Chapter 37 Mass
MASS
“How many are we talking about?” I stare at the looming screens as my operations and defense crew buzz around me.
Lucy types at a computer. “Six warships. Twelve smaller vessels. Dozens of drones in the sky. Possibly hundreds.”
“Fucking air support.” I watch the fleet approach through the choppy water. It’s an ugly day with rain pattering against the sand.
“It’s an invasion fleet.” Lucy leans back, her usually calm demeanor cracked by anxiety. “He’s coming in force.”
The idea settles on me like a thorn bush.
This must’ve been his backup plan from the start.
Medved wanted to take Rosie and force his way into a Dragon position using her as blackmail to keep me and Elias in line. But since that clearly failed and we killed his only reliable way onto the island, he’s turning to his last resort.
Blowing the whole fucking place to pieces.
“How many ships can we get in the water?” I ask, turning to a readout of our defenses.
“Not as many as him. We’d lose in a naval battle.” Enzo comes striding through the chaos. My main battle chief is tall and well-built. He’s former special forces, though he was let go for a particular bloodlust that wasn’t becoming of an agent of a respectable government.
“I want them kept off the beaches.”
He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Are you seriously telling me that Medved’s got a bigger army than we do?”
“Not exactly.” Enzo crouches beside Lucy.
She moves back reluctantly, giving him a hard glare as he types at the computer she was using.
“We have more troops, that’s true. I believe our munitions are better.
We have more stockpiles here on the island.
But he’s got bigger and better ships, and I’m guessing there are more surprises in store.
Our best bet is to stay back and let him come to us. ”
“If he establishes a beachhead, we’re screwed.” Lucy doesn’t sound happy that Enzo’s taking over the conversation. The two of them usually get along, but they’re both type-A psychopaths. Neither wants the other to come out on top, even if we’re on the same team.
“The Fortress was built to withstand a siege.” Enzo taps on a map of the island. “Medved’s forces are gathered out here. He’s coming up toward the Resort, and I suspect he’s going to land right on the party beaches.”
“That fucking bastard.”
“No kidding. Most of our defenses are on the other side of the island. We’re weakest over there.
But—” He taps at the map again. “Taking that beach means he has to fight all the way through the Resort if he wants to make it back here to the Fortress. That’s where we’ll stop him, before he even makes it to the interior of the island. ”
“How sure are you that this plan can work?” I don’t like the idea of letting Medved land on the beaches, but I see sense in what Enzo’s proposing. We’re strongest fighting on land, and Medved’s forces will take a lot of damage coming ashore.
“As sure as I can be. Trust me on this one. Battles are what you hired me for.” Enzo grins, all cocky confidence and self-assurance. He backs away, raking a hand through his hair.
“Start evacuating the Resort,” I order, aware of how this is going to look. The people staying there are all extremely powerful and important individuals. They won’t be happy getting caught in the middle of a Dragon war.
Nothing I can do about that now.
“Already on it,” Lucy says, shooting a look at Enzo. “Unlike your other employees, I’m usually on top of the situation.”
Enzo doesn’t seem fazed at all. “Permission to get the battle plans together?”
“Do what you have to.” He strides off with a casual wink thrown at Lucy.
She flips him off. “Hate that guy.”
“No, you don’t. And we don’t have time for your petty rivalry. Make sure the Resort is empty in an hour and start evacuating all nonessential Fortress personnel. Even if Enzo’s right and we stop Medved at the Resort, I can’t take the risk of losing anyone.”
“I’ll make it happen.”
“And Lucy, that includes my wife and my child.”
“What about her brother?”
“Him as well.” I stare at the screen, thinking about the fight to come. It’s going to be bloody and bad. “I might even owe him an apology after this is over.”
“Apologize now then,” Lucy murmurs, looking over my shoulder.
I turn in the direction she’s staring and watch as Allie, Rosie, and Gabe come hustling through the chaos toward me.
I almost scream a string of curses.
“What are you doing in here?” I face them with a stern glower and crossed arms. “My men had orders to keep you safe.”
“And your men are also terrified of your wife’s wrath.” Allie beams innocently at me. “Gabe wanted to talk to you, and I wanted to come to make sure you listened.”
“Wife, my love, we don’t have time for this right now.”
Gabe steps forward. His face is a wreck. I really did a fucked-up number on him. “I want to fight.”
