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“Fact.” Fox’s grin widened. “Where’s the fun otherwise?”

Abe glanced up from his tablet. “Twelve hours until the tech goes live. After that, it’s out there for good.”

Fox’s smile faded. “Then it’s a good thing we’re fast.”

His team.

They were the only ones he trusted when everything went to hell.

Outside, purple-black storm clouds crowded the windows, their bellies swollen with rain that hammered the fuselage. Lightning flashed, illuminating the churning sea below in stark, violent bursts.

Somewhere beneath the angry sky lay their target—a private island fortress housing the core of Project Nightshade.

Another downdraft slammed them. “Jesus,” he muttered. “I’m so done with all the fucking rain. When this is over, I’m lying on a beach until my skin peels.”

Next to him, Kat’s knuckles were white against her safety harness. Her jaw was set in a rigid line, her breath strained.

He leaned in, voice low by her ear. “I’m picturing you on that beach. Tiny bikini. The kind I’ll take my time stripping off you. With my mouth.”

She looked at him then, cheeks flushed despite the turbulence. “If that’s a distraction tactic… it’s working. A little.”

“First time in a puddle jumper?”

“Not my first.” Her eyes locked forward again. “Just my least favorite.”

He covered her hand with his. “Almost there. Just a few more minutes.”

“Hey, sleeping beauty,” Fox balled up a granola bar wrapper and lobbed it across the cabin. It bounced off Zak’s forehead.

Zak snapped awake, instantly alert. “I wasn’t sleeping. I was meditating.”

“Sure.” Fox eye rolled. “And I moonlight as the Queen of Sheba.”

The plane banked left, angling toward the strip. The El Nido airstrip was little more than a slab of tarmac carved from the jungle. But it was their best access point.

Leo raised his voice above the engines. “Everyone clear on the plan?”

Abe answered first. “Boat insertion, 0200. Disable perimeter defenses and internal security.”

“Land breach to the compound.” Fox nodded.“Kill the array. Pull what intel we can before the whole thing lights up.”

Zak’s elbows were on his knees, his fingers laced together. “What about survivors?”

“Any civilians, we extract. Hostiles…” Leo didn’t have to finish.

After the Royal London, they all knew what hesitation cost.

The wheels hit the tarmac with a hard bounce and a squeal of rubber.

The Cessna skidded, then straightened. Rain hammered the fuselage as they taxied toward a row of squat buildings swallowed in mist.

Leo touched Kat’s knee. “You good?”

She didn’t look away from the window. “Eldridge.”

“What about her?”

“She’s involved, but her endgame doesn’t track.” Her brow furrowed. “I think she might be here.”