Page 71 of Fighting Salvation

He clicked through slowly and it showed armed men entering the island and moving toward a small cabin on the north end. The next image was a series of buildings with one heavily guarded one near the middle.

“Why are we only just seeing this now?”

“Hansen is a secretive bastard and it looks like anyone with any knowledge of the island doesn’t make it off the island.”

“You mean he kills them?” Val felt the blood drain from her face and reached out to grip the edge of the chair in front of her.

“Or they stay there. But yes, from what we’ve found so far. Which granted isn’t a lot.”

“We’re gonna need to know how many bodies we’re up against and assume that they’re all hostile.” Duchess looked to Reaper, Bein, and Jack, who had the most experience with this kind of infil.

“Thoughts?”

Val half listened as ideas were thrown out and discarded for one reason or another until they had the best plan they could make with what they had.

“So we spend the next twenty-four hours doing surveillance and then we infil by boat here.” Duchess pointed at the south of the island.

“Yep.” Reaper nodded. “And Bás will keep himself alive until we get there.”

“He will.” Rafe stepped up and gripped her shoulder. She leaned her head against him, drawing strength from him and trying not to fall apart when the man she loved needed her to be his rock. “Hansen said some shit about wanting them to be brothers and getting to know him. Bás will use that to buy us time. He knows damn well we’ll come for him and that his girl won’t give up.”

Val smiled up at him, not feeling it but faking it until she did.

“Okay. Now, before we all disperse with the jobs we have, I want to say something.” Duchess looked around at them all and her sorrow was evident, as was the sombre mood. “Rykov was one of us. He hadn’t been with us at the base for long, but he’s always been there when we needed him. He was Shadow and he died protecting Lotus and this team. We’ll honour him when we get home but for now, I want us all to take a minute and raise a glass in his memory.”

Bein was passing out shots as Duchess spoke, and she took the glass and sniffed, almost coughing as the vodka fumes hit her throat.

When they all had a glass, Duchess lifted it into the air and they all followed suit. “To Rykov, may he rest in peace. He will be missed. He will be remembered, and he will be avenged.”

Duchess knocked back the drink. Val winced as she did the same and blinked as it burned her throat and gut. A chorus of his name filled the air and she blinked back tears, but she didn’t let one fall. Crying wouldn’t get the job done and, come hell or high water, she was bringing her man home.

Slipping outside she leaned against the railing and looked down at the night. This place was brutal and beautiful but she couldn’t wait to leave there. A lick on her leg made her look down to see Scout looking up at her with worry in his brown eyes.

She knew it was silly to say that, but she saw the different expressions they gave her and Scout nuzzled her hand with his head and whimpered. “I know, boy. We’ll get him back and then we can go home.” Scout was particularly sensitive to her moods and he was also the one who would run with Bás in the mountains.

Her thoughts turned to him. She tried not to but she couldn’t help imagining what he might be going through, especially after seeing Watchdog and what had been done to him. Was he hurt? Was he cold or hungry? Did he know about Rykov or that Watchdog was back home where he belonged? She didn’t have a clue but as she looked up at the night sky, she knew he was alive. She sensed it. She’d know somehow if he’d left this earth. Her soul would feel it and right now she sensed he was there as if she could almost reach out into the blackness and touch him.

“I love you, Niall. Stay strong for me and stay alive.”

Chapter 21

He’d come to just as the boat had hit the shore. Hansen hadn’t bothered to cover his eyes and Bás knew full well that he never expected him to leave this island.

“What is this place?” He had an idea, but he wanted confirmation. Knowledge was power in this situation. His hands were bound in front of him but no other measures were in place and he was thankful for it. If he got even a slight chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill Hansen. He’d murdered Rykov in cold blood, his aim meant for Lotus and that alone was enough to seal his fate. But he had so many crimes against his name that not even the devil would save him now.

“Neufolk Island.”

“I thought this place was barren.”

Hansen led him down a lit path towards a house which was pure luxury and more than that, it was high-tech security. Hansen puffed up at his words, clearly pleased by what he said. That was how he would get out of there and stay alive. He needed Hansen to think he was impressed, albeit begrudgingly.

“It was until I had this place built.”

“I’m surprised you managed to keep this quiet.”

He was led into a large open plan space which was white on every single surface. Bright spotlights in the ceiling meant not a single shadow was cast.

“I had the team who built it killed and nobody leaves my island—ever.”