Cap looked at me. “You lead entry?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yeah.”
“And you keep your head,” Cap added, voice hard.
I met his gaze. “I will.”
He held it for a second, then nodded. “Good. Gear up.”
Everyone moved at once.
Weapons lockers opened. Vests strapped. Ammo checked. Radios clipped in place. The familiar choreography of men who’d done this before. Men who knew the difference between acting feral and acting stupid.
I grabbed my vest and pulled it on, tightening straps until it fit like a second skin. Knife. Mags. Comms.
Brutus checked my shoulder once, a heavy squeeze that said more than words.
“You good,” he asked quietly.
I exhaled. “No.”
He grunted. “Same.”
Cap stepped in front of the group. “Listen up.”
We all stilled.
“This is not a rescue for a civilian,” Cap said. “This is one of ours. That means they know what we do. They know how we move. We go in smart. We go in together. We don’t chase deeper without eyes.”
His gaze landed on me again. “Wrecker.”
“I hear you,” I said.
Cap nodded once. “Ghost runs overwatch from outside. Ranger on perimeter with Smoke. Brutus and Wrecker on entry. I’m behind them calling shots.”
My pulse hammered. It felt like my ribs were too small to hold it.
Cap’s voice dropped. “We bring Scout home. That’s the mission.”
A low murmur of agreement moved through the room.
Cap turned toward the door. “Move.”
We filed out into the night.
The cold hit my face like a slap. It cleared my head just enough to keep it together.
Before I got in the van, I looked back down the hall toward Amanda’s room.
I didn’t go to her. I couldn’t. Not now. If I saw her face again before I left, something in me would snap for real and I’d lose the thin control I had left.
But I pictured her anyway. Propped against those pillows. Trying to be brave. Hearing Scout’s name and realizing it wasn’t done.
I clenched my jaw.
I was coming back.
We piled into the van. Engine low. Lights off. Ghost set the route on a handheld, then tucked it away.
