BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG!
The bullets pierced the target’s center. When Rebel signaled for them to stop, Teddy stepped back so Sydney could have a turn.
Her smile sent a hit of energy powering through him. “Badass.”
At the firing line, she got into position, cradled the 9mm in her hands, and began firing. Like him, she pierced the center of the target, but she also pierced the groin, the stomach, and between the paper dummy’s eyes.
Sydney Austin was not playing around.
After he’d fired off several more rounds, Rebel’s calm, slow-rolling voice interrupted his concentration.
“Okay, team, guns down.” They lowered their weapons. “The targets stay where they are, but everyone forms a line behind Hawk. This time, we’re using rifles. The shooter is moving from the starting point to the farthest target. If the targets move while en route, keep firing. When finished, get back in line. If your weapon jams, step away. We good?”
Everyone gave Rebel a thumbs-up before they switched from their 9mm to their rifle, then, they stood in line behind Hawk, posted at the first station. Alone on the firing line, Hawk raised his weapon and opened fire as he moved from target to target along the short course. In addition to Hawk moving, so did the targets, as if he were fighting an army charging toward and retreating away from him.
Teddy loved training, loved the camaraderie that came from working with this close-knit team. One by one, the BLACK OPS completed the drill.
When he finished, Sydney moved into place.
“Shooter engage,” Rebel commanded.
Lightning fast, Sydney was a blaze of movement firing off rounds in rapid succession. She hit every target multiple times inbothkill zones—the heartandthe head—yet it took her half the time of everyone else. She finished, lowered her rifle, and returned to the back of the line.
The OPS glanced at each other, then back to her.
Sydney Austin was in a class of her own. A total badass, with one hundred percent accuracy, one hundred percent of the time. This Sydney was the opposite of the woman who’d found her friend a few hours earlier. Her cheeks were rosy, a smile filled her face, and the delight in her eyes both excited Teddy and gave him a sense of relief.
“Impressive,” Sin said to Sydney.
“You’refast,” Hawk said.
“Where’d you learn to shoot like that?” Addison asked.
“I have a feeling Sydney was born a badass,” Slash added, and the team laughed.
Teddy had every confidence Slash was right about that.
With a nonchalant shrug, Sydney said, “I’ve been shooting for a while.”
“Great job today,” Rebel said with a proud smile. “Day after tomorrow, we do a full drill at Tucker Town.”
“Yes!” Brit said. “I love that place.”
“Same,” Sydney said. “But it’s been a hot minute.”
As the team funneled back into the building, Greystone and Caroline had arrived. A duffle hung from Greystone’s shoulder, a large suitcase stood by his side. Caroline had a computer bag over her shoulder and a duffle in her hand.
Sydney paused, mouth agape. “Thank you so much. I wasn’t expectingeverything. How long do you think I’m staying at Creepy Secret Zone?”
Greystone chuckled.
“Welcome to the Black Site, sissy.” Caroline offered her a warm hug, and Sydney clung to her. “Naomi’s dead. That son of a bitch killed her.”
When the sisters broke away, tears filled Sydney’s eyes. Teddy’s heart dropped. Though she was pushing through, she wasn’t okay. In that moment, she became his number-one priority. Despite the danger they all faced, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
He wouldn’t let anything happen to his team either.
He pressed his hand to her upper back, gave her a gentle rub. “Sydney’s had a rough morning, but she’s handling everything like a boss.”
