“I do.”It was true.I trusted Dax.I even trusted his team.I just didn’t trust the universe to not fuck with this rescue even more.If Layla wasn’t at the compound...Well, I didn’t know what I would do, but I doubted it would be pretty.
“We’re getting closer.”Dax swiveled in his seat.“Douse any lights.”He leaned closer to the windshield.
My gaze danced from my controls to the growing lights ahead of us.As we neared, the single light broke apart, becoming distinct light sources.
“Circle right,” Dax said abruptly.
I nodded and eased the controls right to take us in a wide circle.The area below us looked more like an abandoned ranch than a compound.I slowed down and dropped closer to the ground.
“Are the sensors reading anything?”Burn leaned over my shoulder.
“No sensors.”I felt everyone’s gaze snap to me.
“What the hell does that mean?”Burn asked.
“It means that someone really fucked with the wiring on this shuttle.I got it to start, but I don’t know what else they did down there.”Someone had messed around under the hood of the shuttle a lot.Like,a lota lot.“The way this baby was wired, there’s a chance I could turn on the sensors and the horn could go off.”
“Shuttles have horns?”Burn sounded truly curious.
“Usually, no, but with what they did to the ignition, I can’t say this one doesn’t.”
“Okay, people, focus.”Though Dax kept his voice quiet, the command in it was unmistakable.“We have visual and that’s it.So keep your eyes peeled.”
“Will do,” Burn said before she disappeared back into the belly of the shuttle.
“I’m not seeing anything but the buildings,” I whispered.“Do you think it’s a trap?”
Dax shook his head.“No.I think they’re complacent.This is, after all, the ass-end of nowhere.They’re surviving mostly on luck.Ships go missing on the edges all the time.If they were closer to the core planets, I think someone would have noticed and shut them down.”
I flicked my gaze over to him.“Someone like your team.”
“Exactly.”His nod was sharp.“I think your sister is an outlier.This Farrow, whoever he is, he was looking for information, not a ship to strip for parts.Based on what that mechanic said, Farrow was pissed they were treating her like business as usual.I think they want her research.”
“Then she’s only safe until they get it.”My stomach clenched at the implications.
“Lacy, if your sister is half as stubborn and creative as you, she’s keeping them on their toes and they don’t have that research yet.Have faith.”
His words didn’t eliminate all my worries, but I was able to breathe again.
He pointed toward a fence.“Set down over there.”
“I don’t think the fence is going to provide much cover.”Not if we were landing inside it.
“The tree next to it will help,” Dax said.
Trusting the former marine’s tactical instincts, I eased the shuttle down to the ground.We were a hundred feet from the closest building in the compound.There was a high-pitched whirr from the engine but it settled down almost immediately.
“Shh,” Mercer growled from the back of the shuttle.
“Shh yourself,” I snapped.
I powered off the shuttle and crossed my fingers that she would start up again after we rescued Layla.“Thank you,” I whispered to the ship and ran my hand over the controls.
“That’s really disturbing,” Mercer said.
“You’re really disturbing.”I swiveled around just in time to catch Burn give him a shoulder check.
Dax unfolded from the copilot’s seat and stood between our two chairs.He braced his hands on the ceiling and stretched.I leaned back in my seat to enjoy the view.The man looked good in everything, including combat armor.
