Chapter 1 #2
A commotion started up outside—the rest of the team.
In a perfect world, it would have been the team I’d served with in my Black Cell ghost unit, but they were out trying to make sense of civilian life, the same as I was.
We got together no less than four times a year, and the last time we met up, no one else appeared to be antsy to jump back into the chaos.
“Tapley, put on the vest.”
“Way ahead of you.”
I glanced over.
She was ready to go, bulletproof vest and all. The rims of her eyelids were beginning to puff up, and I mentally chastised myself for not realizing sooner that I’d placed the call with Chris on speakerphone. I was used to death, and even I had a tough time listening to it.
“The way you prepare in a crisis, if we survive this, remind me to ask you to be my wife,” I teased.
“Um, what do you mean if we survive this?” she asked.
It wasn’t the part I’d wanted her to pay attention to, but it was a fair follow-up question to my stupid ass comment.
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Dez,” she set a hand on her chest, “you can’t be saying stuff like that.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. Stay behind me.”
I went to the door and tapped twice before opening. Four more from Tapley’s detail waited on the other side, weapons drawn: Tony, Isaac, Solana, and Mario. They positioned themselves around Tapley, nudging her to the center.
“Jesse?” I asked.
Solana answered for the group. “Jesse’s still monitoring the cameras, but the last threat’s location remains unknown. Local authorities have been notified. DOJ is en route.”
“Good.” I looked over my shoulder. “Tapley?”
“Stay behind you, I know,” she said. “Trust me. I won’t deviate.”
We left the main office area, following the route we’d practiced since I was notified that Larke Tapley would be my next assignment.
Later, I would tell the team about Chris.
Once I handed Larke off to the Feds, I would go back for our fallen colleague.
Then, I would return to her side the moment I swam my way out from under all the paperwork that was sure to follow this assassination attempt.
Usually, Solana had evening duty at Larke’s condo, but after a night like this one, I would stay with Larke until things cooled down.
We headed for the elevators.
I pressed the down button, and when it arrived, I motioned for Tony to check the metal box for any security risks. After he gave the okay, I stepped inside, followed by Larke and Solana. The rest of the team took the stairs.
While we descended, I remained next to the elevator buttons in the event we needed to activate emergency protocol. Larke remained silent but alert, and I sent her a reassuring smile. She replied with a firm nod, her jaw working.
We made it to the ground floor without incident.
The doors opened to the rest of the team waiting on the shiny tile, and when Larke stepped out, we returned to diamond formation. Rather than making a direct beeline to the garages, we took an alternate route to ensure we remained on the path with the most camera oversight.
“Do you think it’s safe to take my car?” she asked.
“Not likely, but you’ll be safe once DOJ arrives,” I said. “You’ll leave with them.”
“Will you come with me?”
“I’ll meet up with you…” Chris stumbled through another doorway. “Later.”
Behind me, Isaac sighed a low “Thank God” and headed toward Chris, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
The blood on Chris’ neck had dried, but there was nothing to indicate that he’d used something to stop the flow or clot the blood. Then, from the way he’d sounded when I talked to him, his injury had been to a blood vessel large enough for a relatively quick bleedout.
“Chris?” I called. “Answer me, kid.”
Chris continued to stagger toward us.
Isaac shoved against my hand.
“Isaac, I’m ordering you to stay put,” I warned. “Songbird is a high-value asset. Do not break formation.”
“So, we just let him die?” Isaac shoved again. “Dez, there’s five of us. One of us can break formation to go check on Chris.”
“Do not break formation.”
“Or else, what? You’ll write me u—”
“What’s that?” Larke asked. “I saw something flash or blink.”
Snarls echoed throughout the underground parking space, and it quickly began to make sense why Chris was walking toward us as if he was leaving an Irish pub on Saint Patrick’s Day.
I’d had my doubts—it was easy to doubt something on a phone screen—but I couldn’t deny what I was now witnessing right in front of me.
Then, I noticed the flash.
“It’s a bomb,” I said, backing up. “Looks like an IED. Inside now.”
We rushed back into the building.
I knew, from experience, that it was more than likely what the second assailant, likely a sniper, wanted us to do, but their aim posed a lower risk than Tapley being vaporized by heat and shrapnel. My suspicions were confirmed when, next to me, Isaac dropped to the ground.
Solana moved into his position.
I maneuvered Larke back into the stairwell.
Tony remained on the other side of the door.
Jesse announced that he had eyes on the shooter, so Solana and Mario headed for their position.
Larke and I went several floors up, and I checked the hallway before stepping into the corridor.
Keeping in mind where I last remembered Chris’ position, I took her in the opposite direction, dragged her into an unlocked office, and trapped her underneath me in the farthest corner.
Jesse’s voice buzzed in my ear. “Dez, Chris is down, and DOJ’s here. They said the device doesn’t appear to be active, but they’re securing the area. I also notified them of the shooter’s location.”
“Just let me know when the all-clear is given,” I said, staring down into Tapley’s face.
She stared back, her chin raised.
“You okay?” I asked.
First, she nodded.
Then, her eyes rolled back, and her knees gave out.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
“How’s Songbird?” Jesse asked.
I scooped Larke up, and she dangled in my arms like a ragdoll. “She’s fine. She passed out, but honestly, I was more worried that she was still conscious with everything that’s happened over the past several minutes.”
“Woman’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“Yeah, but something tells me she’s had to be.” I adjusted my grip, tucking her forehead against my shoulder to feel her breaths against my collarbone. “Let me know when they’re done.”
“DOJ can—”
“No, I’ve got her. Until they give the all clear, she’s staying with me.”