That’s a surprise. I wouldn’t have blamed him for leaving the island with Allie. The man took an ugly beating and lost half an ear to my rage. He doesn’t owe me a damn thing anymore.
“Why?” I ask seriously.
“I fucked up. I got involved with Medved without really realizing what he was going to do to my niece. I came here with good intentions, but that doesn’t change the way that Russian bastard used me. I want revenge.”
Well, at least that’s something I can understand.
“You can stay with Allie and make sure she’s safe during the evacuation. You’ve done enough.”
“I’m fighting.” Gabe stares at me with fire in his eyes. I can respect that.
“And I’m staying.” Allie looks just as determined.
It’s annoying as fuck.
“You’re taking our daughter and you’re leaving until this is over. I don’t have time to argue.”
“Then don’t. Gabe’s fighting. I’m staying. End of discussion.” Allie looks around, clutching Rosie tighter. “Where should I hang out?”
I resist the urge to start randomly murdering people just to vent some of this frustration. Lucy seems amused, though. “Gabe can help with Enzo’s prep. I’ll take him over.”
“Fine,” I snap, gesturing for them to get going. “We don’t have much time. The ships are closing in.”
“Roger that, General Dragon.” Lucy salutes me and nods for Gabe to follow.
“I’ll see you two later,” Gabe says to Allie and Rosie before following my second-in-command.
I step close to my wife. She doesn’t flinch away; she only smiles at me sweetly with pure defiance in her eyes. No matter what I do, she’s not going to change her mind. If anything, she’s going to fight me tooth and nail for every concession.
“You are going to our apartment.” I clutch her arm. “You are going to stay there no matter what happens. It’s safe enough.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I’ll come and make sure you’re settled, but I have other responsibilities. Like making sure your foolish brother doesn’t get killed.”
That softens her a bit. “Promise you’ll get him through this?”
“So long as I don’t have to worry about you as well. Swear to me you won’t leave the apartment.”
“I swear.” She sighs, getting on her toes.
“Then I promise I’ll keep him as alive as I can.”
We kiss fiercely before I drag her away from the command center and toward the elevators.
Rosie’s in a good mood at least. All the action’s keeping her entertained.
Distant booms pepper the night. Lucy keeps sending me updates as the battle progresses. Medved’s ships are moving into position while our gunboats harass and attack them.
“When the fighting starts for real, I’m going to have to leave you.” I pull Allie tight against me. We’re lying together in bed, the only light from flashes of firebombs out on the ocean. Now that Rosie is asleep, I can give my wife my full attention.
“I don’t want to think about that right now.” Allie touches my face. She’s so beautiful right now it threatens to overwhelm me. “Everything outside of this room doesn’t exist. At least for a little while.”
“You’re right. What more could I need?”
Another thunderous crash. This one sounds closer than the others. Allie flinches, eyes flitting to the window nervously.
I pull her chin toward me. “Don’t look away.”
Her eyes go wide and she nods. “I’m trying not to.”
We both know what those sounds mean. Each crack and boom means death is still coming. Allie knows I have to be down there among my men, fighting and killing and risking myself alongside them, or else I’m not worthy of my Dragon title. She knows it’s something I have to do.
But if I’m honest with myself here in the darkness of our bedroom, I’d rather stay behind.
I’d choose staying here in her arms a thousand times over.
Everything out there is for her. It’s for another chance at coming home alive to see my wife again.
Because if I don’t, this is all a ruin.
That doesn’t make it any easier.
Not for her at least. For me, the choice is simple.
Kill my enemies. Save my family.
But still, despite all that, I ache to stay with her more than I ever dreamed I could.
She presses her lips to mine. “Stay with me while you can,” she whispers, dragging me from my thoughts. “You don’t want me to look away. I want you to stay right here.”
“I’m with you.” I tug her tighter, burying her mouth with mine.
There’s only so much I can tell her. How she changed me for the better. How having Rosie in my home has expanded my idea of what it means to be a man. How Allie’s like the right-sized glove I’ve been searching for all my life.
My tongue dives into her mouth. She whimpers when another explosion goes off. I tug at her clothes, slowly undressing her, desperate to distract her from the noise and what’s coming. I kiss her neck, kiss her chest, suck her nipples, and pin her hands above her head.
I don’t say I might be doing this for the last time.
But we both know.