Luk and I took our seats. No one was really talking, but the room buzzed with energy and murmurs.
My uncle stepped up to the head of the table, in full Kaptain mode. A pretty but stern-looking woman on his right side handed him a file.
“We just got word from our scouts in the city there is a huge cargo shipment coming in. Someone on the inside has relayed back to us that whatever the train is carrying from Budapest is important enough for the prime minister to want his personal guards to be there.”
Train from Budapest?A sinking sensation plunged into my stomach.
“Last time, we were too late to intercede, and the spies inside Leon’s camp could not find out what the shipment was, only it was extremely valuable to him.”
Dread wiggled deeper into my gut, twinging with the notion I knew exactly what was in the cargo, though the claim of my knowledge stuck in my throat. I didn’t know for sure if it was the pills. I also wasn’t absolutely sure I could trust Mykel. He wasn’t like Andris. If he found out about them, would he want to use them as well?
“The station is going to be heavily guarded, but it is still open to civilians. While they are unloading this cargo, passengers will be getting on for the return journey.”
We were lucky in this part of the world that we had a functioning rail system at all, but there were very limited trains, most working double duty for passengers and cargo.
“Blade, Sab, Lea, and Jak, I want you guys on all exits.” Mykel indicated to the two I didn’t know and turned to the map on the screen, the slide switching to a floorplan of the train station. “Tracker, Ava, you are going to cause a distraction on the opposite platform, while Luk and X...”He looked straight at me, and once again, I could see so much of my father in him. It was the look I got when he challenged me to not let him down. “You two will try to steal it... at the very least find out what it is.”
“Steal?” I was a little stunned he wanted me on the most precarious part of the job. Not that I wasn’t perfect for it. Stealing was my favorite pastime. “Me?”
“It’s sink or swim here,” he replied sternly. “We don’t have time to coddle you. Every day, more and more people die in poverty or are killed because of who they are. The war is on our doorstep. Are you in or out?”
I glanced around the room of strangers, their gazes giving me no support. But then I felt Luk’s fingers squeeze my knee, telling me he’d be right by my side. This was someone who was fighting against his own mother for what was right.
“I’m in.”
Something resembling pride flickered in Mykel’s eyes, his head dipping. I felt like I had passed the first half of the test.
“The train comes in at twelve-fifteen p.m. on platform six.”
That meant the train would have left at 4:45 a.m. from Budapest. The exact train I used to lie in wait for, pushing the two minutes and twenty seconds I had to rob it.
“Departing in twenty minutes, with an hour drive, will land you at the train station at half-past eleven, giving you time to evaluate and scope out the guards, exits, and situation. There is also the possibility the train will change arrival platforms,” Kaptain stated. “Is everyone clear about their role?”
All nodded, confirming a solid yes, acting like this was the millionth time they had done this type of mission.
“Good. All communication between you and the base will be cut off. Watch out for fae doors and the Mongrels. My inside spies are telling me they are getting bolder and more ruthless, not sticking to the nights anymore.”
“Mongrels?” I asked.
“A group of cutthroat bandits who prowl the motorways and around the borders of the privileged, murdering and robbing,” Mykel answered. “They have no purpose or goal except to thieve. They are loyal to no one or no side.”
They sounded exactly like the Hounds in Budapest. It wasn’t surprising they had their own gangs here as well. They always poppedup in desperate times to take the scraps while the top was too busy fighting over power. Istvan always brushed the Hounds off as nothing but a nuisance. A small splinter in your finger, but in my experience, the sliver could fester and turn into a much bigger problem if ignored.
“Okay. Good luck, everyone.” Kaptain dipped his head and strolled out, not even looking back at me, which made me feel like he believed in me more than I thought. He didn’t act like my hand needed to be held.
Sink or swim.
“That’s all the instruction?” In HDF, I was used to detailed, step-by-step directions.
Luk rose from the chair. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, and he trusts us to figure out our moves in a moment’s time. So many things can change, and if you aren’t able to adjust in a blink, a lot of things can go wrong. People die.” He yanked on my chair, getting me out and moving. “Plus, we aren’t his number one team for nothing. You’re lucky—people have been waiting years to join this crew.”
“Wow.” I fluttered my lashes at him. “I’m so honored I get to be in the presence of Kaptain’s grade-A beef.” I motioned to him. The man’s physique was seriously top-shelf.
He huffed out a deep laugh. “You and I are going to be good friends.”
I hoped he would be right, but I was still on guard. Being friendly and flirty was one thing. Letting someone in was another.
I had learned that lesson.
