Reese spotted them walking toward the pickup, gear bags slung over their shoulders. Bran was carrying the drone, which he set up on the tailgate of the truck.
“DJI Mavic 2 Pro.” Bran held the small device in the palm of his hand. “This one works with a 1000TVL mini FPV camera. We can control it from the pilot’s viewpoint and at the same time record the surround as a video file.”
“So I guess you don’t need cell service or Wi-Fi to run the thing,” Reese said.
Bran just grinned. “That’s the beauty of it. Kenzie’s already downloaded the files necessary to view the drone’s progress on her iPad.”
“And it’s nice and quiet,” Chase added. “With any luck, it’ll give us the intel we need and won’t be spotted.”
“We’ll make a run with the drone,” Bran said. “Then spread out and walk the creek, traverse the area, and find the best place to cross. We’ll send the drone out one more time before it gets dark. Once we’ve got the intel, we map out a plan. Soon as we have what we need, we go in.”
Now that the mission was actually under way, Bran had taken charge. He was a former Delta Operator, one of the most elite soldiers in the world. Going into a hostage situation was something he had done a dozen times, probably a lot more. Reese was grateful to have his brother along.
Bran launched the drone, then steered it in the direction of the cabin, careful to keep it at a high altitude. Reese watched the progress on the iPad screen as the drone flew over the clearing in front of the cabin. Three cars appeared, parked haphazardly along the creek—an old Jeep Wrangler, a dirty four-door sedan, and an older Chevy SUV.
The drone flight continued, circling the swampy area from high above. The first man who came into view was rangy, with a mustache and dark brown hair. The second guy was average height, with a stocky build and wearing wraparound sunglasses, his hair hidden beneath a Dallas Cowboys ball cap. The third guy was big and muscular, with mocha skin and long black hair pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
None of them looked like they belonged in a suit. This was the hired muscle. They probably only worked for DeMarco when he needed extra manpower. Which meant his regular crew was likely inside the cabin.
Not good.
“Griff has to be inside,” Reese said. “These three guys wouldn’t be here unless DeMarco was expecting trouble.”
“Hard to tell exactly how many we’re dealing with,” Bran said.
“Nolan Webb’s got to be in with Griff,” Chase said. “Tabby’s keeping an eye on his cell number. She’d call if she’d pinged him in a different location.”
“Could be more than just him,” Reese said.
Chase shifted his attention back to the screen. “We’ll know more after our second drone run. Be interesting to see if anyone leaves or anyone new shows up.”
“Roger that,” Bran said.
Reese, who wasn’t very good at waiting, clenched his jaw. Every instinct for trouble that he had honed in his bad-boy days said Griff was in the cabin. He wanted to go in and bring him out.
But his brothers were right. They needed as much information as they could get before they acted. As CEO of a company involved in hundred-million-dollar business deals, he understood that better than most.
“Let’s gear up and check out the area,” Bran said. “Reese, you head north. Chase, you go south. We need to find the best place to cross.” He eyed his two brothers. “I’m not carrying any anti-venom, so try not to get bitten by a snake.”
* * *
Kenzie sat down to wait on a fallen log beneath the high branches of a yellow pine tree. She had spotted an abandoned campsite, a circle of downed logs around a long-dead firepit, and the men had decided to use it as their base of operations. The drone had safely landed to conserve the battery. It would fly once more when the men returned.
Kenzie prayed her son was actually inside the cabin and that Reese and his brothers would be able to bring him out safely. At the thought of Griff being hurt or killed, cold fear slid through her. Or Reese. Dear God, what if she lost them both?
Kenzie clamped down on the notion. The men were risking their lives to save her son. She had to believe in them, have faith that they would succeed.
Half an hour slipped past. She had no idea what was happening in the cabin. Or the swamp. The .38 revolver she’d carried in her purse now rode in a holster at her waist. Reese wanted her armed in case of trouble.
Kenzie agreed. When the men went in after Griff, they might need help. She intended to be ready.
A faint noise sounded and she rose as Chase walked back into the makeshift camp, his heavy leather boots sloshing through a puddle as he came toward her. Because this was only a reconnaissance mission, they had maintained radio silence. After the rescue mission was under way, she would be able to monitor communications and know what was going on.
Only a few seconds had passed when the bushes parted and Brandon appeared like a ghost out of thin air. He and Chase glanced around the camp.
“Any sign of Reese?” Chase asked.
Unease slid through her. “No.”
“He’s only a few minutes late,” Chase said, checking his heavy wristwatch. “Not time to worry yet.”
“I’ll go look for him.” Bran disappeared back into the foliage and Kenzie’s nerves inched up.
“You don’t think something’s happened to him?”
Chase shook his head, dark blond hair glinting in the late afternoon sunlight. “He’s determined to bring the boy out. My guess, he’s doing a little extra recon. Reese never was good at following orders.”
No, he was used to being in charge, doing things his own way. Kenzie fought the urge to follow Brandon in search of him, but she wasn’t a soldier and her movements might be spotted by the men on the other side of the creek.
Fifteen minutes later, Reese walked into the camp, followed by Bran.
“What happened out there?” Chase asked.
“I got close enough to the cabin to see at least two men inside.”
Chase grunted. “Next time stick with the plan. We need to work together if we’re going to pull this off.”
Reese cast him a mutinous glare. “I saw an opening and took it.” Then he sighed. “You’re right. Sorry.”
Bran slapped him on the shoulder. “You don’t win battles by second-guessing yourself. You followed your instincts and brought us some valuable intel. Now we know we’re facing at least five men.” He grinned. “Just makes it a little more interesting is all.”
Kenzie almost smiled. She liked Reese’s brothers. And she trusted them—the way she trusted Reese.