Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
nyx
There's always a plan B for scenarios like this. If we ever need to evacuate back home, or abandon a mission, we have a contact. They’re located in the US and can provide us with everything we need to get home.
However, this isn't our usual type of emergency. With Graves gone, he could have reported us as hostiles. Therefore, we’re entering unknown territory.
Adam hacked the airport camera, and low and behold - Graves got on a flight back home.
We have no idea what he's said or done before returning to the US.
He may have even used our unit's escape route to get him safely back. Hawk thinks that’s exactly what he's been conjuring from the shadows.
Noc on the other hand? Unsurprisingly, he also has a Plan B.
One he’d hoped to use once he brought Graves down, but seeing as we're in the shitshow we're in, this is the only option we have - and it comes at a hefty price. “Seven of us.” His voice cuts through the chill of the bitter wind, which is currently sending an arctic blast through my thermals. We’re idly walking along the road that leads from the base to the closest town. Hawk and Hunter stayed back at the base, destroying every bit of evidence we were ever there, except for Graves’s laptop – that’s coming with us.
They’re planting a detonator to destroy the whole building which they'll activate once they reach us. Something sadistic in me is looking forward to the fireworks; it feels like it marks the end road of Graves’s circus.
We managed to safely get inside our quarters, which hadn't been affected by the blast. We took all the evidence of Graves with us, along with changing into civilian clothes and packing our bags.
It would look slightly suspicious if all of us rocked up in nocturnal tactical gear.
You'd take one look at all our hardened exteriors, and assume we were part of some paramilitary shit.
Plus, all seven of us travelling with no luggage to the US?
Yeah, I'm not up for being detained in this country.
“I need a vehicle, one that can fit that number in. I'll give an extra twenty.”
I glance over at Noc, wondering just how much money this man earned during his time here.
I’m not sure I want to know the deeds required to earn it, or the ones he's done on the side.
But I no longer let the questions fill me with doubt.
I know it all leads to the same road. “I see.” He catches me staring at him, and he winks, confirming he's got it under control.
“Spasibo.” He strolls towards me, wrapping his iron arms around my shoulders, pulling my back to his front.
“He'll be here within the hour.” I rest my head against his chest, a breath I didn’t realize I was holding exhales.
At least we won't have to steal innocent civilians’ cars.
We look like a bunch of hitchhikers, not Tier-1 level soldiers.
We’re all scattered at the side of the road, which thankfully is bare of passersby.
I think they’d take one look at Noc and think twice before offering him a ride.
My ears twitch at the sound of footsteps jogging towards us, Hawk and Hunter out of breath from sprinting their way here.
Hawk folds over, placing his hands on his knees when he finally reaches us, fighting to contain his breathing.
I tease him, “You need to work on that cardio, old man.” It earns me a middle finger from where he's hunched, making me smile.
Everyone settles into their own conversations, and something that’s been treading at the back of my mind sparks to life.
I take the opportunity to finally get the last bit of clarity from Noc.
“Graves told me that your dad was involved with some… questionable crowds. And that was the reason you joined the military, that a special ops force killed him. His words were ‘for vengeance’.” A surprising rumble vibrates along my back from Noc’s sinister laugh.
“I see the old prick’s getting better at his storytelling.
But no, Brodie. That’s not entirely true.
” He takes a deep breath, and I twist in his grip so I can look up at him.
His eyes have that familiar sadness licking the edges, the same kind I would see when we used to tiptoe round this subject five years ago.
“Yes, my father ran in the wrong crowds. But it wasn’t special ops that took him out.
It was one of Volokov’s men.” My brows furrow, but I don’t dare interrupt him, not when he’s willing to share something he’s always hidden from me.
“When I tell you Graves and Volokov have worked together for years, I mean years. He wasn’t as high a rank, but Graves got kidnapped by Volokov’s men on a deployment.
Long story short, that’s where their deal was initiated.
