Chapter 30
THIRTY
The mid-afternoon suncast a warm glow over Lake Michigan as Tank steered the boat through the gently rippling waters. At least they’d been lucky enough to hit an early spring cold snap. Otherwise, they’d be rather suspicious on the water. As it was, they simply appeared to be enthusiastic anglers. Ryder held a fishing pole and they both wore heavy water-resistant jackets, leaning into their disguise as disinterested fishermen.
They came closer to the lakeshore, where factory after factory stood, giants of the industrial age who’d settled there for access to the water and shipping routes. Power distribution centers dotted the shoreline, their large towers piercing the blue sky, along with huge cranes and towering mounds of raw materials.
In the distance, a large cargo ship floated toward the shore. And there, right where Joey’s satellite images said it would be, the old Lakeside Foundry steel mill stood stoic on the shoreline, tucked behind a low harbor wall. It still appeared abandoned on recent satellite images, but as they drew closer, the illusion began to crumble.
Ryder manned the binoculars, eyes scanning the structure looming on the water”s edge. ”Looks like they”ve been playing everyone for fools with that steel mill facade,” he muttered.
Tank pulled the binoculars to his eyes, his gaze narrowing as he studied the compound. There was one building that actually sat over the water, almost like a man-made peninsula, with water right up to the edges, lapping gently against the stoney sides.
His mouth fell open as a part of the wall lowered, as though on a hinge, into the water. “What the–” he muttered, watching as a small boat slowly motored out of the seemingly rundown building.
It was a freaking retractable ramp, seamlessly integrated into the structure. That definitely hadn’t been on any satellite images.
“These guys are really leaning into the evil lair thing, aren’t they?” Ryder said.
“Yeah, seems like it. But this isn’t Mission Impossible, and you’re not Tom Cruise,” he said.
Tank felt a knot tighten in his gut. Citadel had invested heavily in keeping their secrets hidden. For no one to know about this place and for it to be essentially untraceable back to Citadel? What were they doing here? “What other secrets do you think they’re hiding?”
Ryder shook his head. “Nothing good,” he offered.
They kept their distance, not wanting to raise any alarms ahead of their plan tonight. But as Tank steered the boat, passing the entirety of the old mill property, he ran through potential scenarios. There were no guards posted, but there would definitely be cameras. Maybe even underwater sensors, depending on how paranoid the Citadel forces were.
Under the cover of darkness, they would be nearly invisible, but would it be enough? Tank”s mind raced with strategies to breach the compound, his jaw set in determination.
He pointed down the beach, letting Ryder know without words what he was thinking. They’d noticed this natural jetty on the satellite images. Ryder nodded. “That’s our landing point.”
Tank agreed. “One team there, one from the shipping channel on the west side.”
His team leader hummed in agreement. “What about the James Bond entrance?”
Tank glanced back at the hidden water entrance, trying to figure out how it played into the Citadel fortress. It didn’t appear connected to the main buildings. Tank knew the two large buildings on the shore used to be steel rolling facilities, but they’d been shuttered when he was just a kid. It had been a devastating economic blow to the area, one his father had happily taken advantage of.
Now, the buildings were supposedly empty. Rusted building panels and overgrown weeds trailing up the gutters certainly tried to sell that version of truth. But Tank wasn’t some tourist wandering up from Miller Beach a mile to the east. He could see the small cameras tucked under the roofline, and the fresh tire tracks in the dirt roads. A nondescript door with an electronic keypad next to it. That was their way in.
Citadel certainly wanted everyone to overlook this location. Afterall, evil thrived in secret. But Tank was ready to cast them into the light.
“Got what we need?” he asked.
Ryder nodded, and Tank pulled the wheel sharply to the left, banking a wide turn and taking them away from the industrial area. It would take twenty minutes to return to the small private dock they were using, even at top speed.
Back at the safe house, the team gathered around the desk for Tank and Ryder”s debriefing. Marshall adjusted his glasses, his eyes locked on Tank. ”What did you see out there?”
Tank took a deep breath, reliving the visuals of the disguised fortress they”d witnessed. “At first glance, the compound looks like an abandoned steel mill. But it”s definitely fortified, and we should expect cutting-edge tech. Surveillance cameras, sensors, the works. There”s even one building that sits over the water. Almost like it is floating there, where they have a retractable boat entrance.”
Ryder chimed in, adding his insights. ”We didn”t get too close, but we can’t underestimate them. And for anything inside, we’re essentially flying blind.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence, everyone absorbed in the weight of the situation. Tank”s eyes, however, sought out Kaylie. He wished he could erase the worry etched across her features.
When Kaylie spoke, her voice was steady and determined. ”What’s the plan to get Lia out?”
Tank admired her resilience and her unwavering focus on Lia”s safety. ”In and out, as quickly as possible. Engage as needed, but don’t stick around any longer than necessary.”
Questions and ideas flooded the room as the team delved into the specifics. Kaylie would be their diversion, forcing the Citadel team to move, giving the rest of them the opportunity to approach from the water. As the discussions continued, Tank felt the weight of responsibility press upon him.
When the team dispersed to work on their assigned tasks, Kaylie lingered behind.
Tank leaned against the table, his eyes meeting hers before darting away. He wasn’t sure he could handle this conversation. Wasn’t sure he could keep pushing her away when everything inside him wanted to claim her. ”Kaylie—”
She cut him off, pulling his eyes back to her. “I’m trusting you, Anthony. I should have trusted you sooner.” She sighed, running her fingers through her dark hair and looking away. “Maybe if I had, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I never should have run away from Black Tower.”
Her words resonated, wrapping around Tank”s heart. Despite the challenges, the uncertainty, there was a flicker of hope. “Why did you?” He forced the words out through the tightness in his throat, remembering the pain of coming back to BTS and finding her gone.
Kaylie stood and stepped around the desk until she was next to him. “I hated that I was dragging you back into the world you’d left behind. Into my mess with the Moreno family.”
A choked scoff, drenched in self-loathing, tore from his throat. “If only Moreno was the big problem. Instead, you’re wrapped up in this mess with Citadel. You were right to leave, but not because it pulled me back into my past. But because I’m always going to be the man who brings danger to your door simply by being me. You deserve someone better.”
Kaylie’s hand traced his jaw. He closed his eyes against the onslaught of emotion, the tender touch almost painful in the pleasure it brought him. “Don’t say that,” she whispered. “This isn’t your fault.”
Tank vehemently disagreed with that statement, but now wasn’t the time to argue. Right now, they had to focus on getting Lia back.
“Can I convince you to stay here?” he asked, already knowing the answer. His fingers found her own, where they still cradled his chin.
“I can’t just wait on the sidelines. She’s everything,” she added, her voice tight.
“I know,” he admitted. Tank took her hands in his, feeling the warmth of her skin against his palms. “I just don’t like the idea of you being in there without me. I can’t predict what Lowell might do to you.” He hoped Lowell would see her as just another bargaining chip, but the man was seriously unhinged.
Kaylie gave a grim smile. “Whatever it is, if it gives you the opportunity you need to get to Lia, then it will be worth it.”
“So strong,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her hairline. He soaked in her scent, wrapping his arms around her and memorizing the feel. So strong and so soft, two sides to the woman he would never be able to erase from his heart.