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“Yeah. There’s six houses, but I did some digging and my sources tell me that Grant has been holed up somewhere on the south side.”
“Okay…”
“So, we were thinking… There’s only two houses on the south side. I say we hit the houses on the south side, let the crews that were supposed to be doing ground surveillance handle the other four.”
“I don’t know…” I start.
“Man, put some trust in us. I know the Reapers and the Brotherhood have bad blood, but we are both under new leadership,” Arsenal starts off, “and we don’t want the Syndicate sniffing around Havok Hills any more than you do. Our teams can work together.”
“Trav, we got this. The crews have all been shown a picture of Maddox. They know what to look for. They know he has to be taken alive. But Hannah’s right. She knows these people, she has the in. Fucking listen to her,” Blaize chimes in.
I mull it over, looking at each of my partners in this entire fucking mess before turning my eyes to Spencer. She gives me a nod, and it tells me all I need to know. I have to put my faith in them.
“Fine, but I swear to god Han…”
“Trav, I’m telling you. He’s on the south side. We’ll get him,” she cuts in.
“I trust you,” I nod as I toss each of them a gas canister to holster. “We gotta be smart about this. Spencer, Zeke, and Hannah ride in the van. The Brothers, Riot, and I will follow on our bikes. We hit the cabin first. It’ll be easiest to get through without being seen. If that’s a bust, everyone we find there dies. Understood?”
Everyone nods in unison.
“Good. Then we hit the house on the outskirts of the city. It’s more open there so we have to be really fucking careful.”
“Everybody good?” Blaize speaks up, giving everyone one last glance. We are about to head into the fucking lion’s den, and everyone needs to be prepared. Anything can happen.
Everyone nods. Zeke closes the lid of his laptop and tucks it under his arm. I don’t miss the look he and Riot exchange as Riot heads for his bike. The brothers head to their bikes, and Hannah follows Zeke to the van. Walking Spencer over to the van, I stop when we make it to the open door.
Stepping forward, I lean down and rest my forehead against hers, gripping the front of her vest and pulling her into me.
“You stay in that fucking van with Zeke, do you understand me?”
She nods as she swallows the lump in her throat.
“Say the words Spencer.”
“I stay in the van with Zeke.”
“No matter what.”
“No matter what,” she parrots.
Pulling her closer, I slam my lips to hers in a bruising kiss. I kiss her like it’s the last time I’m ever going to kiss her. I kiss her like we’re saying goodbye. Because I know deep down in my soul, if I have to give my life for her freedom today, I’ll do it without hesitation.
Pulling away, I hold my hand out to Zeke and he hands me the ear pieces. I secure one in Spencer’s ear, and she gives it a quick test as Zeke and Hannah set up their own comms. Securing one in my own ear, I give Spencer one last look, then I slide the door to the van shut.
Jogging over to the bikes, I toss the guys each their own ear piece. Once everyone’s comms are confirmed to be in working order, we start up the bikes and follow the van closely out of the warehouse.
Coming to a stop beyond the tree line, we each turn off our bike and dismount. Hannah climbs out of Zeke’s van, and we make our way to our predetermined positions. Riot and I stick together, taking up the south side entrance of the cabin, and the brothers take up the north side of the cabin. Hannah waits in the shadows for her signal.
“Testing, we good?” I check my comms.
“All good,” Zeke replies.
“Same here,” Blaize echoes.
“Copy,” Han chimes in.
Pulling my Glock from my thigh holster, I creep stealthily around the edges of the cabin. It’s dark, and the night is so quiet that one wrong step could carry the echoes of a branch snapping miles in any direction.