number to go.

“This is Alpha Two. Two armed guards are posted in front of a container in the middle of an alleyway. Colin must be in there.”

Hudson relayed the container’s location.

Line of sight clear.

I ordered our teams to charlie mike and get to my son.

“This is Alpha Two. You’re nearing a chokepoint alley. I’ve got you on overwatch, but I can’t see everyone down there. There are too many forklifts and stacked containers the hostiles can use for cover.”

Translation: this is a kill box. “Foxtrot, find another way to flank them. We’ll meet in the middle and intercept the package.” My son.

The two SEALs altered course, disappearing into the shadows.

I held up a gloved fist for my brothers to hold position.

I reloaded, slamming a new mag into place.

“Foxtrot in position,” one of the SEALs confirmed.

“This is Alpha Two. I’ve got eyes on five tangos. I’ll take down as many as possible as you advance in.”

“Roger that.” I took a steady breath. “On my mark.” We rounded the corner just as the streetlights cut out. “Switch to NODs.” I knocked down my NVGs, green hues washing over the darkened battlefield.

We weren’t the only ones using thermal. They could see us coming.

Enzo moved backward, covering our six while Alessandro and I led the charge, clearing every bastard in our way.

A gunman shifted behind a forklift, his rifle lifting, but he was too slow.

I took him out before he could fire on Alessandro, the suppressed shot barely echoing before he dropped.

We pushed forward.

“This is One. How far are we from the target?”

“This is Alpha Two. Guards in front of the container are ready for you. They know you’re coming.”

I motioned to Alessandro. “I’ll get the one on the right,” I said in a low voice. “You take the left.”

He gave a quick nod.

The first tango rushed me.

I sidestepped, slammed the butt of my rifle into his throat, then let the sling catch it as I drew my Glock 19 and finished him.

“Clear,” Alessandro let me know after taking out the other guard.

“I’m covering you,” Enzo said as I checked the container, finding it sealed with an electronic lock.

“Colin, you in there?” I banged on the door.

“Dad? Dad! Is that you?”

I nearly took a knee in relief at the sound of my son’s voice. “It’s me! Anyone in there with you?”

“No, just me.”

“We’re going to breach with an explosive device,” I warned as Alessandro prepped the doors to be blown off. “Get to the very back. You hear me?”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Colin hollered as a shot pinged off the container, inches over my shoulder.

“Tango down. Clear again,” Foxtrot One announced over comms.

“Shit,” Hudson cursed. “Two more SUVs just came through security.”

They must’ve called in reinforcements.

“And Izzy texted. We’re three minutes from the police arriving. Shots have been reported.”

No time left. “Blowing the doors now!” I yelled, and then we took cover.

A deafening explosion ripped through the air as metal shrieked and twisted, and the doors blasted off their hinges.

We rushed inside. Through the thick dust, I spotted Colin against the back wall, his arm shielding his face.

“Dad?” He slowly lowered his arm, but he couldn’t see me in the pitch black.

“It’s me.” Holstering my Glock, I knocked up my NVGs and lunged for him. I had to hold him. Confirm that he was real. “We have to go.” I pulled back, but Colin didn’t budge.

“Not without Lennon.” His voice was firm. Determined. “I’m sorry I ran, but they took her. I’m not leaving without her.”

“More boots are en route to us now,” Alessandro called out.

I flipped my night vision back in place. “This was a trap for you,” I told him. “She’s not here.” Hell, she could be in on this. Not that I’d devastate him with that possibility.

“I have to be sure. I can’t lose her,” he pleaded, still not moving.

“I’ll find her,” I promised, gripping his arm to guide him out. “But I have to get you out of here now.”

He finally moved, but the moment we stepped into the alley, gunfire erupted.

I shoved Colin back into the container, shielding him with my body as I scanned for the new sniper.

“Clear,” Hudson snapped over comms. “You’ve got more incoming.”

The SUVs. I swapped my Glock for my rifle, and my brothers lined up beside me, blocking the entrance to the container.

The SEALs slipped back into the shadows, preparing for the next wave.

I held steady, even as a wildfire coursed through my veins with my son trapped behind us in the middle of a war.

Just before I was about to shoot, someone yelled out, “We’re friendlies!”

I hesitated, not ready to believe anything from a voice I didn’t recognize.

“Giuseppe Messina sent us.” He repeated his words in Italian.

“What are we doing?” Alessandro asked me.

I scanned the alley, the shadows shifting as movement cut between stacked containers. “Hold your fire until we get a better look.”

A man stepped forward, hands raised.

“It’s me, Tommaso,” he said, his voice tense. “Don’t fire. We were sent to help get you out of here.” He came closer. “And Giuseppe said to tell you, consider the debt he owes your family paid in return for our assistance.”

Debt, what debt? I didn’t have time to process or question it before another barrage of gunfire erupted. Not from Tommaso’s men, though.

“Are we doing this?” Alessandro rasped, popping off a round. “Fighting alongside the mafia?”

I glanced back at Colin to ensure he was still safe. I swung back around just in time to squeeze the trigger, nailing a hostile in the shoulder.

The bastard lurched from the shadows, clawing at his wound.

Where’d he come from? We really are in the alley of Hell.

“Yeah,” I huffed out, “I guess we are.”