” He pushes his thumb against my scowl, straightening it out.
“But Volokov’s original organization was already close to collapsing with how close the military were to closing in, so Graves cut him a deal: he’d ensure Volokov was spared, allowing him to rebuild. ”
He clears his throat. “My dad, in the early days, would do jobs to earn him money to send home to my mother and I.” His eyes glass over with something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s gone the moment he blinks.
“Some of those jobs were for Volokov, and he messed up an arms deal one time. The only thing Volokov’s guards left of him was his hand.
” I watch as the muscles along his jaw constrict, and my hand reaches out to sooth the painful memory.
“When I joined the military, I told them the reason I wanted to join was to stop people like Volokov. To stop them bleeding into the minds of the desperate, because that’s what my father was.
Most people from where he came from had nothing, and turning to a life of crime was an easy, but perilous way to support your family – if you had the guts for it. ”
He stares straight ahead, eyes glaring off into vast woodland. My heart hurts for him, and I realize now that this is all well beyond me, beyond everything. This is personal. “Did Volokov know about your father?” I ask.
His eyes eventually find mine again, and they’re softer.
“Graves did. He found it in your mother’s files.
It was the reason she reached out to me in the first place, and he used the information perfectly to cover his tracks.
She knew I would help. But Volokov? He never mentioned it, not that he would remember.
My dad was merely a part-time foot soldier, the bottom of the barrel.
He went through so many, he likely lost count. ”
Something catches in my peripheral, and I look over his shoulder to see two vehicles come into view.
My fingers itch to grab a gun I no longer have, and the nerves start to crackle beneath my skin.
Noc tightens his grip around me. “It's Ivan.” The cars pull into a grassy area a couple yards ahead, and we all tread towards them. Two men exit both vehicles. The one at the front is a white Audi, and a middle-aged man gets out, possibly in his fifties - his car in a more pristine condition compared with the blue rusted people carrier at the back. A younger, similar version of him exits that car. “Nocturne.” The man I assume is Ivan, speaks with a thick Russian accent as he shakes Noc’s hand, turning to introduce the younger male to him who he says is his son, Alex.
Alex glares up at Noc, eyes widening as he takes him in. Yeah, try being my height buddy.
“Govori po-angliyski, dlya nikh.” The only word I picked up was English, but Ivan nods and looks around us, slightly unnerved.
“Of course. There's seven passports and additional documents in there, should you need them.
When you reach the desk, look for Maria.
She has reserved the tickets for you. Alex has hired the car, no trace back to you.
Park it in this bay and he'll retrieve it in a week.
" Ivan hands Noc a large beige envelope, which he opens and checks everything, looking back at Ivan with a sharp tilt of his head.
The meeting is swift, and they exchange thanks.
As soon as we separate and head towards our transport, the ground beneath our feet trembles slightly.
Several thunderous booms follow, and there's a quick breeze that hits us, fighting through the trees.
The second fireball of the day stretches high above the tree line in the distance, smoke curling and breaking the calm of the grey sky above.
It displays the chaos unfolding below it.
Ivan looks at Noc, his brow arched in question.
Alex smiles at the image of destruction just beyond our reach.
It took us five hours to reach the airport, but thankfully the flights we have booked aren’t for another three hours.
Otherwise, we’d need to wait until tomorrow.
Noc manages to locate Maria at the reservation desk, and my eyes roll.
She seems to be another female who can't keep her eyes off him. I can only assume she’s flirting with him in their mutual language.
Hawk leans against the desk by his side, his eyes darting from Maria to me, and I can tell he's trying not to laugh at the look of unfiltered jealousy that’s written all over my face.
I casually walk up to the desk, Hawk pushing off and strolling to meet me halfway.
His voice is low, but I can hear the playful undertone in his words.
“Please play nice. That’s an order, Nyx.
” My eyes narrow to slits as his laugh fades away behind me, one that he's obviously been struggling to hold.