“I know.”
“If you do make it out, Koen’s going to spank your ass bloody.”
I grin, the first genuine smile in days. “I know.”
He shakes his head, laughing. “That’s probably all I needed to say to motivate you, huh?”
“Probably.”
“Well, finish your food, and I’ll show you what I have.”
I nod. There’s a lump forming in my throat, however, making it hard to swallow my food because I know not only do I intend to do whatever I can to get Director Raymond’s daughter back, but I wholeheartedly intend to kill Director Helms.
If I wasn’t a murderer before, I will be soon.
Chase outlines what he thinks we should do and where he thinks the director’s daughter is being held.
It’s an old historic mansion, dating from the turn of the century. Its outer shell looks dilapidated, with panels practically falling off. The porch looks like something out of a horror film, daring you to set foot on it, so that it can swallow you whole.
“It’s the last place I tracked Helms before he went dark. It was on our list to investigate before…”
“Before Koen was led into a fucking ambush that left him in a coma?”
“Yeah.”
“How many men did you get me?”
“Ten.”
I nod. Ten men is something, but it’s ten men that I don’t know.
“You’re going to have to listen to direction, keep coms open, and don’t make one wrong move. If I say to abort, you fucking listen. Koen will kill me if I get you hurt.”
“It’s not Koen’s decision.”
“Fuck.” Chase sits back, tossing some headphones from the desktop to the floor. “I wish he were awake and could just handle this shit.”
“Don’t we all. That’s not the fate we were dealt.”
“Yeah, but you’re a librarian. I’m sending a librarian in to do an agent’s job…”
I swallow thickly. “Hey, I’m well schooled in combat, in all different genres.”
Chase’s laugh is genuine as it barks out of him. “Now is not the time for humor.”
I shrug. “Now isexactlythe time for humor.”
Hours later, I’m dressed down in new tactical gear, this set not covered in Koen’s blood, and staring at a broken-down house across the street.
I’m sitting in the back of a SWAT van, ten men surrounding me I’ve never met before, and the energy is practically buzzing off their skin, making me giddy.
Chase’s comment about my being a librarian and unfit for combat is battering my brain as I stare at the house that very well might end my life because I’m not leaving without that little girl.
Koen wouldn’t, and I’m starting to understand him the more I dip my toe in his world.
“Ready?” Chase says in my ear, and I jump.
I’d forgotten about my com while I’d been sitting stoically, staring off into space, and spiralling.
