I meet his gaze, steady and cold.
“It is our only lead. We’ll take the risk.”
He nods slowly, the tension in his jaw softening.
I spread my fingers across the map again. A path runs along the ridge, which could be the perfect spot to take cover and assess our surroundings.
“We study the safehouse first and then attack,” I say. “My squad and I are trained in reconnaissance. We’ll signal Beta when ready.”
“I can help with recon,” Grayson says stubbornly.
“This is my mission, and you aremysoldier,” I say. “Soldiers take orders.”
Grayson looks like he is ready to argue, but he must realize it is futile.
“Fine,” he grits out between clenched teeth. “Whatever you say.”
I let a slow smile curl my lips.
“See. Not hard to follow orders, is it, rookie?”
“I’m not a rookie.”
I brush past him and hear footsteps behind me.
“Hey, Ender, I know you don’t like Grayson, but he’s pretty cool. He’s best friends with your wife, Haven, and?—”
“Stop,” I bark. “I can’t stand that guy. One more word of praise and you’re off the unit. You can follow Sullivan to whatever backwater he’s stationed at.”
Spider’s eyes widen.
“I can’t be his friend?” Spider asks with a pout. “He said he’d take me out for drinks with Mercy once this is over. His treat! Can I go?”
“If you go, I recommend filling out a reassignment form beforehand, because you’ll be denied access to Block A when you return,” I warn. “And consider this a kindness, most people who are not in Black Star are killed. The choice is yours.”
“I don’t have any friends, why can’t I?—”
“Knox is in danger,” I say harshly. “I don’t have time to deal with this, Spider.”
I draw up my map on my tablet, memorizing every bend, every tree line, every potential ambush point.
I’m going to get Knox back. No matter what happens, I’m bringing him home.
The night smells of wet earth and pine as we slide back into the trucks, which we’ll use until the halfway point. Then we’ll march on foot.
Clover is silent as we drive towards the safehouse.
“Is Knox still priority-one?” she asks.
“Of course,” I say.
“I’m surprised you didn’t put your sister-in-law above him,” she says slowly. “You two seem close.”
“What makes you think that?”
“She’s a Common who is training to join Black Star,” Clover says. Her eyes are locked on me. “And you pay a lot of attention to her.”
Is nobody focused on this mission but me? Spider is trying to make a new friend, and Clover is digging for information.
