“The olden days sucked,” James said, hanging his head.
“Oh, stop with your Debbie Downer shit, James,” Thomas barked. “Everyone knows the plan, yeah?”
“Why don’t you go over it again, because clearly we may have missed something the ten times you’ve already reviewed it with us,” James teased.
The final minutes of the car ride were in silence. Each of us checked our equipment, removed safeties, and got mentally focused. Sam had secured permission from the owner of the next building to stash the car inside to avoid being spotted by Tyler.
After the car was hidden, we all took our positions and waited. Sam took the roof, being our lookout, while James, Thomas, and I took our spots around the building.
I was so nervous that I could barely focus. My heart was pounding in my throat and my palms felt slick from the nonstop perspiration that formed every time I wiped them on my jeans.
If this shit didn’t go down right, her life could be in a shambles and it would be entirely my fault.
I couldn’t let her take a chance with her life. She might be an adult, but like hell would I let her walk into a fire when I could put it out without her getting involved.
I glanced at my watch and realized more than ten minutes had passed while I’d been standing here. Tyler hadn’t arrived.
“He’s late,” James said in my earpiece, figuring out the same thing I had.
“Let’s wait ten more minutes before we call it,” Thomas replied.
“I don’t see anyone coming either,” Sam added.
“Fuck,” I said as my stomach began to sink. “I bet the fucker doesn’t show.” I had a feeling I couldn’t explain. I’d felt it once or twice in the army, and typically shit went bad.
“What do we want to do?” James’s voice echoed in my ear.
“I think you’re right, Morgan. We’ll wait five and leave,” Thomas replied.
I crouched down, picked up tiny pebbles, and tossed them. My mind was racing, and just standing there was making me crazy. I didn’t like the unknown.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, needing to check on Race.
Me: Sorry we left without you. No time to spare.
“Men, I think it’s time to pack it in,” Thomas said.
“Did you hear from Angel? Race said she was going to head to the office,” I said, heading toward the building we’d hid the vehicle in.
“Meet at the truck. I’ll call Angel on the way,” Thomas replied.
“Ten-four,” James said. “Something’s off for sure.”
“What are you thinking?” Sam asked over the radio.
“I don’t know, but I know something bad is happening.”
“Thomas, call Angel,” I demanded as sweat lined my brow.
“I’m doing it, fucker.”
Before I’d made it to the van, he said the words I didn’t want to hear.
“She never made it, man.”
Bile rose in my throat and I tried my best to swallow it down. “Everyone, get your ass back here.”
“What are you thinking, Morgan?” James asked as he appeared by my side.
