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Wizard texted the address to Viper then waited while he entered it into the map.

Viper lifted his gaze. “The kidnapper hasn’t called you again?”

“No.” Wizard frowned worriedly.

“Either he doesn’t want you there, or he’s waiting until the last minute so you won’t have time to prepare. Either way, he’s counting on you and Rocco not communicating. That could work to our advantage.”

Wizard hadn’t considered that Marco might not call to arrange an exchange of Natalia for Lucia.

“What about Lucia?” he asked.

“She could be collateral damage. We won’t know until someone calls. When they do, try to buy us more time.” Viper shifted his gaze to Shade. “Shade, take the other SUV and whatever you need. Head to the address and conduct reconnaissance. I want to know what kind of shitstorm we’re walking into.”

With a large military duffel slung over his shoulder, Shade headed toward the dark SUV parked behind them.

“I gave Viper the information you need.” Shade climbed into the vehicle and pulled away from the small airport just as the other SUVs came into sight.

Seeing them approach, Viper began issuing orders. “Reaper, Train, Lucky, take Claw and load the weapons and ammo into the last two vehicles. Everyone else, get inside the SUVs. I want to be out of here in three minutes.”

Wizard climbed behind the wheel of the SUV he had brought. Viper took the seat beside him, with Rider and Knox in the back. As Wizard shifted into Drive, his cell phone rang.

Seeing the same unlisted number that had called before, he put it on speaker and answered.

“Bring Lucia to the address I’m sending you.”

Hearing Marco’s voice had Wizard gripping the steering wheel, wishing it were the fucker’s neck. “I need more time.”

“Then Natalia will be dead before you get here,” Marco threatened, his tone never changing.

“Then so will Lucia. Her neighbors saw us take her, and cops are everywhere. I need at least an hour before I can get to where I stashed her.”

Marco didn’t respond.

“You there?” Wizard asked when the silence continued.

Placing the call on mute, he turned to Viper. “He muted me to talk to someone.”

Viper nodded in agreement.

Wizard unmuted the call and waited for Marco to return.

“Fine. Be there in an hour. If you’re even a minute late, it won’t matter whether you arrive or not. She needs medical attention, and you’re the one preventing her from getting it sooner.”

The motherfucker disconnected before Wizard could threaten him.

Seeing his indecision, Viper took the phone away from him.

“Don’t play into his hands. He said that to make you call back and agree to the original time. We need that hour for Shade.”

Viper was right, but worry gnawed at Wizard. He had hoped Marco wouldn’t actually harm Natalia. The sadistic enjoyment in his voice made it clear that the lowlife already had.

“I’m going to slice that motherfucker into pieces, grind them into bits, and flush them down my toilet.”

After starting the SUV, Wizard waited a few minutes before calling Rocco to relay his conversation with Marco.

“I know,” Rocco lashed out before Wizard could explain. “He changed the time then hung up on me. When I get a hold of that weasel, I’m going to make him eat that phone.”

“You’ll have to get past me first. I have my own plans for him.”