Chapter 29 August 25, 2025 #2
She was responsible for all the logistics for Mythos, which in turn meant most of their transportation.
If her eyes were bothering her, that could make her job very difficult, particularly if her depth perception was off.
Not only that, but she drove and flew like her hair was on fire, the world burning up two feet behind her.
And on top of that? She was Steel’s counterpart in that she was their chief assassin, which also required perfect eyesight. It was no wonder she was being grouchy.
Clearing his throat, Loki reminded everyone, “We should get back to work. It’s now nine hundred twenty-five.
At seventeen hundred, we will begin checkout procedures with Midas.
He will ensure your trackers are turned on and functioning, and confirm with Nova that she can locate you.
We will also be activating the new surface trackers Midas created.
“Everyone needs to be at their origin points at eighteen thirty. Midas will do another comms check at that time, then ask Nova to confirm once again where you are.
“At twenty hundred hours, we move out on our planned routes. Gilgamesh, God, and I will start by disengaging the guards and security systems. If all goes to plan, the mission should lose power at twenty fifteen. If we run into problems, you’ll know, and you’ll be on standby if we’re delayed.
“TB will approach from the north, under the cover of the motor pool barn. When the power goes out, he will assist with the ground-level security roundup.
“Demon will be in Puma Cove in case water rescue is needed.
Medusa will drive Nemo, Gem, and Steel into the cove.
Nemo and Gem will begin the cliff ascent to the residence on the northeast side of the mission.
They will be setting distraction charges along the face, but also available for rescue rappelling.
“Steel will be entering through the cliff entrance with Demon, using the tunnel we found on drone footage to enter the warehouses below the mission. From there, they will work toward the oubliettes, extract Waters and Ka-Bar, then exit back through the underground warehouse and tunnels to the boat.
“Topside, Gilgamesh, God, and eventually TB, will work to clear all security from the premises, and possibly meet Steel and Demon at the oubliettes.
“Once our men are secured and on the boat, Medusa will extract everyone from the tunnels. Those of us who are topside will go back the way we came to the off-road vehicles, which we will secure at the half-mile mark inside the tree line and off the highway.”
“What about me?” Daleyza asked.
“Change in plans. You’re staying here.”
Flashing her a sideways look, Steel saw that Loki’s declaration was not going over well with his warrior wife.
Up to now, they had allowed her into every facet of the planning, but apparently, someone had decided she was to be wrapped up in cotton wool here at the hotel.
If they thought she was going to agree to that, they had learned nothing about her in the last few days.
He would step in if he had to, but he wanted her to speak for herself, if she chose.
True to form, the acid flew from her tongue. “You can’t be serious?”
Loki stood up to his full six-foot-six height and looked down his nose at her. “I am always serious, Senora.”
“Don’t get all formal with me. I’m more than capable of helping beyond drawing maps and thinking about where you might find hidden entry points.”
“Senora.” He winced at her glare. “Daleyza,” he corrected.
“It’s not that you’re incapable. Far from it.
Steel has shared with all of us exactly how capable you are with weapons and hand-to-hand defense.
It has everything to do with the fact that we are all familiar with each other’s ways because we’ve been organized by the same man, plus we’ve worked together periodically over the last two years. ”
“That’s total bullshit. I managed to work just fine with the Tribe team to take out several unfriendlies by blowing them to smithereens, and while traveling at high rates of speed.
I bear no love for my family or their business, so there will be no feelings to get in the way of what needs to happen if a trigger needs to be pulled. ”
“I’m sorry, but—”
“If you leave me here, I’ll just follow you via the highway. You may be traveling through the wilds of Nahuel Huapi National Park, but I’ll probably get you caught because I’ll be spotted on the main road.”
Silence reigned as Loki squinted, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t risk your husband in that manner. Not now.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Ildefanso knows me. Knows my tactics. He taught them to me, after all. I could capture all of you, but he’d know how to avoid it. That’s how much faith I have in my husband.”
Loki refused to back down, and everyone stared at the tiny woman opposite the Norse giant, waiting to see who would give in.
They didn’t have time for this kind of stalemate. Too much was at risk.
Steel wrenched the slide back and forth on his weapon as he checked the chamber, then closed it and handed it over to Daleyza.
“She goes with me, as originally planned,” he emphasized for Loki’s benefit.
“If I get turned around in the tunnels, she’ll be able to help me reacclimate my direction.
Plus, if we are discovered, she’ll be able to guide me to hiding places I wouldn’t know. ”
“God is not going to like this,” Loki argued.
“Well, he’s not here, is he? He’s off hunting for our boat driver and probably squeezing out a litter of kittens over her inability to follow orders. Of everyone here, I’m the highest in rank, even if no longer in the military, so in his absence, my orders are clear.”
Whoa. That was a bit of a head rush. He’d never wanted to be in command at any point in his career, and while he was in charge of men while working for the cartel, he’d controlled them through fear, not rank.
Now he saw how easy it was to get drunk on power, and how quickly someone could amass that power and wield it.
Loki ground his teeth against each other, and Steel heard a cracking sound. Maybe the Mythos strongman needed to pick up God’s sucker habit so he didn’t break additional teeth.
“Fine. She goes with you. But she’s your responsibility.”
“She’s her own responsibility.”
“I’m my own responsibility.”
The two sentences came out in perfect stereo.
Steel looked at her, his words soft yet strong. “We are responsible for ourselves, but we are a team.”
The smile she gave him told him he’d said the right thing.