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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Evangeline

My eyes are gritty, my body heavy with exhaustion as I lean against the counter. The coffee Knight handed to me burns my tongue, but it’s the only thing keeping me upright at this point.

“You can stay here. No one will think any less of you.” Knight’s voice floats out of his workspace.

“No.” My voice is steady, but nerves are twisting my insides into knots. In less than an hour, we’ll attempt to breach a facility that may or may not be holding my brother prisoner.

Or we’ll be walking into a trap.

“My brothers are here. I’ve just sent the elevator down for them.” Knight appears in the doorway, shirtless, sweats hanging low on his hips. “I’m going to change.” He pauses on his way past where I’m standing, reaching out to wrap a hand around the back of my neck and pull me toward him. His kiss is quick, but thorough, leaving my lips tingling in its wake. He’s gone before I can say anything.

When the elevator chimes, I give myself a mental shake.

2 A.M. I’ve noticed that about his brothers. There’s a precision in everything they do, including showing up for what might be a suicide mission. I wonder what their girlfriends think about it.

“Ready?” Bishop’s voice reaches me as they both step out of the elevator.

“Yes.”

No. What if we fail? What if Michael isn’t even there? What if this is exactly what someone wanted us to do?

Bishop is carrying what must be tactical gear in a large bag. The weight doesn't seem to bother him at all. Rook has a similar bag, but that one clinks softly. When he unzips it, I catch a quick glimpse of numerous weapons. The thought should terrify me. Instead, I find myself grateful for their preparation.

"Coffee's fresh, if you want some." I gesture toward the pot, needing something normal to focus on.

Rook sets his bag down. "Everyone clear on their roles?"

Knight appears, dressed in black combat pants and a T-shirt. Somehow the change in clothes makes him look more dangerous than usual.

"I’ll handle the security systems. Eva will stay with me. You two clear our path. We get in, find Michael and Victor, if they’re there, then get out. If they’re not, then I need time to figure out what they’re hiding. Either way, it needs to be clean and quiet."

"Clean and quiet went out the window when you decided to bring a civilian." Bishop pours a coffee. "No offense."

"None taken." I smile at him. "But I'm going in whether you like it or not. Michael is my brother."

Something passes between the three of them, then Bishop nods.

"Stay close to Knight. Do exactly what he says, when he says it."

"That's the plan."

Knight helps me into a tactical vest that weighs more than I expected. His fingers move over the straps, adjusting them until it fits perfectly.

"Comms check." Rook hands out earpieces. "Channel three, encrypted."

The device feels foreign in my ear, but Knight's voice comes through clear when he tests it. Something about hearing him that way, intimate yet professional, sends shivers down my spine. Or maybe that's just nerves about what we're about to attempt.

There’s an SUV outside the building when we finally leave the apartment. The vehicle screams government issue, but the plates are civilian. Another layer of planning I'm learning to expect from these men.

Rook takes the front passenger seat while I slide into the back with Knight. The interior smells of leather and gun oil. My tactical vest catches on the seatbelt as I try to secure it. Knight reaches across to help without saying a word.

“Everyone ready?”

At our nods, Bishop starts the car. He drives through the city with the same control I've noticed in everything they do. No sudden movements. No unnecessary risks. Just smooth progress toward our target.

The longer we’re in the car, the more my hands shake. I clench my fingers in my lap, focusing on my breathing. In through the nose, hold, then out through the mouth. The rhythm helps a little, but anxiety still claws at my chest.

"We’re five minutes out." Bishop's voice breaks the silence. "Everyone clear on the approach?"

"North entrance during shift change." Knight checks something on his phone. "Three-minute window while cameras reset. I’ll disable the security hub while you two handle any patrols."

The facility appears in the distance—a dark shape against a slowly lightening sky. Bishop parks in the shadow of abandoned industrial buildings, far enough away to avoid security sweeps but close enough for quick access if we need to leave in a hurry.

"One last comms check." Rook's voice carries a calm authority that somehow makes everything we’re about to do seem less impossible. "Sound off."

We each confirm our connections work. The reassuring presence of Knight's voice in my ear helps steady my nerves. This is really happening. We're really about to breach a military-grade facility on the chance my brother might be inside.

"Remember." Knight turns to face me, his expression intense in the dim light. "Stay behind me. Move when I move. Stop when I stop. No hesitation. Ready?"

I nod, not trusting my voice. His hand finds mine in the darkness, squeezing once before releasing. The gesture steadies me more than it should.

Bishop kills the engine, and the sudden silence amps up my nerves. This is my last chance to back out. To decide this is too risky. To admit we might be walking into a trap we can't escape.

Instead, I follow their lead, and exit the car. We have less than an hour before the sun ruins any chance of surprise.

My brother could be in there. Somewhere behind those walls and security systems, Michael needs our help. That thought keeps me moving forward, following the three men toward the facility's perimeter.

Time to find out if all the planning has paid off, or if we're about to make the biggest mistake of our lives.

I really hope it's the former, because I don't think we'll survive the latter.