“We’re going to have to agree to disagree, babe.”
“Thank you,” Zeke interrupts, moving slightly so I have to step over a little. “Thank you for protecting our girl.”
Her eyes come to mine and I can see all the comments she’s not verbalizing. I also can see happiness, for me and for Riley.
“Seems like we have a lot to catch up on,” she says low toward me. She glances back at Zeke and gives him a weak smile. “I’d do it again and again if it meant she’s safe.” She opens her mouth, but closes it before speaking. I wait, knowing she isn’t done by the expression on her face. “Kill that son of a bitch.” The anger and vitriol in her tone are a stark comparison to the one only moments before.
Zeke nods and Ella looks relieved. I have a feeling she knows more about what these men do than I did before the past few days. She wasn’t saying that to be flip, she truly meant it. Evan’s arm moves and he guides her back tightly to his side. She leans in and settles.
Isn’t today full of surprises.
“Show Me What I’m Looking For” by Carolina Liar
“This is the place,” Saint speaks ahead of me, holding his phone up and checking the screen again. “Yeah, on the left.” He points at a building that looks like it saw its best days about a century ago. Abandoned and standing by the grace of God only.
“How the hell do you know this is the place? All these shit buildings look the same,” Beck questions.
“See this.” He turns his phone toward our small huddle and shows them his screen. “When Evan got close he planted a tracker on Ray. He’d never find it. Micro as hell and undetectable. All he had to do was get close enough to tag a part of his skin and boom—he’s ours until I stop transmitting.”
“Impressive tech,” Maddox grunts, leaning in to tap the screen.
“You’d be surprised what the government’s got hiding for our use these days,” Hunt says.
“What’s the plan?” Asher asks, standing by my side. I glance at his vest and almost smile, remembering how he threw a tantrum when he demanded we all wear them. I gave in the second he looked at me and said he wouldn’t lose his brother again. I took it from him in the next breath and said nothing else.
No one was dying today except Ray Graves.
“Two on each side of the perimeter. Beck and Evan, you’re on the left quadrant—two windows and no exit door. Saint and Hunt, you two take the right—same as the other, one window instead of two. One of you needs to stay near the back and monitor the windows there as well. The fire escape from the second floor is rusted and broken. It won’t be a problem, but it still needs to have eyes on it. Maddox will enter the back and start to clear the rooms. Asher and I will take the front and do the same, meeting at the staircase in the middle. Best guess is he’s gone high and burrowed deep. He won’t see us coming until we’re on him if that’s where he went. Saint ran thermal earlier, and unless he’s moved, that’s where he is. Only way out is to jump, so keep eyes on the windows. We’ll try to get another thermal read if there’s an opportunity before we breach the stairs.”
“And if we find him?”
“Then you fucking wait and call for me.”
All six men nod, understanding what I’m asking of them. The vengeance for not only harming what’s mine but also for taking Olivia’s sister and Riley’s mom from them. Ray won’t be breathing after we finish, and it will be the most rewarding kill in my career. I’ll get back home, and my reward for the life I lived, lost, and lived again will be waiting for me.
“Comms check,” Saint says.
We each make sure our mic and earpiece work.
“Let’s get to work, boys.”
Those are the last words I speak before we go silent and not even our steps can be heard. We move like a team that has always worked together instead of two units that just met. There’s a reason I trust Saint, Evan, and Hunt as much as I do. A reason that the two units are working so flawlessly together. They’re the only men I’ve ever met who reminded me of the ones I’ve lost—the bravest, strongest, and most skilled.
I see Beck and Evan split from our huddle, still moving in sync with our steps but taking them to their post. Saint and Hunt break off next, getting a little closer to the house before they move. I look around, not the least bit surprised that Maddox is nowhere to be seen. The man’s always moved like a damn ghost.
I glance at Asher, his face cast in shadows and only his eyes showing through his gear—black cap pulled low and black cloth covering him from his nose down, same as the rest of us. We’re moving with the wind and in the shadows. I wait for him to nod before we sidle our backs to the front door.
“Everyone in position?” I speak softly into my comms. I wait for each man to confirm, then nod to Asher. “It’s party time, boys.”
We move.
Silently.
Dancing with the shadows.
I have no doubt the rest of the men are following their orders to a T. Asher and I move with an ease that returned instantly, like we haven’t been without each other for two damn decades. The only sound coming from the shell of a building are from the outside. Not so much as a breath is heard.
It’s too quiet down here. If Ray’s hurt, which I know he is, he wouldn’t be able to keep this still unless he was dead. I pray that isn’t the case and I get to watch him take his last breath.
We clear the rest of the lower level and meet Maddox at the base of the single staircase. It’s your typical shit hole with one way up and down, no windows and vast blackness.
Shadows.
My old friends.
I know how to live in these. Hunting won’t be a problem.
I look down when I feel something tap my arm. Maddox has his arm stretched out. Hanging from the tip of his fingers are two night vision goggles. I should have known he’d have them ready to go. We all pull them over our heads, waiting to snap the glasses in place. I wait for Maddox to finish, seeing him put up the thermal he had been running while clearing the floor.
He points up and moves his hands in a way that tells me exactly where I’ll find Ray. Each deliberate movement of his fingers conveys a specific communication, something we learned over our years working together in situations much like this one. There’s a reason these men came into this building with me. This being one of them. I glance at Asher and see his nod; knowing he understood as well is a relief. He wasn’t in our unit, but we did enough jobs together. This was one of the first things I taught him.
I give them one finger, then another, then point up. Each of us pulls the glasses down, and the room around me fades to a green haze clear enough to move freely in the darkness. Man, whoever invented this was a damn genius.
Thirteen steps.
We move soundlessly down the long hall. Asher slides into the first door we come to, Maddox in the next. I keep moving, my heart steady and calm.
Each breath slow and measured.
Calm.
The hunter in his element.
Three more doors.
I glance in the first, seeing a small and very empty bathroom. Asher comes back to my side when I get to the next.
It’s not that one. I can feel it. I give him a nod, and he enters slowly. I keep walking, not worrying about anything other than my mission.