I didn’t sit. I stood behind his chair, staring at the map, every muscle in my body vibrating with the need to move.
Cap moved to the side, speaking quietly into his radio. Assignments. Positions. Who was pulling weapons. Who was staying with the women. Who was locking the compound down.
I caught pieces.
“Brutus, you’re on gate.”
“Coyote, you’re backup.”
“Doc, you’re staying on comms.”
Doc swore. “Like hell I’m fucking staying.”
Cap shot him a look. “Amanda and the other girl need a medic on standby. You run in, you’re not the one patching them after.”
Doc’s jaw flexed, but he nodded.
Ariel stood abruptly. “I’m going to check on Amanda.”
Cap nodded. “Take Smoke with you.”
Ranger whistled softly. Smoke stood and followed Ariel without hesitation.
Good.
I turned my head just enough to look at Cap. “I’m not leaving without knowing she’s secure.”
Cap’s expression softened just slightly. “She is. Ranger’s got eyes. And you’ll be back.”
It wasn’t a question. It was an order.
My jaw tightened. “Yeah.”
Ghost’s screen beeped softly.
He froze.
Then his fingers moved again, faster.
“Got it,” he said.
The room snapped to attention.
Cap was beside him in a step. “Talk.”
“Second ping,” Ghost said. “Shorter. But enough to tighten.”
He tapped the screen and the circle shrank again. Not perfect. But close enough to make my skin prickle.
“It’s the scrapyard,” Ghost said. “Back building. Southeast corner. There’s a signal jammer on and off in cycles. Someone’s moving around with devices.”
Ranger’s voice was low. “They’re actively managing.”
Cap nodded once. “Then we hit fast.”
Brutus rolled his shoulders like he was loosening up for a fight.
Ghost shut the laptop and stood. “If they’re running jammers, comms might get spotty inside the perimeter. We’ll need hand signals.”
