Chapter Twenty Six, Die Hard #2
The air had a tang of gunpowder, and metal shavings mixed with stale smoke and dust. It made me feel a little nauseous, but I forced myself to breathe, inhaling the metallic scent that reminded me of the stakes. This wasn’t some thrill ride. It was a matter of life or death.
“Stay close and touch nothing,” Silver muttered. She didn’t even look back as she glided between aisles, her eyes scanning every shelf with practiced precision.
She looked like Atlas did when he was in his scary badass mode.
Rowan nudged me with his elbow, grinning as though we were on a grocery run.
I didn’t know how he could be so relaxed, but then again, he’d probably been used to more violent things in prison.
He was having fun. Meanwhile, I was trying not to think about the fact that each weapon Silver picked up was meant to hurt, maim, or kill monsters bigger than I could ever hope to be.
Her voice broke through the haze of tension. “Heather, catch.”
I turned just in time to catch the bulletproof vest she tossed in my direction; its weight nearly made me stumble. “Put it on,” she ordered, not pausing as she continued picking up more supplies.
The vest was heavy, and I struggled to put it on properly. She didn’t even pause as she walked over, adjusting the straps with sharp, tugging motions.
“You’ll get used to it in a few minutes,” she said, her tone too flat to be reassuring, but her hands were steady. “Think of it as the more protection you wear, the less chance you get hurt. Or worse.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the Kevlar digging into my shoulders. “You really think we’ll need this?” I muttered, half to myself.
“You need this.” She shot me a sideways glance. “And I think it’s better to be prepared than dead.”
Rowan chuckled, giving me an encouraging pat on the back as Silver added another layer—a smaller tactical vest over the bulletproof one, and a belt with small compartments for ammo clips and a couple of knives.
She even handed me kneepads and a helmet, which looked like it belonged on a SWAT officer, not me.
“Seriously?” I asked, staring at the thing in my hands, already weighed down like a Kevlar turtle. “You expect me to be able to move in all this?”
Silver’s response was short. “Yes.”
Rowan snickered. “Oh, come on, Lucky. You look like a real warrior princess now.” His grin softened into something a bit more serious as he adjusted his own gear, rolling his shoulders and comfortable. “A couple of bruises are better than the alternative.”
He was wearing only a thin bulletproof vest. That was it. It was hardly the same for us.
“I suppose,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady even as I felt both nervous and annoyed.
I knew I was useless at crime, but seriously? I wasn’t that bad.
Silver finally shoved a small handgun into my hands, a compact, sleek one that was dwarfed by the artillery she had strapped to her. I stared at it, feeling a bit ridiculous compared to her fully armed soldier look.
“Really?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I’m supposed to intimidate people with this?”
Silver didn’t bat an eye. “No offense, Heather, but I’d rather give you something more… easy. Friendly. So I know you’re not going to shoot someone by accident.” She handed Rowan a larger gun, something bulky and black, and the contrast made my gun look even tinier.
Rowan grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “I think you look adorable.”
“My adorable ass will shoot you if you don’t fuck off.” I tried to growl at him, but it was hardly scary. If anything, he only looked like he wanted to laugh harder. “I know how to shoot. With a real gun. I don’t need babying just because I’m not a contract killer.”
Silver’s eyes flickered over me critically. She finally gave a nod, her lips quirking just a little. “At least you’ll be safe. Atlas would kill me if I don’t keep you safe.”
“True.” I blew out a breath, suddenly not all that fussed about the gear. “I think this is stupid, but fine.”
It would make Atlas happy, and I enjoyed that idea. I also knew he and Gio would probably have put me in far worse; a giant bubble or something similar.
“Remember,” Silver said when we finally headed back toward the car, “we go in clean and fast. If we get separated, head back to the car. You stay in my sight, Heather, understand? I’ll do the bulk of things.”
I nodded, my hands clammy but my resolve growing. “Got it.”
Rowan looked between us, his usual smirk replaced with a serious expression. “I know I’m not exactly your go-to soldier here, but if we’re doing this, then I’m going in before she does.”
Silver gave him a curt nod. “Of course. Just don’t shoot me in the back. I will cut your throat open for it if you do.” She opened the trunk, dumping the rest of the gear inside with a single, practiced motion as my burner phone rang.
As Emilio finally called back and gave us the location of the swap for ‘evidence’ of Gio’s murder—some house in the middle of nowhere a few hours away—I slid into the backseat, adjusting the helmet so it wouldn’t slide down over my eyes.
Until I got mad and yanked it off, swapping it for the ghost mask like I wanted, much to Silver’s chagrin.
I was older than she was. I pulled that card and made her listen to my wants, rather than coddle me because it seemed the public opinion of me was that I was a toddler or something.
As she started the engine, I took a deep breath, clutching my tiny gun tightly, like it was some kind of lifeline. The hum of the car vibrated under my hands as we pulled away, the scenery blurring past us. Nothing but trees and empty roads.
The closer we got to the location Atlas had dropped, the harder my heart hammered.
Every inch of my body felt coiled and ready, like I was made of pure tension, waiting for the moment to snap.
But it was also strangely calming, as though that fierce determination had finally overpowered the fear, or at least pushed it far enough back that I could breathe.
Rowan turned around in his seat, giving me a smile that was more reassuring than anything I could’ve asked for. “You’ll be alright, Lucky. Silver’s a badass. You should have seen the things she did in prison.”
My ears perked up. “Was it dangerous?”
She shook her head. “Nah,” she snorted. “I’d done worse when I was a child.”
She seemed far more open than Atlas. But as curious as I was, I didn’t want to risk upsetting her by digging deeper and asking questions.
So I just nodded and stared out of the window, watching the trees and things pass us by.
Refusing to do anything other than keep calm, pet Malivore, and promise to the trees that were listening that I would not fuck up and cause a mess.
Maybe I could actually fix a mess this time.