Wrecker looked at Parker, who answered. “There’s a secondary airstrip on the south edge of the city. If we can’t get back to the original, we’ll drive them to the fallback. Rafe’s guy will meet us there. Ten-minute runway window, then it’s a hard exfil.”
“And if we’re separated?” I said.
Parker didn’t miss a beat. “Each team has a burner. If one team gets split, rendezvous at one of the safe-houses listed in your file. They’re in code, but the GPS is already programmed. You get there, you lock down, you wait for the go signal.”
Bronc leaned forward, voice like gravel. “Everyone got their role?”
One by one, we nodded.
He pointed at Wrecker and Parker. “You two are brains and comms. Doc, you’re transport and medical. Papa, you run point on physical extraction. Aspen, you and Gunner will work your comms from here. Arsenal, you keep Harper glued to your hip at all times. Her safety is the mission. If Steiner or anyone else gets near her, you go full combat on their ass. Keep Rafe’s men up to speed and near. I want their team running second on this. If Steiner is taken down, I want plausible deniability. Our most important asset will be Gwen. She is an incredibly powerful witch who has been with Rafe for years. She’ll be able to create a veil that will shield y’all from human and supernatural eyes. As long as she’s okay, you should be able to get in and get out without too much trouble. But prepare for all contingencies.”
I straightened. “Yes, sir.”
Juliet smiled at Harper, a little flick of warmth. “You’ll be okay,” she said. “We have the best in the world with you.”
The briefing rolled on. We hashed every contingency, every backup plan. If the house were burned, we’d regroup at a safe-house. If the police got involved, Parker had bribes ready for at least two captains in the 18th arrondissement. If the worst happened, Wrecker would blow the fallback airstrip with C4, and everyone would run for the train.
It all made sense, and it all felt like it could go to shit in one bad minute.
The conversation turned to the targets: Brie, Harper’s sister, last seen at an art show. The mother, last confirmed at a French bakery near the Marais. There were photos, blurry but good enough. Harper stared at the pages like she could will them into reality. The wolf friends were the only unknowns.
I flipped through my own file, scanning every page. Patterns, schedules, possible chokepoints. My mind raced with tactical overlays, possible ambushes, fallback positions. The more I saw, the more I liked the plan. The only part I didn’t like was the unknowns.
“Steiner’s men,” I said. “How many?”
Wrecker grunted. “Four confirmed, maybe two more. They’re ex-military, mostly US or Polish mercs, with a couple of shifters for muscle.”
“Names?”
He passed a sheet. “Best we could do. These are ugly dudes, Arsenal. Not the kind that scare easy.”
I memorized every name and face, then slid the page to Harper. She studied it, brow furrowed.
Parker asked, “You recognize any?”
She shook her head, then stopped. “Wait. The one on the left. I think I saw him in Houston. He was… he came to the club with Steiner once. He was quiet, but he watched everything.”
Wrecker grinned. “That tracks. He’s ex-Polish GROM. Likes knives.”
I felt Harper stiffen beside me. I put my hand on her knee under the table and gave her a squeeze.
Wrecker summed it up: “These aren’t dumb goons. They’ll improvise.”
Bronc looked at me. “You ready?”
I nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Papa clapped his hands together, the sound sharp as a pistol shot. “Then it’s settled.”
Juliet collected the folders, giving Harper’s an extra squeeze. “You’ll do great,” she whispered.
Everyone broke up, heading out in ones and twos. Wrecker and Parker lingered, heads bent together over a laptop. Bronc walked us to the door.
On the porch, under the bare bulbs, he paused. “She’ll be safe,” he said, looking me dead in the eye.
“I know,” I said, and for the first time, I believed it.
We walked up to my apartment in silence. I could see the fear in her, but I could also see her bravery.
