Page 51 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost (Nightfall Syndicate #1)

forty

Kade

" A lright, people. This is it. We've got one shot at nailing Steele and his operation. Let's run through it one more time."

As I outline the plan, I catch Alina's gaze. She's come so far in such a short time. The urge to pull her against me, to breathe in her scent and whisper that she doesn't have to do this, rises in my chest. I push it down. She's earned her place here.

"Asher, you'll be our eyes in the sky. I want constant updates on any movement around that airstrip."

He nods, his face a mask of concentration. "Got it. I'll have the drone up and running in five."

"Cole, you're on comms and surveillance. Any chatter, any anomalies in their security systems, I want to know about it. "

"Already tapped in," Cole responds, his fingers flying over his keyboard. "Their encryption's good, but I'm better."

I allow myself a small smile. Damn right he is .

As the team disperses for final equipment checks, I make my way over to Alina. She's double-checking her tactical vest, her movements precise but slightly rushed. My fingers itch to help her, to feel the warmth of her skin beneath the heavy fabric.

"Hey," I say softly, voice dropping to a register only she can hear. "You good?"

She looks up, flashing me a quick smile that hits me straight in the chest. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... ready to get this done."

I nod, understanding the emotions behind her words. My hand finds the small of her back, a brief touch of possession that grounds us both. "Remember, stick to the plan. We're here for intel, not a firefight."

"I know, I know. Recon only." She rolls her eyes, but there's no real annoyance behind it. Her lips curve into that smile that's always a little defiant, a little challenging. My little hellcat. "You worry too much."

Maybe I do. But as I watch my team gear up, I can't shake the feeling that we're walking into something bigger. The thought of Alina in the line of fire makes my pulse quicken, not with fear but with a base need to protect what's mine.

"Alright, let's move out," I announce, pushing my doubts aside. "Comms check on my mark."

One by one, the team checks in. As we pile into our rides, Jax pipes up with his usual bullshit .

"Hey Ghost, what do you call a sniper with bad aim?" He pauses, but no one answers. "A storm trooper!"

I hear Asher groan from the back seat. "For fuck's sake, Nitro. That was weak, even for you."

Cole just shakes his head, but I catch the hint of a smile. "Perhaps we should institute a 'no dad jokes' policy before missions."

I let out a low chuckle despite myself. Jax's dumb jokes always ease the tension, even if no one wants to admit it. We need that right now.

In the vehicle, Alina sits beside me, close enough that I can feel the heat from her thigh against mine. The subtle vanilla scent of her shampoo cuts through the smell of gun oil and leather. My hand finds her knee, squeezing once in silent communication.

The drive to our insertion point is tense but focused. As we near the airstrip, Asher's voice crackles over the comms.

"Drone's up, Ghost. I've got eyes on the target."

"What do you see?"

There's a pause, and I can almost hear Asher's frown. "Not much activity... wait. Three vehicles just pulled up to the main hangar. Looks like they're unloading something."

My gut tightens. "Blade, any chatter?"

"Nothing concrete, but I'm picking up some encrypted bursts. They're definitely communicating about something."

I exchange a glance with Alina. Her expression mirrors my own unease. Before I can stop myself, my hand finds the back of her neck, fingers threading into her hair at the base of her skull. A reminder. Mine to protect. Mine to command .

"Alright, team. We stick to the plan, but stay alert. Something doesn't feel right."

I push down the nagging worry in my gut as we get closer to our assigned spots. Something about this feels off, like we're about to step right into Steele's web. But we've invested too much. Whatever dirty tricks that bastard has up his sleeve, my team will handle it. We always do.

When I signal to hold position, Alina presses close to my side. The heat of her body against mine creates a momentary distraction I can't afford but crave nonetheless. Her scent hits my senses, and I have to force myself to focus on the mission instead of burying my face in her neck.

"Movement detected, northeast corner," Asher's voice crackles through the comm. "Two... no, three figures. They're trying to stay hidden."

My mind races through possible scenarios. This isn't right. We should be observing an empty airfield, not stumbling into an occupied zone.

"Everyone, high alert," I order, my voice low and controlled. "Nitro, status?"

"Boss, I'm picking up some weird interference," Jax responds, frustration evident in his tone. "Someone's trying to jam our comms. I can counter it, but it'll take a minute."

Damn it. This is feeling less like recon and more like walking into a hornets' nest with each passing second.

"Chaos, be ready with those diversion packages. We might need a quick exit strategy."

"Roger that, Ghost," Xander's reply is steady, professional. "I've got three options prepped. Just say the word."

I catch Alina's eye. To her credit, she looks focused, not panicked. Her training's kicking in. Good. The fierce look of determination in those green eyes makes my chest tighten with something beyond pride.

"Stay sharp," I mutter to her, leaning in close enough that my lips brush her ear. "This might get messy fast." I resist the urge to bite her earlobe, to mark her even now, with danger circling us.

She nods, her hand instinctively checking her sidearm. I push down a surge of possessiveness. She's part of the team now. I need to trust her abilities, even as every instinct screams to keep her behind me.

Suddenly, the air splits with the sharp crack of gunfire. A figure steps out from behind a hangar, illuminated by the harsh glow of floodlights that burst to life.

"Well, well," a smooth voice carries across the tarmac. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show, Ghost."

Steele. The bastard knew we were coming.

"Team, engage!" I shout, diving for cover as bullets whiz past. My arm instinctively wraps around Alina's waist, pulling her with me behind a concrete barrier. "Frost, find me a clear shot on Steele!"

The night explodes into fucking mayhem. Muzzle flashes light up the darkness as my team springs into action. Frost's rifle cracks out precise shots from his elevated position, providing crucial cover fire.

