Chapter 26
“Decoy team, you need to move. Your pickup is almost there.”
Saint’s voice is in my ear, but I can’t focus on what he’s saying. I stop the bike abruptly, summoning an angry expletive from Declan.
“What the fuck are you doing? Drive,” he orders.
I draw a shaky breath. My hands feel weak, trembling around the handlebars. With a rushed exhale, I ignore Declan and address Saint.
“I’m not leaving without Tana,” I tell our mission lead. “I’m going to get her.”
“No. Go to the pickup zone.”
“I’m not leaving without her.”
“Darlington. Get to the pickup.”
“No,” I say stubbornly, even as I see my chances of ever being assigned to another mission slipping away. “I’m not leaving Tana. They’ll kill her. Especially after tonight. They’ll think she assisted the Uprising with this rescue. They’ll fucking kill her.”
“Wren.” It’s Gray. “The second bird flies in five minutes. There’s no time.”
“I’m not asking anyone to wait for me,” I say.
I’m already sliding off the bike, summoning a strangled protest from Declan.
“If you want to leave one of our people behind, that’s on you.
But I’m not condemning her to death. If I manage to break her out, Tana and I will find our own way to safety.
Luisa—Declan’s heading to the pickup solo. He’ll be there soon.”
Silence falls over the channel.
To my surprise, the next person to speak is Luisa.
“Gray, if Wren can free the prisoner, I’ll circle back to collect them.” She hastily adds, “If the mission leads authorize it.”
Her offer fills me with gratitude. “Thanks, Lu.”
“Ten minutes,” she says briskly. “That’s all I can give you. I’ll send the grids for the secondary pickup to your wrist comm. Saint?”
After a beat, an aggravated Saint responds. “Ten minutes and no more. If you’re not there, Lu leaves without you.”
“Stand by,” I say, cutting the feed. I glance at Declan, whose face is looking paler by the second. “Go to the primary pickup.”
He shakes his head. “You need backup.”
“You’re in no shape to back anyone up. And I’m not risking your life for a side mission you didn’t sign up for. Go.”
“No. Get on the bike.” Declan’s voice is weak.
“You’re in no condition for this!” I grab his wrist, feeling for his pulse. It’s weak. Alarmingly so. “You need a healer. I don’t want you putting yourself in danger for me—”
“Do you think you’re the only person here who doesn’t feel right about leaving a Mod behind?” he snaps at me.
I blink in shock.
“I’m not leaving any of our people behind, either. So get on the fucking bike.” His jaw becomes impossibly tight. I’ve met my match in obstinacy, it appears.
There’s no arguing with him, so I climb onto the bike and drive. Earlier, I memorized every map we’d been given, so I know exactly where the mine’s prison facility is located.
I’m grateful that Declan can’t see my veins as I silently check in with Cross, who’s been relentlessly trying to link for the past few minutes.
“Tana is being held in the prison here. I’m going to get her.”
“Alone?” He curses in my ear.
“There’s another network operative with me, but he’s in bad shape. How many guards are posted at the prison?”
He ignores the question. “Leave, Wren. You’ve pushed your luck enough tonight.”
He might be right, but I refuse to abandon Tana. End of story.
The barracks are an aboveground series of buildings on the west edge of the mining complex.
Relief flutters through me at the complete lack of security we encounter.
Our plan to divert all their personnel to the eastern perimeter was successful, and Teriq’s team had been efficient here in the west. The guard tower is empty, a male body flung over the side, his rifle dangling by the strap.
I assume the second guard is in a similar state.
As I pull in behind the men’s dormitory, Declan says, “Fuck. Hear that?”
I listen, and sure enough…the distant sound of fighter jets. The Command is sending in reinforcements.
“Cross,” I say. “Did you call for air support?”
“Yes. ETA four minutes.”
“Stay here,” I tell Declan, because he’s truly in no shape to back me up, no matter how many objections he raises. “I’ll send Tana out after I free her. You’ll need to drive her to the pickup.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll find my own way. There isn’t room for three on that bike, and she’s my priority.”
I swear I glimpse a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “Be careful, Darlington.”
Sliding my rifle off my shoulder, I lift the weapon and creep along the side of the gray concrete building. The entire area is eerily silent and cloaked in shadows. Teriq’s team had blown out all the floodlights for their extraction.
“Dove,” Cross says. “There’s usually one guard posted inside and another on the exterior, but I pulled them both off.”
“Thank you,” I say, emotion clogging my throat.
Despite his report, I’m cautious as I turn the corner. There’s no one outside. I exhale a breath, then hurry inside to find a small holding area where the other guard would be posted but isn’t.
