The Guild's Aquarius

Prologue

“Get down!”

My finger squeezed the trigger of my gun, the noise making my ears ring. I could barely breathe, barely think, but I harnessed my adrenaline and used it to my advantage. Though my heart raced, my aim remained true and my target fell to the ground.

I wasn’t allowed any time to take in the situation. I immediately holstered my weapon and jumped forward to untie the hostages, all crying and screaming around their gags. One by one, I cut them loose. We didn’t have time for relief, for thanks. I shoved them towards one of my teammates.

“Get them outside and into the helicopter,” I shouted. “Go, go, go!”

This mission had been years in the making.

It felt surreal that we were finally here, finally taking down these sons of bitches.

I glanced down at the body of the man I’d shot.

He wasn’t who we were after, only one of many loyal henchmen, but it was one less enemy, one less danger and he’d gotten exactly what he deserved.

“You,” I shouted, motioning to two more of my squadron. “With me.”

I unholstered my weapon once more as we charged down a corridor, checking each and every door as we passed it.

“Clear!”

Another door was kicked open.

“Clear!”

Good, the fewer distractions, the better.

We needed to get in and out as quickly as possible.

Our main target would undoubtedly know we were coming for him by now.

Gunfire wasn’t exactly subtle. A man, another stranger, jumped out with a machete raised above his head.

I didn’t hesitate. The kickback from my gun made my shoulders ache, my hands burning from the vibrations, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.

“This way!” I motioned ahead. If the plans we’d spent the last year studying served us, the room just ahead led straight into the main body of the house. There was a meeting room. That’s where we were hoping to find our target.

One of my teammates put his boot through the door, the wood splintering from its hinges, and all hell broke loose.

There were more of them than I had been expecting.

Training so well engrained within me it was more like instinct took over and I fired my gun, picking off assailants and protecting my team.

The room was filled with smoke in an instant, guns blasting and voices shouting. I couldn’t see… Was he here? Had we taken him down yet?

That was when I spotted him. Kharl Adjego, the sick son of a bitch who was responsible for all of this mess. How much blood did that man have on his hands? I didn’t dare to guess, but I was determined to make sure this operation would be his last.

“Stop! Down on the ground!” I roared, giving him the opportunity to surrender though I already knew he wouldn’t take it.

He raised his gun and everything slipped into slow motion. I took aim and fired – one round to the head, another to the chest. A kill shot. Kharl dropped like a stone.

“Target neutralised!” I shouted, though my voice sounded far away, like it wasn’t mine at all. We’d done it. We’d really done it!

I didn’t have time to bask in my success.

My squadron and I quickly took care of the others, some having dropped to their knees in surrender after seeing their leader fall.

We wouldn’t kill them. You never knew what intelligence could be gleaned from men like this.

No, we’d take them back with us, just as we’d been instructed.

I helped the others immobilising the prisoners and with shaking hands, grabbed my radio.

“10-4, over.”

“Go ahead,” a crackly voice responded.

“Target neutralised. No friendly casualties. We have—” I paused, quickly assessing the room. “Three captured for questioning.”

“Received. Pick up is on its way to your location.”

“Clean up too, I hope?” I asked, a smirk playing on my lips.

One of my squadron members grinned, nudging me as he passed.

I released a long, loud sigh before moving to clap hands to shoulders and congratulate the team. It was a huge win for us today. The world was a slightly better place just for Kharl Adjego not being in it, that was for sure.

“C’mon, lieutenant. Let’s go!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I muttered, hurriedly jamming my phone into my jeans pocket.

The pub was packed out with familiar faces, already raucous from the celebrations.

In typical British fashion, it was raining and I lifted my jacket up over my head as I rushed for the entrance, following behind my teammates.

At the doorway, I hesitated, a shiver dancing down my spine.

I glanced up and down the dark street. No one.

I shook myself off and pushed inside, the place erupting into cheers as I was congratulated for a successful mission.

The night was just as crazy as I had expected it to be. I was the centre of attention with everyone wanting to speak with me, to congratulate me. They didn’t believe me when I told them it was just another day, another job.

As last calls were announced, the pub finally began to thin out and after staunchly refusing to join my squadron and a bunch of other guys in heading out clubbing, I found myself huddled beneath a large umbrella as the rain continued to fall around me.

The light from my phone screen illuminated my face in the dark, arranging a taxi.

“Goodnight, lieutenant!” someone called out.

“Safe trip home,” I replied, waving them off.

I slipped my phone back into my jeans pocket and wrapped my arms around myself, watching the rain falling, the puddles reflecting the streetlights. Alone. Silent. Just as before, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but this time as I glanced around, I saw her.

A woman stood a short distance away beneath a large, black umbrella. Whilst her appearance wasn’t unusual, something about her set me on edge. I held her gaze as she stared at me.

“Can I help you?” I eventually asked with a scowl.

“I hope so,” she replied, her stony face finally allowing a smile. Before I could ask what she meant, the woman continued. “Lieutenant Charlotte Roberts, if I’m not mistaken? E Squadron. Before that, SAS. Daughter to David and Eileen Roberts—”

“What the—? Who are—?”

“—Height – five foot eight. Weight—”

I saw red. My life was shrouded in secrets, that was the nature of the job and something I fought valiantly to protect. How did this bitch find out who I was? Why was she here? I stepped forward, grabbing her by the arm, uncaring if my hold bruised her.

“Who are you and what do you want?” I glared, speaking through clenched teeth.

“My name is Aquarius, and I am from The Guild.”