Chapter 16 #2
Her eyes softened, a warm glow emanating from her skin.
“I’m not going anywhere. And I love you so much it’s embarrassing.
But… I’m having a hard time caring about that.
About anything other than how the rest of our lives are gonna play out, so…
Don’t worry, baby. I’ll catch you if you fall, and I’ll always have your back. ”
Another kiss, only it felt different. Charged with the shared energy moving between them. The intense emotions weighing down the room. He took her hand, led her out the door and down the hall. Dishes clattered in the main area, the scent of something baking making his mouth water.
They rounded the corner just as Shepherd walked over to the island, shoved two mugs and a plate of scones their way.
He placed the sugar bowl next to the cups. “I figured you two needed a caffeine and sugar boost after all your… activity.”
Neve took a sip, then munched on a bite of the scone, moaning in a way that made Coulter’s jaw clench. “First, these are delicious. And second, go on, get it out of your system.”
Shepherd grinned. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re referring to.
” He motioned to the comms room. “Zadie just called Scout in to look at something. I think she’s got a lead, which, considering the girl rarely sleeps…
Scout either, but that’s for an entirely different reason.
” Shepherd leaned in closer. “Turns out, that guy she had to give up in order to go dark, Quinton Taylor, was on that RCMP chopper that nearly spotted you at the drone site. She’s been a bit… preoccupied since.”
“We’ll go have a chat.” She picked up the coffee and what remained of her scone, then headed for the other room.
Coulter walked behind her, wondering if they’d all given up far more than just their careers. If Zadie had a similar story. Just another reason to end this — grab Ramsey and force the bastard to give up Finch. Put this whole ugly mess to rest.
Scout looked over her shoulder when they walked in, a wide smile shaping her mouth. “Well, look who finally came up for air.” She arched a brow at Neve. “Someone looks radiant.”
Neve shoved Scout. “Shut up.”
“And here I thought a few good tumbles would do you some good. Maybe you two need another round.”
Neve placed her mug on one of the tables, grinning for a moment before crossing her arms over her chest. “Shepherd thought you found something.”
“Avoidance, I like it.” Scout thumbed at Zadie.
“Zadie just decrypted a section of that GPS.” She paused, glancing at Neve.
“It was Ramsey’s truck, by the way. Not just Blackridge’s.
Ramsey’s personal vehicle. Had his name all over the files, but we’re not quite sure what this location is that he keeps visiting. ”
Coulter shuffled closer, looking at a map over Zadie’s shoulder. “What’s that structure?”
Zadie rocked in her chair, circling a section on the map with her finger. “According to old land registry data, it’s a decommissioned logging facility.”
“What kind of frequency are we talking?”
“Over the past two months? Weekly. He goes at night, stays over, then comes back the following night.”
Coulter nodded. “Can I see the satellite view?”
Zadie popped another map up on her screen. “Remote, to say the least. Only logging and forest roads going in and out. There’s a structure, but…” She blew out a rough breath, fluttering the wisps of hair around her face. “That doesn’t look like a sixty-year-old canteen to me. In fact, it looks new.”
Coulter stared at the image, noting the layout.
“That’s not a commercial facility. That’s a training camp.
” He drew his finger along the screen. “That structure’s a barracks.
These are firing lanes. And this is an advanced tactical course.
I’ve trained at similar ones, Neve has, too.
As for this other structure… Whatever it is, it’s enormous.
Probably a multi-level repurposed industrial facility to simulate urban terrain. ”
Scout inhaled. “You’re saying this is where Ramsey builds his army of freaks?”
Coulter shrugged. “His men have to train, too. Especially, if he wants to see how far he can push them with their enhancement. And he can’t chance doing that anywhere close to a city in case one of his guys goes rogue.
” Coulter tapped his chin. “If he hadn’t trashed the truck, when was he scheduled to go next? ”
Zadie looked up at him. “Tonight. Now, in fact.”
Coulter turned to Neve. “Ramsey doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who’d alter his routine. Especially with how many of his men we’ve eliminated.”
Neve cocked her head to the side. “You think he still went there.”
“My gut says yes. And we have less than twenty-four hours to seize this opportunity. The place is isolated, with only one road in and out for the last few klicks. I say we hit him hard, drag his ass back here. Make him squeal.”
Neve studied the map, mouth pursed tight, eyes narrowed.
She glanced at Zadie and Scout, then back to him.
“With any luck, he thinks Fraser finished us off in that clinic fire. And I doubt he knows we snagged the GPS. We’d at least have the element of surprise — until everything goes loud.
Once he knows we’re there, we’ll have a war on our hands with god knows how many of those enhanced assholes. ”
“We only need Ramsey.”
“Well, when you say it like that…” Neve tapped her fingers on the desk, quietly mulling it over. “Twenty minutes to gear up before we’re gone. We go in dark, avoid confrontations until we’ve got eyes on Ramsey. Then… we either secure his ass or bury it. Regardless, it ends.”
Scout nodded, taking off as Zadie started packing up her tech.
Coulter headed for the armory, grabbing his vest, then packing on supplies.
He turned as Neve shouldered in beside him, moving with the same clinical precision.
She ran through a mental checklist, packing extra ammo and what looked like a wedge of C4 before double checking her sniper rifle, then slinging it across her back.
She glanced over at him and sighed. “I recognize that look. And I already promised I’d be careful.”
He closed the distance, tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “No one I trust more to have my back than you and your team.”
“Our team. You’re part of it, now.”
He smiled. “Our team.” He dipped down, kissed her. “For luck.”
“Screw luck. We’re better. This time, we’ll show him just how much.”
They briefed Shepherd and Gus on the plan, then headed out the rear door, Shepherd standing at the threshold like an expectant parent. Scout slipped behind the wheel, Zadie riding shotgun as Wynn, Neve and Coulter jumped in the back.
Scout reversed, then turned, taking the gravel driveway around the far side of the cabin and onto the main forest service road. The twin headlights cut a swath through the darkness, a thick cloud layer obscured any hint of star shine.
Coulter stared out the back as the cabin vanished into the night.
One chance.
And regardless of the outcome, only one team would walk out of that camp alive.