Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

left.â€
    â€œWil do,†Luke said and lifted a bag to go to work.
    â€œIt’l take you about three minutes or less to set the charges for the boat and you’l need to get back here fast and help Matt,†Kent said.
    â€œMatt, set three pounds cutting charge per pil ar.â€
    Matt rol ed his eyes. “That’s not a little overkil ?â€
    â€œRemember the golden rule, P is for plenty.†Kent grinned at him. “With Luke helping, you should be set in five minutes.â€
    Matt sighed and started toward the dock. He glanced back over his shoulder. “What are you using on the lady there?â€
    â€œI was thinking five five-pound charges. One on the engine, one on the gas tank, one on the front, one on the center and a real y nice little charge for the bastard’s bedroom.†He looked especial y gleeful. “This is going to be a real nice party.â€
    Matt shook his head. He’d known Kent a long time. When the man set a charge, things went to hel fast. He glanced at his watch. “How long for you?â€
    â€œGive me seven or eight minutes. I’l get back, check the other charges and we’l blow shit to kingdom come.â€
    Matt couldn’t help but laugh. He watched Kent run toward the yacht and he turned his attention to the dock.
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    JACKSON burst into the vil a, his gun spitting as he shot the guard standing near the door nearly point-blank. Elle. Damn it, answer me. His heart was pumping too fast, adrenaline riding him hard. The longer she stayed silent, the more afraid he was for her. Would Stavros kil her to keep her from being rescued? The son of a bitch might just be that spiteful. Elle. Come on, baby, where the hell are you?
    The room was enormous, nearly al glass. Chairs were plush, the fireplace exotic, with a cherrywood bar to one side. Behind the bar was the only place anyone could realistical y hide in the room. Jackson kept his M-4 aimed at the bar as he signaled to Jonas to move in and clear the room. Jonas pushed up against the wal and slid along it, staying tight, eyes on the bar as wel . Aleksandr entered behind him and turned to face the one open entryway, the sweeping polished marble staircase that rose majestical y in a semicircle. Beneath the stairs was an archway leading to more rooms.
    Jonas stepped around to look over the bar. “Clear.â€
    Jackson immediately switched attention, moving close to Aleksandr, Jonas fal ing back so that he was touching Aleksandr along his leg, back to him, moving with him as one unit. They could feel each other giving silent signals. Jackson had the fastest reaction times, was the best shooter and he was out front. Jonas guarded their backs. Moving together, they cleared room after room. It was slow going and with each succeeding empty room, Jackson’s heart dropped more. Dread fil ed him and he tried to push away the thought that they might be too late.
    Elle. Answer me. She had to be alive. He would know if she was dead, but even as he assured himself, dread spread through his body and a part of him felt panic. He shoved open a door, crouched low and swept the room, finding it clear. Where are you, baby?
    She had to be there. If they’d already moved her, or Gratsos had taken her from the house when the generator had gone down, then she might already be gone. Matt hadn’t reported a boat leaving the docks, but Gratsos and his bodyguard hadn’t been spotted as of yet either.

    Going up the stairs was tricky at best. They “stacked,†bodies touching, Jackson leading, Jonas bringing up the rear. Jackson’s site was straight up the stairs. Aleksandr faced sideways, aimed upward toward the balcony, continual y sweeping right and left while Jonas backed up, leaning into Aleksandr so he could feel where they were going while he swept the areas below them.
    They moved in unison, one stair at a time, visual y checking each corner, every section over and over as they gained the second-story landing. Jackson faced the long hal . There were more rooms, more doors, more danger. And silence. Always complete silence. If she was there, wouldn’t she be screaming?
    The nearest room had the door slightly ajar. Jackson had a bad feeling about that and he brought his hand up in a slash across his throat, signaling danger to the others. He took a step toward the door, then a second one, Aleksandr matching his strides like they were dancing,