To my left, I see Chaos deploying smoke grenades, creating a protective screen for our movement. The acrid smell fills my nostrils as I sprint to a better vantage point.

"Nitro, get those vehicles in position for a quick evac!" I order, squeezing off two shots at a hostile trying to flank us.

"On it, boss!" Jax's voice is strained but determined. I hear engines roaring to life over the gunfire .

Through the comm, I hear Cole coordinating our movements, his calm voice a lifeline in the mayhem. "Saint, hostiles approaching your three o'clock. Reaper, we need support on the east side."

I steal a quick look at Alina. She's found cover and is shooting to protect Damian while he fights hand-to-hand with a pair of Steele's goons. Her aim is dead-on, and she moves like water.

Pride in my chest watching her—this fierce, beautiful woman who's mine in every way that matters. The urge to protect her battles with the pride of seeing her hold her own.

My woman. My warrior. When we get back, I'll show her exactly how much I appreciate that fire.

But we're outnumbered, and Steele clearly has the home-field advantage. This was supposed to be a simple recon mission. Now we're fighting for our lives.

The gunfire intensifies, and I feel the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. This is what we've trained for.

"Frost, I need eyes on Steele!" I shout into my comm.

"Working on it, boss. He's slippery."

I duck behind a stack of crates as bullets pepper the metal around me. My mind races, analyzing our options. We're pinned down, but I refuse to let Steele slip away again.

"Chaos, deploy smoke screen delta. Nitro, be ready for a hard push on my mark."

Acknowledgments crackle through the comm as I catch Alina's eye across the tarmac. She nods, understanding our unspoken plan.

Even in this hellish firefight, the connection between us pulses like a living thing. That's my girl—reading me without a word.

The air fills with thick smoke, obscuring our movements. I signal to Alina, and we move in tandem, covering each other as we advance. Our bodies sync perfectly, a dance we've practiced in very different circumstances.

The memory of her beneath me, moving with this same perfect rhythm, flashes through my mind. I push it away. Survival now, fantasy later.

Suddenly, a figure emerges from the haze. Steele.

"Ghost," he sneers. "Always cleaning up other people's messes, aren't you?"

I remain silent, conserving my energy. Steele and I crash together in a vicious dance of fists and elbows. His technique is impressive, but I've got the edge.

My fist connects with his jaw, snapping his head back. He retaliates with a knee to my ribs that knocks the wind from my lungs. We grapple, muscles straining as we each fight for dominance.

Through the chaos, I catch a glimpse of Alina advancing, her movements calculated. The sight of her, focused and lethal, sends a surge of heat through my veins that has nothing to do with the fight.

I twist, using his momentum to slam him face-first into the wall. Blood sprays from his nose, but he doesn't slow down. We're both breathing hard now, circling each other like caged animals.

I can taste victory, but Steele isn't going down without a fucking fight.

With a swift move, I pin him to the ground, my knee digging into his chest. "It's over, Steele. "

The team converges, securing the area with practiced efficiency. Blade approaches, zip ties ready.

"Nice work, boss," he says, binding Steele's hands.

I haul Steele to his feet, my grip tight on his collar. "Start talking. Who's behind all this?"

Steele laughs, a cold sound that sets my teeth on edge. "You really think it's that simple? You have no idea how deep this goes."

Alina steps forward, her eyes blazing with that fire that makes me want to claim her right here, mission be damned.

"Cut the cryptic bullshit. Names, locations, now."

"Oh, the journalist wants answers," Steele mocks. "Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart. Some truths are better left buried."

The endearment on his lips makes my blood boil. My grip tightens until he winces. Mine. No one gets to call her pet names but me.

"Enough games," I growl, forcing his head back. "What's your endgame here?"

Steele's eyes lock onto mine, a hint of madness lurking in their depths. "Endgame? This is just the beginning."

The team exchanges uneasy glances. Frost's voice comes through the comm, tense and urgent. "Ghost, we've got incoming. Multiple vehicles, heavily armed."

"Fuck," I growl under my breath. My eyes find Alina immediately, calculating the fastest way to get her to safety if this goes south. "Nitro, get ready for a fast exit. Chaos, give me some ideas."

Sweat trickles down my back as I scan the area. My heart pounds, but I keep my voice steady. I won't show fear in front of my team. In front of her .

The bitter stench of burning fills my nose while we restrain Steele. His taunting chuckles piss me off, but I push down the anger and stay locked in.

"Nitro, Chaos—knock him out and strip him. We're taking this bastard back to base."

As they carry out my orders, I make my way to Alina. My hands cradle her face, thumbs brushing over her cheekbones as I check her for injuries. The need to touch her, to confirm she's whole, overrides protocol.

"You okay?" I ask quietly, my voice rough with the aftermath of adrenaline and the relief of seeing her unharmed.

She nods, leaning slightly into my touch. "I will be. Let's just get out of here."

I pull her against me for a brief moment, my lips brushing her temple. "You did good out there, little hellcat," I whisper.

Only she gets to see this side of me—the man beneath the tactical call sign. "When we get back, I'm showing you exactly how proud I am."

The promise in my voice makes her pupils dilate, and a flush creeps up her neck.

The ride back to headquarters is tense. Steele's unconscious form lies at our feet, a reminder of how close we came to disaster.

I can feel the team's eyes on me, waiting for direction, but my focus keeps drifting to Alina.

Her hand rests on my thigh, a point of warmth in the cold aftermath of combat.

"Good work out there," I say, breaking the silence. "But this isn't over. We need answers."

Under cover of the engine noise, I lean closer to Alina's ear. "And you, sweetheart, need to remember who you belong to. I don't share."