Page 103 of Ash Storm

“Good luck,” Rogue said. Ash could almost hear the way the man’s teeth were clenched. He was not happy with staying on the sideline.

The four of them formed a line, staring at the giant wall before them. Whoever built the estate certainly hadn’t skimped on bricks.

“Three. Two. One. Go,” Dark said.

Ash ran, arms and legs pumping, boots pounding heavily across the grassy incline. When he reached the wall, he jumped, grabbing onto the top with his fingers and pulling himself up to a sitting position on the wall. His knee wasn’t bothering him, but his ribs complained loudly.

“Took you long enough,” Slate whispered, smiling. For such a big man, he was surprisingly agile.

Griffin was also on the wall already.

“Forty seconds left, guys,” Rogue said.

The top of the wall was wide enough to sit on comfortably—not that Ash planned on staying there for long.

As soon as Dark gave the signal, they all jumped off. Ash landed on his feet, one fist on the ground to steady himself. The grass was neater on this side of the estate. As if an army of gardeners had been through.”

They ran low to the ground, not stopping until they reached the pool-house, which was lit only by the soft lights from inside the pool.

Dark was the first to reach the glass structure. He looked inside, signaling that it was empty. Ash pressed his back against the cold glass. Then they waited, the seconds ticking away, until a pair of guards walked by.

Ash held his breath.

They could easily take these men down, but they didn’t know enough about the team’s internal processes—how often they checked in with each other by voice or sight—to risk it.

One of the guards said something to the other. They had the relaxed, professional look of men who were good at their jobs.

But we’re better.

Finally, they were gone.

Ash let out the breath he’d been holding.

Rogue’s voice came on the ear piece. “They’re trying to reset the breakers. I can fight them for a while, but eventually they’re going to get tired and call the electrical company. You need to be inside the house before that happens.”

“Get ready,” Dark instructed. “We go in pairs.”

“Griffin and I will take the basement,” Ash said.

This was an isolated estate. There was nobody around for miles, and there must be dozens of bedrooms he could use, so there was no logical reason for Afsan to keep Chloe in the basement. But Ash had spent some time observing Afsan, and knew he would want Chloe, and any other captives with him, pliant and fearful for their lives. Keeping them in the basement would go a long way towards ensuring this.

Dark gave him an assessing gaze.

“You sure?”

“We’re good, Dark,” Griffin said. There was no weakness in his eyes as he turned to Ash. “I’ve got your back.”

Gratitude surged through him.

“Okay,” Dark said. “Slate and I will take the main floor and regroup at the staircase before heading up to the top floor together.”

It was a solid plan, or as solid a plan as four men infiltrating a twenty thousand square-foot building could come up with.

Ash touched the butt of his gun and the knife by his side to make sure they were easily accessible. Together, he and Griffin sprinted towards the house.

Normally, he would have expected Griffin to be faster than him, but today they reached the wall at the same time. It was a reminder to Ash that, as stoic as he was, Griffin wasn’t at full strength.

He swallowed his concern. He couldn’t afford to get distracted.