Darkness tugs at me once more, ready to pull me under.
“Isobel? Isobel?!” The voice is distant but familiar.
Who…
25 FIRST STEPS
Luca
Maeve’s head almost exploded when Lucian told her she had to stay back. If it wasn’t for Noah, I’m almost sure Lucian would be on her shitlist too.
“We can’t be focused on getting her if we’re also worried about you, too.”
As soon as the wheels screech to a halt, I’m out of the van. Checking over my gear. My knives are sheathed and ready to go. My pistol, extra magazines.
I walk around to the front of the van, where Lucian is smoothing out the blueprints to the house Gideon has been using as a secondary base of operations.
Noah comes to stand to my right, Jace to my left. I look at him out of the corner of my eye. His face is determined as always. I scoff and move to Noah’s other side.
If he thinks we’re going to continue to stand like brothers, he’s mistaken.
Isobel has been under Gideon’s hands for the last five months and he thinks that just because he had plans to take him down that it makes it all okay.
It’s not.I won’t be okay until Isobel is.
And from the stills Noah was able to retrieve, she’s anything but okay.
Lucian circles a section of the blueprint with his finger, jaw tight. “This property was built in the seventies, remodeled twice. Most recent renovations were done under a shell corporation tied to Gideon’s shipping division. Reinforced basement. Converted panic room. Two exterior exits besides the main—north corridor and east loading gate. Cameras on every approach.”
Noah nods, already analyzing. “Thermal scans confirm at least six signatures on the first floor, four in the basement, two patrolling the outside. No sign of Gideon on site.”
My stomach coils. Good. Bad. Doesn’t matter.
All that matters isher.
Lucian looks at each of us, lingering on Jace a moment too long. “Your primary objective is Isobel. Nothing else matters. We will handle cleanup and extraction once she’s secured.”
Jace crosses his arms, jaw flexing. “We’re getting her out.”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Excuse me?” Jace turns, shooting me a glare.
“You’re excused. BecauseIwill get her out. I don’t want Jace anywhere near her.” I stare at Lucian, willing him to agree with me. I’m not sure how Lucian keeps his feelings about this out of it.
Lucian holds my gaze then nods slowly. “Alright, Luca, you take point, get my girl out of there. Jace provide Luca the backup he needs. Noah, you’re point for systems override. You’ll guide them remotely.”
Noah nods, Jace grunts, shifting his weight.
Asshole hates not being in control. Well, too damn bad.Boo-hoo, motherfucker.
Lucian points at the blueprint. “We’ll go in through the east gate, there’s a blind spot between two cameras. Felix will suppress the yard guards from the southeast roofline. While, Kellan handles the outer patrol.”
Kellan and Felix both dip their chins.
“Once the path is clear, I’ll lead my team to infiltrate the house and take out Gideon’s men. We’ll take as many as possible for questioning.”
There are murmurs of agreement coming from the Guild members thatsurround us. Lucian folds the blueprint sharply, throwing it back inside the van.
