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Just ahead of us was the row of tightly woven shrubbery that sat about twenty feet fro it on a map, Chulo had decided it would be our rendezvous point Once ere all accounted for, Chulo radioed the weapons van As I grippedofoverti left to do now but wait for the van to arrive and for the explosives to truly set our plan in motion

When the van caot to the line of shrubbery, the driver’s side door was thrown open and one of the El Paso Raiders ju Just as it was about to hit the gate, gunfire broke out, riddling the hood with bullet holes But it was all in vain The e ball of fire, taking out a section of the gate

"Now!" Chulo shouted

I sprang out froun cocked, he kicked down another part of the gate that was hanging precariously by one hinge As it collapsed, he motioned us to follow him The moment I entered Mendoza’s courtyard, I felt like I had been transported back into the service Everything seeunfire rained down on us Crouching, we returned fire until we took out the two targets and the only sound in the couys," Ranger said

"Rev, you, Nero, and Snake take the house," Chulo ordered

"Okay"

"We’ll take the back bunker," Chulo said, nodding at Bishop and two others

With Nero and Snake at ot to the veranda, gunshots went off behind us Glancing overout threetoward hied not to get hit

Using brute force, Snake kicked in the front door while Nero and I covered him When we met no opposition, we headed into the foyer With its marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and expensive art, it was evident what drug s in life Nero cleared his throat, then said, "Okay, how about I make a sweep of the front Rev, you take the hallway and bedrooood," I replied

I advanced out of the foyer and past the living room When I started down the hallway and caunfire met me I ducked into an open bedroo ainst the wall, I listened to the sound of boots clouned the knife into his chest The hithiainst the wall and wrestled away control of his weapon

"Where is the A a with red hair Where is she?"

When he shook his head defiantly, the seething anger racing through er saw reason Since he was of no use tohis artery, I released hi, he began to bleed out over the white e filled h I should have reinedhiroin

Once the man was still, I jerked my knife out of his neck Since I could always use another weapon, I took his rifle and swung it over my shoulder Just as I started out of the bedroom, a low moan caused me to whirl around The rooaze flicked around the room, another er on er, I started slowly across the ot around the side of the bed, I was ht of a pool of blood and a feht of the cruuns, I dropped to the floor It was a wo only a man’s white dress shirt Besides the blood, her body was black and blue with bruises Someone had done a real number on her It was obvious she had been left to die

My hand froze after I’d reached to push the strands of auburn hair out of the girl’s face Sarah had auburn hair Was it possible that I had unknowingly found her? Could it be this easy?

"Sarah?" I questioned "Sarah?" My tone had grown frantic Her swollen eyelids fluttered at the sound of eway?"

"Annabel," she whispered

It felt like a harsh kick to the gut that it wasn’t Sarah But at the sa her to me, I slid one of s When I eased us off the floor, she cried out in pain "I’et you help I pro up at me "J-Jesus?" she croaked

It took me a moment to process that with ious figure At the hopeful look in her bloodshot eyes, I felt terrible for having to let her down "No, I’m Rev," I said lamely

My words seeri to get you out of here"