“Foxtrot in position,” one of the SEALs confirmed.

“This is Alpha Two. I’ve got eyes on five tangos. I’ll take down as many as possible as you advance in.”

“Roger that.” I took a steady breath. “On my mark.” We rounded the corner just as the streetlights cut out. “Switch to NODs.” I knocked down my NVGs, green hues washing over the darkened battlefield.

We weren’t the only ones using thermal. They could see us coming.

Enzo moved backward, covering our six while Alessandro and I led the charge, clearing every bastard in our way.

A gunman shifted behind a forklift, his rifle lifting, but he was too slow.

I took him out before he could fire on Alessandro, the suppressed shot barely echoing before he dropped.

We pushed forward.

“This is One. How far are we from the target?”

“This is Alpha Two. Guards in front of the container are ready for you. They know you’re coming.”

I motioned to Alessandro. “I’ll get the one on the right,” I said in a low voice. “You take the left.”

He gave a quick nod.

The first tango rushed me.

I sidestepped, slammed the butt of my rifle into his throat, then let the sling catch it as I drew my Glock 19 and finished him.

“Clear,” Alessandro let me know after taking out the other guard.

“I’m covering you,” Enzo said as I checked the container, finding it sealed with an electronic lock.

“Colin, you in there?” I banged on the door.

“Dad? Dad! Is that you?”

I nearly took a knee in relief at the sound of my son’s voice. “It’s me! Anyone in there with you?”

“No, just me.”

“We’re going to breach with an explosive device,” I warned as Alessandro prepped the doors to be blown off. “Get to the very back. You hear me?”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” Colin hollered as a shot pinged off the container, inches over my shoulder.

“Tango down. Clear again,” Foxtrot One announced over comms.

“Shit,” Hudson cursed. “Two more SUVs just came through security.”

They must’ve called in reinforcements.

“And Izzy texted. We’re three minutes from the police arriving. Shots have been reported.”

No time left. “Blowing the doors now!” I yelled, and then we took cover.

A deafening explosion ripped through the air as metal shrieked and twisted, and the doors blasted off their hinges.

We rushed inside. Through the thick dust, I spotted Colin against the back wall, his arm shielding his face.

“Dad?” He slowly lowered his arm, but he couldn’t see me in the pitch black.

“It’s me.” Holstering my Glock, I knocked up my NVGs and lunged for him. I had to hold him. Confirm that he was real. “We have to go.” I pulled back, but Colin didn’t budge.

“Not without Lennon.” His voice was firm. Determined. “I’m sorry I ran, but they took her. I’m not leaving without her.”