“An explosion.” Gabe looks at me grimly. “I’m guessing you’re here because something bad is happening up top.”
“Medved’s coming, I think.”
Gabe lets out a long breath, his face going all serious. I know that look. I’ve seen it a thousand times. It’s the way he used to glare at me when we were younger and he wanted me and Dominic to stop screwing around.
“Better prepare for a fight then because I doubt Medved would commit to an attack on this island without planning something serious.”
MASS
“How many are we talking about?” I stare at the looming screens as my operations and defense crew buzz around me.
Lucy types at a computer. “Six warships. Twelve smaller vessels. Dozens of drones in the sky. Possibly hundreds.”
“Fucking air support.” I watch the fleet approach through the choppy water. It’s an ugly day with rain pattering against the sand.
“It’s an invasion fleet.” Lucy leans back, her usually calm demeanor cracked by anxiety. “He’s coming in force.”
The idea settles on me like a thorn bush.
This must’ve been his backup plan from the start.
Medved wanted to take Rosie and force his way into a Dragon position using her as blackmail to keep me and Elias in line. But since that clearly failed and we killed his only reliable way onto the island, he’s turning to his last resort.
Blowing the whole fucking place to pieces.
“How many ships can we get in the water?” I ask, turning to a readout of our defenses.
“Not as many as him. We’d lose in a naval battle.” Enzo comes striding through the chaos. My main battle chief is tall and well-built. He’s former special forces, though he was let go for a particular bloodlust that wasn’t becoming of an agent of a respectable government.
“I want them kept off the beaches.”
He shakes his head slowly. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Are you seriously telling me that Medved’s got a bigger army than we do?”
“Not exactly.” Enzo crouches beside Lucy. She moves back reluctantly, giving him a hard glare as he types at the computer she was using. “We have more troops, that’s true. I believe our munitions are better. We have more stockpiles here on the island. But he’s got bigger and better ships, and I’m guessing there are more surprises in store. Our best bet is to stay back and let him come to us.”
“If he establishes a beachhead, we’re screwed.” Lucy doesn’t sound happy that Enzo’s taking over the conversation. The two of them usually get along, but they’re both type-A psychopaths. Neither wants the other to come out on top, even if we’re on the same team.
“The Fortress was built to withstand a siege.” Enzo taps on a map of the island. “Medved’s forces are gathered out here. He’s coming up toward the Resort, and I suspect he’s going to land right on the party beaches.”
“That fucking bastard.”
“No kidding. Most of our defenses are on the other side of the island. We’re weakest over there. But—” He taps at the map again. “Taking that beach means he has to fight all the way through the Resort if he wants to make it back here to the Fortress. That’s where we’ll stop him, before he even makes it to the interior of the island.”
“How sure are you that this plan can work?” I don’t like the idea of letting Medved land on the beaches, but I see sense in what Enzo’s proposing. We’re strongest fighting on land, and Medved’s forces will take a lot of damage coming ashore.
“As sure as I can be. Trust me on this one. Battles are what you hired me for.” Enzo grins, all cocky confidence and self-assurance. He backs away, raking a hand through his hair.
“Start evacuating the Resort,” I order, aware of how this is going to look. The people staying there are all extremely powerful and important individuals. They won’t be happy getting caught in the middle of a Dragon war.
Nothing I can do about that now.
“Already on it,” Lucy says, shooting a look at Enzo. “Unlike your other employees, I’m usually on top of the situation.”
Enzo doesn’t seem fazed at all. “Permission to get the battle plans together?”
“Do what you have to.” He strides off with a casual wink thrown at Lucy.
