Free Operation Date With Destiny by Karlene Blakemore-Mowle Page A

a soldier and she had a job to do.
    Tate and Del went in first and Tupper was positioned to take out any patrols—his sniper skills coming into play. After he took care of those, the others could move in and take care of any others as they came outside. Destiny and Chase would begin a search of rooms on the lower floor and clear anyone remaining. Pon and his men would take the grounds and keep watch on the drug lab at the rear of the compound —getting it on video to hand over to the authorities as soon as they got back.
    As soon as she heard that first shot fired—all remaining nerves fell away and instantly she was in the zone. Once it started—there was no turning back.
    As they headed inside the gates of the compound, Destiny scanned the area ahead carefully—her weapon up, treading carefully, alert to the potential threat of a thousand different scenarios that could unfold in a split second. A large Land C ruiser and two smaller four - wheel drives were parked on the wide gravel driveway inside the courtyard of t he compound . T hey ’ d make ideal spots for the enemy to hide behind and she trained her weapon on each one cautiously as they approached.
    They reached the front of the house without incident and Destiny waited while Maloney made his way along the narrow veranda that ran the entire length of the house . He opted for going through the closest of the many French doors instead of the elaborate front entrance and Destiny shadowed his every move.
    The first room was empty and dark. Beneath their boots, the floor was terracotta—the rich burnt orange color contrasting starkly against the white of the walls. Maloney eased the door open, and took a look out into the hallway the room opened out onto. Destiny slipped through the doorway when he quickly waved her out behind him, moving on to the next room. They took a side of the doorway each and she opened it on a silent count of three . T hey worked their way quickly and methodically through the rooms of the lower floor until they ’ d made sure each was clear.
    She could hear gunfire coming from outside now—and return fire from the others surrounding the house as they searched. They were running out of time—they had to find him before they were outnumbered.
    It took three more rooms before they reached the one Jackson was in.
    Destiny once more waited until Maloney opened the door and gave her the nod to swing inside . K eeping her gun pointed down; she quickly assessed her corner of the room . That ’ s when she saw him…a movement in the corner of the room ca tchin g her eye and she almost sank to the ground in relief.
    “ Jackson. ” Her voice was barely above a whisper and the last of it was caught on a sob as she moved across the room.
    He was huddled in the corner, and as she approached, he yelled and flinched away. “ Jackson—it ’ s me. We ’ re getting you out of here. ”
    As he turned towards her she bit back a startled gasp when she saw the amount of swelling and the bruises that covered his young face. He could only open one eye—the other was swollen shut.
    “ Jackson? ” Destiny spoke again and became alarmed when she realized her brother didn ’ t even appear to recognize her. “ What ’ s wrong with him? ”
    Maloney knelt down beside them, tossing his head in the direction of the door. “ Keep watch—I ’ m just gonna ’ check him over real fast before we move him. ”
    It was difficult to drag her attention from her little brother long enough to provide rear security , but she did it—only because there was no other choice . “ Maloney ? What have they done? ” she demanded when the medic straightened, slinging his rifle over his shoulder to pick up the young teen, and hoist him over his shoulder.
    “ Looks like they ’ ve drugged him. He ’ ll be okay—I ’ ll get a better diagnose once we get him out of here. Move—I ’ ve got him. ”
    Drugged him? Destiny stared at her brother and felt a red tide of