Before Nightfall - Kat Martin Page 0,24

different trucks drive in and out. One was a food truck, the other was a UPS parcel delivery truck. There was only a single guard at the gate. He spoke to the drivers, then waved them right through. I have a hunch trucks come and go all the time.”

Colt started nodding. “That many people around, they need supplies. And like everyone else these days, they probably buy a lot of stuff on the internet. We get hold of a UPS truck, we can drive right in through the back gate.”

Alex grinned. “Easy peasy.”

Colt thought of the armed men they’d be facing once they got into the compound. “Yeah. No problem at all.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SINCE EVERYONE SEEMED ready for a break, Lissa checked the refrigerator, found a six-pack of Jarritos soda, and passed the chilled bottles around.

“The best way out of Mexico is the same way we came in,” Alex said, taking a swallow of the lime-flavored drink while Lissa resumed her seat. “I just need to find a landing site close to the house. I saw a promising spot this morning, but I need to check it out.”

Colt tipped up his bottle and took a long swallow. “We can’t fly out at night, but we won’t need to if we breach the compound during the day. We drive in, grab the boy, drive out, and head for the landing site.”

“This could work,” Lissa said, feeling a rush of excitement.

Colt flashed her a smile. “Yeah, baby, it could.”

The endearment and the warmth in his expression sent her heart rate up a notch. Colt Wheeler was everything she respected in a man. And he already meant far more to her than someone she had hooked up with for a few nights of sexual release. Not that she did that often. With Colt it had just seemed so natural, exactly the right thing to do.

Benito leaned back in his chair. “It could work, but there is still a problem.”

Colt arched a brow. “You’re worried about what Spearman will do when he finds out Timmy’s gone.”

“Si, that is right. Spearman could call off his meeting with the men from the cartels to go after his son. We could be jeopardizing the task force’s entire mission.”

Lissa’s attention swung to Colt. “You think he’d do that? Call off the meeting?”

Colt shrugged. “No way to know for sure. He’ll be furious at being outmaneuvered, but he’s a selfish son of a bitch or he wouldn’t have forced Timmy to leave his home. Guy like that, I don’t think he’ll put his personal agenda in front of the chance to expand his power base.”

Benito seemed to mull that over. “I think you are correct. If we get the boy out of the house and Alex flies you all back to Texas, Spearman may come after his son again, or send someone to do it, but I do not think he will cancel the meeting.”

“If the task force does its job,” Zach put in, “El Puñal will be locked up in prison, too busy covering his ass—literally—to give his family any more grief.” A faint flush tinted the leathery skin over his cheekbones. “Sorry, ma’am.”

Lissa just smiled. She’d been a police detective. She knew what happened in prison. In Spearman’s case, whatever he got was well deserved.

Benito was speaking. “Everything carries a certain amount of risk,” he said, his gaze going around the table. “I think you should proceed with your plan.”

All of them agreed.

As another hour slipped past, more details were added. Zach would provide additional equipment, namely an AR-15, which would be hidden in the delivery truck, along with a couple of backup weapons, in case they ran into trouble as they left the compound.

“But you can’t just go in there blasting away,” Zach said. “Not if you expect to get out alive. You need to be extremely careful how you proceed.”

“Good thought.” A corner of Colt’s sexy mouth edged up and Lissa’s stomach contracted. She reminded herself now was not the time to be thinking about sex, but whenever Colt was around, desire was never far away.

When they were satisfied with the details they had worked out, Lissa and Colt walked the others to the door. Since they would be abandoning Zach’s surveillance gear at the location, Benito insisted on paying for it. Likely he was also paying Zach Bridges a hefty sum for his help.

Lissa understood his motivation. Benito Cortez was a good man. He had plenty of money, and he had lost a son.

“Who do