“Cloak and dagger shit. I can get down with that,” Micah chuckled. “Just let me know when.”
“Will do.”
Kaia dragged Rafe over to the buffet-style table to get their plates so they could eat while the food was still hot and they found a spot to sit and eat. People stopped by to talk to Rafe briefly but no one lingered too long.
“That wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it was going to be,” Rafe said once he was halfway done eating.
“You handled it really well honey,” Kaia replied. “I’m proud of you for not beating around the bush about it and just getting right to the point.”
“Thanks babe. That means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, why do you want to talk to Micah?”
“He should have some insights on how to maneuver through Drago compound, the best places to attack for maximum effect with the least amount of casualties.”
“Damn, and here I hadn’t even thought of that. This is why I need you.”
“You would have babe, given a little more time.”
“You’re probably right,” she said begrudgingly. She wasn’t entirely sure though. Sometimes she was just all about the attack. She didn’t think about the logistics. That had always been Rafe and Baz’s areas of expertise. Thinking about Baz made her heart ache. Fuck, seeing him again reminded her of how much she missed him. “Do you really think Baz had a good reason for leaving us the way he did?”
“We were together for over two decades, babe. You don’t walk away from something like that without a word for no reason. So yeah, I think he had a good reason. I think when he comes to us to explain, and he will, you mark my words, we need to hear him out.”
She took a deep breath, held it a moment, then let it out. “Okay. I trust you. If you think we should hear him out then that’s what we’ll do.”
“That’s my girl,” Rafe said and kissed her temple. “Now finish eating. We have a rescue to plan and not a lot of time to get it done.”
“This is going to be a shitstorm,” she muttered under her breath as she finished her meal.
“You got that right but you can handle it. You’re the queen of shitstorms,” he teased.
“Oh, fuck off!” she retorted. A few years ago a decision she’d made got them in hot water with another group of mercenaries and she’d had to finagle her way out of it. She’d managed, barely, and Rafe loved to tease her about it every chance he got.
“You know I love you babe.”
“Yeah yeah. Sometimes I wonder,” she joked.
“Oh. You wound me.”
“It’s good to see you two back to your old selves,” Calix, their explosives specialist said.
“Calix! Just the lady I was going to go looking for after I was done here. Pull up a seat,” Kaia said to the petite woman. Calix was unique. She was born with blue hair, the result of a gene mutation.
“What’s up boss lady?” Calix asked, plopping down on the bench next to Kaia.
“We’ve got a job at Drago compound that will require some big distractions that cause lots of internal damage, nothing to the outer walls, and as little loss of life as possible.”
“Ooo goody, my favorite kind of fun! I really get to play! How soon do you need it?”
“As soon as possible. We’re on a deadline here.”
“All right. I’ll get right on it.”
“Once you have them ready, get with Micah to discern the best placement. He knows that compound inside and out. He’s our ace in the hole.”
“Fuck yeah. Drago won’t know what hit him!” Calix said and giggled as she hopped up and darted off to get started.
“That woman is as crazy as you are,” Rafe said with a laugh.
