64. Chapter 64
Maddox
After flying all night, we descend into the Crumbs with the rising sun. Dust and wind churn below the landing zone; the rotors whipping the dirt into a violent blur.
“Prepare for landing,” the pilot calls over the comms.
Atticus shifts beside me, eyes locked on the ground below, taking in the warehouse roofs and broken structures scattered across Vex’s territory.
“They won’t attack as soon as we land?” he asks.
“They shouldn’t,” I say, eyes focused out the window. “I’ve had my men set up a perimeter near an abandoned warehouse. Vex rules over a lot of the black markets here—criminals, petty thieves, anyone who can be bought or broken by drugs. Money talks in his territory, so we made it talk louder.”
“Criminals? Can we trust them?” He asks.
“Not at all,” I say.
“This will only hold for so long,” I continue, already calculating time. “We need to be ready to move out the moment we touch down.”
He studies me and nods. At least he’s smart enough to let me take the lead here. I glance toward the swords strapped across his back. Clean and traditional. The kind of weapon that works in training halls and aristocratic duels.
Probably not enough for this fight.
I hate I even care enough to correct it. I should let him make his own choices, and if he dies, so be it.
But if Atticus dies, Arwen loses another piece of stability she doesn’t have room to lose. And I can’t stand the thought of what that would do to her.
I’d destroy the entire continent to erase her pain at this point.
Reaching into the weapons stash beside my seat, I pull out a Glock and make sure it’s loaded before holding it out to him.
“Those won’t do much against gunfire,” I say, pointing at the blades. “Take this instead.”
He takes it without argument, checking the chamber and adjusting his grip like he’s done this before.
I don’t wait for the rotors to die down as we touch the ground. The door opens and I drop out first, boots hitting dirt that’s half gravel, half broken concrete. My eyes sweep the perimeter of the warehouse, rust and oil strong in the air.
I find another team of my men. Fifteen of them, all in combat gear, staged and waiting. Lucas is at the front, posture tight, weapon slung but ready. He spots me as I stride toward him and clamps my hand around his forearm in a firm grip.
“Good to see you. We’re ready to roll out.” His eyes flick briefly past me to the unfamiliar group stepping off the helicopter behind me, but he doesn’t question it.
I release him and step forward to the team.
“Okay,” I call out, raising my voice so it carries.
“Vex’s house is four miles that way,” I say, pointing north. “We already know they’re expecting us. Be prepared for anything. Right now, they have the upper hand, so assume every step forward is being watched.”
I let that sink in.
“Expect an ambush. Don’t let your guard down, not for a second. And most importantly—follow the plan. Val and Duval’s teams will meet us in the middle at Vex’s compound. Hopefully, their movement will draw some eyes off us and force them to split their focus.”
My eyes flick toward the line of vehicles staged along the edge of the warehouse lot.
“We move in transport,” I continue. “Three or four per vehicle. We stay mobile and attempt to stay under the radar. I don’t want a foot battle for four miles—the closer we can get, the better it will be.”
A few nods ripple through the group.
“Now let’s move out.”
The formation breaks into motion. I turn and lock onto the three people closest to me.
“Holly. Brix. Atticus—you’re with me.”
Holly and Brix give a sharp nod without question. Atticus doesn’t look thrilled, but he moves anyway.
“Sly, you’re with Lucas,” I say. “You obey his every command. He’ll keep you alive. Got it?”
Sly hesitates, glancing at Holly, then nods.
“Good.”
I get into the driver’s seat and the engine flares to life. It’s time to get my girl back.