The tiny prison has four cells, each one offering a small window slit that allows me to see inside. The first two are empty. When I peer into the third, I catch a flash of dark skin and hair as someone paces by the window.
I bang my fist against the door while trying to link with her. She’s been ignoring me all night, so I’m not surprised when she doesn’t respond right away. It isn’t until I shout her name that she abruptly accepts the link.
“Wren?” She sounds shocked.
“I’m outside your cell. I’m getting you out.”
“What the hell is happening out there? There was so much gunfire.”
“The network rescued all the Mods that were going to be relocated tomorrow.”
“Relocated?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
I find a keypad at the cell door. Fuck. If I shoot it, there’s no guarantee that will release the lock. I quickly reach out to Cross again.
“Thumb scan at the cell door. Is there an override code I can input before I start trying to shoot out the hinges?”
“There’s a code. Air support ETA—three minutes.”
Cross rattles off a series of numbers. I punch them into the keypad, relieved when the door buzzes open and Tana’s brown eyes collide with mine. She seems unharmed, clad in a gray linen combo I assume is the prisoner’s uniform here at Ice Canyon.
“Come on,” I say urgently. “We don’t have much time.”
She’s stepping out of the cell when Cross checks in again.
“I’m at the rear entrance. Don’t shoot me when I come in.”
My heart speeds up. He’s here?
“Wait. Hang back,” I tell him. “Let Tana come out first. I don’t want her to see you.”
I push my friend toward the holding area. “Go. Declan is around the corner on a bullet bike. He’ll take you to the pickup.”
Tana hesitates, her eyes flicking between me and the exit. “What about you?”
“I’m right behind you. I just need to set a charge,” I lie.
Luckily, she races off without questioning me. I wait until she’s out the door before telling Cross he’s clear.
I don’t even hear his footsteps, which is a testament to what a skilled operative he is. He moves like a shadow. I blink and suddenly his tall frame appears in the opposite doorway, outlined by the sole lightbulb above his head. He wears his black Command uniform, the one designated for covert ops.
Steely blue eyes focus on my face, searching. And it’s impossible for him to hide his own expression, because what we feel for each other is too raw to disguise.
My heart slams into my ribs. Whenever he’s around, my world narrows. He’s the center of gravity that pulls me in, everything else fading into the background. I run toward him and throw my arms around him.
He gives me a hug before growling, “I told you I would handle it.”
“I couldn’t take the risk. You said so yourself—you don’t have a lot of power these days.”
His jaw tightens as if he’s grinding his teeth together. It’s good to see him, despite his visible anger. I run my hand over the stubble shadowing his jaw, and he leans into my touch, his forehead pressed to mine.
“I’m goddamn furious with you.”
“I know.”
He looks like he’s trying not to smile. “I really fucking miss you.”
“I know.”
His fingertips graze my cheek.
My gaze rests on his mouth.
I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to kiss him again, so I devour him. I melt into his body, and for one long, beautiful moment, the rest of the world doesn’t exist. It’s just us. His tongue slicks over mine and I moan. It’s that needy, anguished sound that has him pulling away.
I feel him trembling against me. He’s just as desperate for me, and if I could, I’d tear off his clothes, push him onto the floor, and fuck his brains out.
“Come with me,” I plead. “They’ll show you mercy. I’ll make sure of it.”
“They won’t, and even if they did, I wouldn’t trust them. We need to talk later,” he says grimly. “There are things I’ve discovered that—” He suddenly touches his earpiece. “Reinforcements are here. You need to go.”
“I’m on foot. Is there a vehicle—”
“My bike’s in the rear.” He lets out a soft, tortured breath. “Go.”
I can’t resist stealing one last kiss. I brush my lips over his, trying to imprint the feel and taste of him into my very soul.
Then I exit through the back and disappear into the shadows.
“Where are you?” Luisa says in my ear. “I’ve got Declan and Archer on board.”
“Thirty seconds,” I tell her.
I make it to the secondary pickup zone, eternally grateful that Luisa agreed to circle back for us. When the plane comes into view, I speed toward the safety of the waiting aircraft.
“Here,” I report, then ditch the Command bike as the cargo ramp lowers for me.
I sprint aboard, and a moment later the ramp lifts and the door shuts. I’m so relieved I feel lightheaded. Tana is already strapped into her seat. Declan, too. He’s pale and sweating, his breathing even shallower than before.
I sit next to Tana and snap my harness into place, my worried gaze focused on Declan.
“What’s wrong with him?” Tana asks.