It's A Trap

They drive for forty minutes down a long desert road, and Nicholas knows the sun will be up in an hour. Time is running out.

Usually, they’d wait until that night, but there was no way he was making Eloise stay in that place for any longer than she had to.

Nicholas speaks to the team in French, letting them know how the attack will play out.

“See that light up there?” Pat points to it with his chin since his hands are cuffed behind him. “That’s the house. Landon will be in the attic with your girlfriend or in his bedroom in the back.”

Nicholas leans forward to get a better view of the grounds as they get closer. John pulls off to the side of the road, putting on his night-vision goggles, as do the rest of the men.

John starts asking Pat about the security system and any triggers around the property. Pat fills them in, but they all take it with a grain of salt.

Finally, after sending the coordinates to Dyke, they head on foot toward the house.

Nicholas signals to his father and Bryan to take the west and to Jace and John to take the north side of the property with Pat.

Edson nods to Nicholas as they sneak up behind one man and his dog. Edson tosses a rock in the opposite direction, throwing the dog off while he wraps a rag around the animal’s mouth, making him fall asleep.

Nicholas’s arm slips around the man’s neck, snapping it without hesitation. Edson carefully lowers the dog to the ground and pats him quickly.

Moving on, they encounter three more men, killing them instantly. Before they hear the panting, they see the flash of color leap in the air and grab Edson’s arm, sinking its teeth into his flesh.

Edson jams his gun in between its jaws, breaking its hold. The dog whimpers as he runs off toward the house.

“You good?” Nicholas asks, scanning for their next victim.

“The bitch bites me, and he has the nerve to cry. What the fuck?” Edson hisses, wrapping his wound. “Why can’t people have cats? All they do is sit there and plot your death…is that so bad?”

Nicholas chuckles as he shifts positions, happy to hear Edson is all right.

“Remember that the next time you’re cursing Scoot for getting your pants full of fur.”

“Love the furry prick,” Edson huffs.

A snap from behind them has Nicholas pointing his laser beam at his father’s head. “The west side is a no-go.” Hermes nods to Bryan, coming up next to him. “I say we enter through the north door, keep a low profile, grab Eloise, and get the fuck out.”

They quickly hatch a new plan, fill Jace and John in on it, and hurry to move before the sun rises.

“Watch your step.” Bryan points out two triggers to set the house alarm off if you step on them. “They’re scattered throughout the property.”

Nicholas nods, taking note. It makes him wonder how many American men set off the alarm in the past.

“Those triggers are the least of your worries,” Pat butts in, getting a hit to the gut with a rifle by Bryan. “I’m just saying there are too many men for you all to take out.”

“We’ll see,” Nicholas grunts.

Weaving in and out of the triggers, the men keep high alert.

A click echoes through the morning air when they’re about five yards away from the door. Everyone freezes. Nicholas slowly turns to see John’s scrunched-up face.

“Fuck me,” John growls and glances down at his right shoe, holding the trigger.

“Don’t move,” Nicholas whispers, waiting for the attack. But nothing happens.

“If you lift your foot,” Hermes says calmly, “it will trip the alarm.”

“Go.” John flicks his head. “Let me know when you’re on your way out, and I’ll book it back to the car.”

“No—” Jace cuts him off, looking over at Nicholas. “You guys got this?”

Nicholas nods, knowing he’d never leave Edson unprotected, either. “I’ll let you know. Stay low.”

Hermes makes it to the porch first, scanning the wood for triggers. He signals all is safe. “Set your watches. We’re in and out in ten minutes.”

“Where’s the bedroom from here?” Bryan shoves Pat to the stairs, ensuring he knows who’s in charge. “Speak.”

“Stairs will be right there.” Pat flexes his shoulders like the handcuffs are too tight, trying to point to the entryway. “At the end of the hall, there’s a set of double doors; that’s Landon’s room. More than likely, she’s there.”

“You better be right.” Bryan looks over at Nicholas, who is ticking with anger.

Nicholas glances over his shoulder one last time at his guys before they disappear into the house.

One of the female servants freezes as she watches the men enter the house.

“The new girl?” Nicholas hisses in a whisper—the woman mouths master bedroom in Spanish. Nicholas’s stomach drops. “Not a word,” he whispers back.

She nods, then holds up a hand. “The others, please,” she pushes her hands together like she’s praying, “let them go.” Hermes nods from Nicholas’s left.

“Move.” Nicholas jams the gun a little harder into Pat’s back.

“Hey!” someone yells from another room. Bryan is quick, popping two bullets into his forehead. The woman who just helped them cups her mouth to stop her scream.

Suddenly, she points behind them just as another guy tries to stab Hermes. Nicholas kicks his knee, forcing it to snap in the wrong direction. He takes the butt of the gun and rams it into the man’s temple.

“Move.” Nicholas can tell things are escalating quickly.

They move up the stairs. The first room to the left is open…strange when every other door is closed, so Hermes does a quick sweep and then signals the all-clear.

“It’s your girl’s room,” Pat whispers to Nicholas before moving down the hallway. Nicholas watches the bottom of each door in case lights turn on; they must stay invisible. “The master is at the end of the hall with the double doors. I knock twice so he knows it’s me.”

Nicholas leads the pack. He looks at the men as they approach. Tension is high. He nods at Pat, who lifts his sweaty fist and knocks twice.

“Pat, that fucking better be you!” The American shouts, his voice a high-pitched squeal. “You better have done what I asked!”

Pat opens the door and moves inside, smiling. “Yeah, Landon, not only did I get the colonel, I got his whole fucking Ar—”

Trap. It’s a fucking trap! So many things are happening in front of Nicholas, but nothing matters when he knocks Pat to the floor and catches sight of why The American is so panicky.