That was the moment the glass shattered and the whole world seemed to explode.
* * * *
“Do you have the security cameras?” Deke touched the earpiece he was using to communicate with the CIA operative. Drake wasn’t actually nearby. He had his own job to do, but he could handle Byrne’s security cameras remotely.
Deke stood in the midst of a bunch of tall bushes that offered concealment from prying eyes. He was sure Byrne thought of them as some sort of added security, but they worked against him tonight, the same way all the trees were going to.
“I’m shutting them down now,” Drake said over the line. “You won’t have long before Byrne gets them back up, though he might be distracted. He should be getting the news about his precious satellite right about now.”
“The plan went off?” They’d decided to attack Byrne on two fronts, making damn sure that even if everything went to hell tonight, they would set Byrne back for months. He couldn’t launch a satellite he didn’t have.
“Kayla hasn’t lost a step. She got us in and blew the thing all to hell without even breaking a sweat,” Drake replied. “So now it’s all on you guys. Does Boomer have a perch?”
“Yes, he’s got a clear line of sight into Byrne’s office. MaeBe and Maddie are both still alive,” Deke explained. He nodded Kyle’s way.
Kyle was wearing all black. Even the backpack he carried was black and contained two of the cakes of C-4 Deke had hoped he wouldn’t have to use. But he was always prepared.
“All right. I’m coming your way,” Drake said. “You know what to do if she gets away?”
Deke’s gut tightened because he didn’t like this part of the plan. He actively hated it, but no one could make Kyle change his mind. Not even Ian, who was likely already in the air.
He wished Ian was here, watching his back, taking some of the burden of what was about to happen.
All that mattered was Maddie was alive at the end of the night.
“I know what to do,” Deke promised. “We’re a go. Get here as soon as you can. Someone’s going to have to deal with the authorities.”
“I’m already on it. And I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. I’ve got a line on what we need,” Drake said before the line went dead.
Deke looked to Kyle. “Boomer’s on the west side. You ready?”
“I am.” Kyle’s whole body was tight. “I know where to plant the explosives so we don’t risk starting a fire in the canyon.”
Byrne’s personal grounds wouldn’t burn the way the natural brush around them might. He was a selfish shit who kept everything green while a drought was going on. Deke had been an expert in explosives during his time in the military. He knew how to blow some shit up. There wasn’t a wind this evening. The charges would be set inside the house and were calculated to bring the place down, not explode outward. Deke would rather be the one to do the setup, but he had to concentrate on Maddie.
Besides, bringing the house down was Kyle’s drama, not his, though it might provide enough shock and awe that he could get Maddie and MaeBe out.
Deke had to switch to his cell, calling Boomer since his favorite sniper didn’t have an earpiece. He quickly connected the cell line to his comms application, forwarding the audio into Deke’s earpiece. He would be able to stay in touch with Boomer and still have his hands free.
“Yes.” Boomer’s hushed voice came over the line.
“We’re on the ground. Do you still have eyes on the women?”
“Yeah, and we need to do something soon. I didn’t see what that woman did to MaeBe, but she’s hurt bad,” Boomer said. “Can I take the shot?”
“Tell him if he’s got a shot at Julia to take it,” Kyle insisted.
He was so fucking glad Kyle couldn’t hear Boomer’s part of the conversation. He’d likely go mad at the thought of MaeBe being injured.
“Only if she’s alone and there’s no one else who can possibly hurt the women.” He wasn’t taking chances until he had to. “How many guards do we have to deal with?”
“Six,” Boomer replied. “You’ve got two on the front door, two on the back, one is in the room with the women, and the other is circling. He should be coming near your position in less than two minutes. I do not have eyes on Byrne.”
“I’ll handle Byrne. Stay on the line and I’ll update you as we move through the house.” He nodded Kyle’s way and pulled his Smith & Wesson. He’d attached the suppressors to his and Kyle’s weapons while making their way here. Quiet was his friend at this point.
And so was time. He still had thirty minutes before Byrne’s deadline. If Kyle was right and Julia hadn’t told Byrne who he really was, Byrne would be expecting him to show up like the good boy he was supposed to be.