“Watch the house. Make sure no one leaves.” They were losing seconds they didn’t have. He saw the disappointment in Frost’s face, but the decision was made. He wasn’t going to lose a man in the field. Especially a man who might not be able to see without his glasses. “I’m going in through the back. Keep an eye on the front. And Frost, keep your head down. Chicks prefer heroes who are alive and can buy them dinner.”

“Yes, sir.” Frost smiled before he removed his gun from the holster and moved toward the front of the house.

Charlie crept around the back. Thorns tore at his skin as he climbed through a thicket of tall weeds to get to the back door. He drew in a breath and held it as he pressed his ear to the wall. Two voices. A man and woman. Their voices were too muted to tell if the woman talking was Lane.

With his gun in one hand, Charlie tried the door handle and said a prayer of gratitude when it turned. Slowly, he inched it open and saw Lane moving on the floor next to two bodies. He struggled to hold in his emotion. Thank God, she was alive.

Charlie took in a slow breath and looked at the man standing over her, pointing a gun at her head. The man matched the photo Agent Edmonds showed them of Benito Rodriguez or El Chico. Lane wasn’t out of danger yet.

A loud crash seized Benito’s attention and he turned his aim toward the front door. Then he turned back and pulled Lane up by her hair and held the gun to her head. No. Charlie’s fears were realized when Benito stalked over to the door and Frost stepped into the house. With the gun still pressed into Lane’s temple, Charlie couldn’t risk the shot. What was Frost thinking?

“I didn’t think they would send Mighty Mouse to the rescue.” Benito laughed and cracked Frost across the side of the head with the butt of the gun. Frost dropped to the ground.

“Leave him alone!” Lane cried.

Benito shoved Lane to the ground before he planted a solid kick into Frost’s ribs. “Are you here by yourself, Mighty Mouse?”

Another kick landed against Frost’s side, pushing a fiery rage into every fiber of Charlie’s being.

Frost looked in Charlie’s direction and gave a subtle nod before pushing himself upright. He looked up at Benito and smiled. “Anyone ever tell you that you have hands like a girl?”

Two shots rang out before Benito could take aim at Frost’s head. The man collapsed forward onto the ground. Charlie kept his gun aimed at Benito until Frost confirmed the man was dead and then he hurried to Lane’s side.