But that was a topic for later. Now wasn’t the time to let her personal feelings or animosity toward Hunt encroach on what they needed to do. For now, Hunt was her best shot at getting Sophia back. Anna simply couldn’t imagine a world without her. She had loved Sophia from the very moment she was born. She had loved her niece every single hour of every day as she watched her grow into a beautiful young woman, and as much as she distrusted Hunt, she knew he felt the same way toward Leila. They had no choice but to work together.
Breaking through a Wi-Fi network, however strong the password, was child’s play for someone like her. She easily wiped clean all the previous passwords and reset them to the factory setting before replacing them with her own. The Schlage lock was linked to a network that gave her access to all the systems linked to that network. In this case it meant that from the relative safety of the Jeep, she could control all the interior and exterior lights, the blinds, the house’s three air-conditioning units, the security cameras, and the alarm system. She could even open the front gate.
“I got us our way in,” she said.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Emilio looked at his watch. Hector had left for the Hypoluxo safe house ten minutes ago. He had taken with him the rest of his team and the two girls, leaving Emilio and two other local shooters behind. The inside of the house was in total blackness. He had ordered all the interior lights to be turned off. The outside lights were turned off too, so they’d be able to pinpoint exactly where the intruders came from. If anyone’s really coming, thought Emilio. Hector had said a man—the father of one of the girls—and a woman were on their way.
“He’s dangerous, Emilio, so be ready,” Hector had said.
Emilio was used to dealing with dangerous men. This one wouldn’t be any different. His orders were clear: Kill the man and the woman. Bring their bodies inside, and torch the house.
Easy enough.
Emilio had positioned the two shooters on the ground floor, both covering the rear of the house since it led directly to the beach, the most probable approach. High brick walls topped with glittering shards of broken glass protected the three other sides of the house. Six inches above the broken glass, strands of razor wire ran the length of each wall. It was a nasty but effective way to deter petty thieves—or a DEA agent. Even if the man successfully scaled one of the three walls, there was a multitude of motion detector lights positioned outside the house. Getting close to the house undetected would be impossible.
Then the doorbell rang. What the fuck?
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Hunt spotted a dark late-model Range Rover turning into the parking lot.
“Is that him?” he asked.
“Yes.”
A moment later, Tony and Tasis climbed out of the car. Anna unlocked the doors of the Jeep, and both men joined them inside.
“Get your stuff, and move it to the Range Rover. Mauricio will dispose of the Jeep,” Tony said without preamble.
“But Tony, I thought you wanted me to help with—” started Tasis, but Tony cut him off.
“Mauricio, take the Jeep, do what you got to do, and then go back to the compound. Make sure the guys fixed Anna’s issue. I don’t want the body to pop up, so burn it if you can. I’ll call you if I need your assistance. Understood?”
Anna’s issue? Burn it if you can? What the hell is Tony talking about?
Hunt looked at Anna. She was massaging her neck. She locked eyes with him and shook her head. “Not now. Please.”
“You didn’t tell him?” Tony asked.
“Tell me what?” Hunt asked.
It was Tony’s turn to look at his sister, a scowl of annoyance on his face. “Tell him.”
Hunt didn’t like to be kept in the dark, but what he liked even less was Anna being bullied into revealing something she was clearly not ready to divulge.
“She said later, Tony. Let it go.”
Anna thanked Hunt with a small nod.
Tony’s body tensed, but he let it go. “Whatever,” he said, and then turned toward Tasis. “You can go, Mauricio.”
Hunt could see Tasis wasn’t thrilled about leaving his boss with Hunt.
“Give me the damn keys, Hunt,” Tasis said.
Hunt grabbed his backpack and the rest of his gear and handed the Jeep’s keys to Tasis.
“Okay, let’s go,” Tony said.
Tony got behind the Range Rover’s wheel while Hunt took the passenger seat. Anna settled in the back seat with her computer and mobile phone. A moment later, the Jeep exited the parking lot and accelerated away. Hunt was glad to see it go. It had become a liability.
Tony shifted in his seat and handed Hunt and Anna a small digital radio and an earpiece each. “So what’s the plan?”
“If Anna can open the front gate, shouldn’t we go in this way?” Tony asked after Hunt shared his plan.
“Absolutely not,” Hunt said. “They’d see us coming.”