Chapter 10 #3
Royce sighed. “I figured as much. I've got your back as much as I can from here.
Senator Hartley is ready to move on Strickland the moment you get that evidence.
But Rogue...be careful. The compound isn't your only problem.
Strickland has activated a black-ops team made up of former Delta Force operators.
They're headed to Texas. If they find you—"
“Don’t worry,” Rogue said. “We plan on being in and out before they get close.”
“I hope you're right,” Royce said. “Good luck to you all.”
“Thank you, sir, for everything,” Rogue said.
Royce snorted. “Don’t thank me yet. Come back alive and thank me in person. And bring the testimonies Senator Hartley needs to shut Strickland down.”
“Yes, sir,” Rogue said.
“Out here.” Royce ended the call.
“I’ve been thinking,” Jade said. “We might have it easier if Viktor isn’t at the compound when we make our move.”
“He’s usually there during the week,” Keira said. “How do you propose to get him to leave before we arrive tomorrow?”
“I can send him a message tonight that I’m coming into the Corsicana site tomorrow at noon. I’ll only show up if he’s the one who’s there to meet me, and I’ll deliver the information I have on Keira.”
“You think that’s enough to make him leave the southern compound?” Rogue asked.
“If he wants me and has a chance to catch Keira, I think so.” Jade’s brow twisted. “At least it doesn’t hurt to try to get him out long enough for us to get to Lily.”
Keira nodded. “You can send the message through my laptop’s encrypted channel before we leave early in the morning. He shouldn’t be able to trace it. And if he does, we’ll be gone before he can get here.”
The satellite phone chirped with an incoming text.
Rogue checked the message. “We have the addresses and GPS coordinates of the truck’s scheduled stops tomorrow morning.”
“Since the truck is making two stops before it gets to the compound, we should plan on making our move at the stop before the compound,” Keira said.
Rogue nodded. “Agreed. We’ll take out the driver there and hide you and Jade in the back.”
“Which means we need to get an early start in the morning to be at that second stop well before the truck arrives.” Keira glanced at her watch. “We should get some sleep.”
Jade turned to Keira, grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. “If something happens to me tomorrow...if I don't make it out...promise me you'll get Lily somewhere safe—away from Onyx. Someplace she can be happy and make a life of her own choosing."
Keira squeezed Jade’s hand back. “Nothing's going to happen to you. We’re going to make it happen according to the plan.”
Jade shook her head. “But if something does happen and I can’t be there for Lily, I need you to promise you’ll take care of her. Promise."
“I promise,” Keira said.
Rogue covered both of their hands with his bigger one. “You have my word. We'll protect her like she's our own."
“Thank you.” Tears filled Jade’s eyes and slipped down her cheeks. She swiped at them, frowning. “I know that as Onyx, we’re not supposed to cry, but fuck that.” She stared down at her damp hand and then looked up at Keira, her jaw set in a fierce line. “And fuck Onyx.”
“That’s right,” Keira said. “Fuck Onyx.” She pulled Jade into her arms and hugged her tightly. Then she set her at arm’s length. “Get some sleep. We need to be on the road by five to give us plenty of time to get to our location, evaluate the setup and get in place.”
Jade nodded. “Thank you both for helping Lily.” She turned and entered the cabin.
Keira sank onto the steps and stared out at the sky.
Rogue dropped down to sit beside her.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” she said softly.
He slipped his arm around her. “None of us do.”
Keira leaned into his warmth and strength. “I just... I want you to know that these last few days, working with you, trusting you... It's the first time I've felt like a person instead of a weapon in a long time."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You've always been a person, Keira. Viktor tried to take that from you, but he didn't succeed. You're still here. Still fighting. Still human.”
She sighed. “Like you.”
He touched a finger to her chin, turning her face up to him. “I’m trying to be.”
When he leaned down, she met his mouth with hers in a kiss so tender and real it touched her soul.
As the kiss deepened and became more urgent, Keira realized it was more than just lust or attraction.
It was a connection, an understanding of each other, a beacon of hope in the face of an uncertain outcome that could end in tragedy.
Keira pulled back and stared up into his eyes as they reflected the stars shining in the sky. “If we don’t survive tomorrow—”
He touched a finger to her lips. “When we survive tomorrow.”
She kissed his finger and nodded. “When we survive tomorrow, is there any universe in which an assassin and a war hero can be together? I’d really like to give whatever this is between us a chance.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen,” he said, “because I want that chance, too.”
He kissed her again, and they held each other, stealing a moment of peace before the storm.