Page 52 of Rafe’s Future

The place looked as though it had been built in a hurry and forgotten about not long after. Stained brick. Cracked windows. A sagging green awning hung over the entrance.

One security camera pointed toward the sidewalk, its plastic housing split smack dab down the middle. The other was missing altogether. Nothing but a couple of frayed wires that appeared somewhat alarming.

“Lovely,” Lena murmured beside him.

Rafe’s attention shifted as the intriguing woman leaned forward in her seat for a better view. “Not the way I’d describe it.”

“What can I say?” She studied the building with a highly trained eye. “I’m trying to find something positive.”

He looked back at the brick structure with a quipped, “That’ll take quite some time.”

“Yeah, I’m not that patient.” Her shoulder-length hair brushed her jaw as she sat back and looked his way.

Lena had survived years in the CIA, hostile extractions, and bad men with highly lethal and expensive weapons. She was also the only person in the vehicle who could make him feel both calmer and more concerned at the same time.

I need to make sure she’s safe.

The only way to do that was to put an end to the threat. And for that to happen, they needed actionable intel.

Enter Lionel James.

“Let’s move.” Rafe opened his door. “Like we discussed on the way here, we go in quiet. The less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.” When they gathered together on the sidewalk next to the car, he met each of their stares. “Falcon will cover the rear. Apollo’s with me through the south-side entrance. Bones, you’ll keep eyes on the main floor lobby from the inside while Colt watches things from here.”

“What about Price?” Coulter turned his head to look directly at Lena.

“Who, me?” She grinned. “Looks like I’m going in through the front door.”

That reminds me⁠—

“You get to the apartment, you wait for Apollo and me to make entrance.”

“Yes, sir.” Lena met his gaze with a slight shimmer of humor.

Lord, help me with this one.

He was seconds away from initiating a breach and question, and in that moment, all Rafe could think was how he wanted to lose himself in her eyes. A moment later, Rafe blinked his way back to being mission-ready before signaling for the others to go.

They went into action, moving like a well-oiled machine. To watch them, one would never know they were down two members—Slade and the woman they called Shadow. But Rafe was here, as was Lena. Together, their combined experience offered priceless knowledge and skills.

As instructed, the highly trained operatives began to spread out in various directions. Within minutes, Rafe found himself in the second-floor hallway with Apollo and the mouthwatering spy.

He stood to the left of Lionel James’ apartment door while Apollo continued to stand at the door’s right. Both men stood with their backs pressed firmly against the peeling wall as they held their pistols within their steady fists.

Lena’s attention slid to Rafe’s. She waited until he gave her a confirming nod. She lifted a hand to knock, but as her knuckles struck the paint-chipped door, the wooden barrier inched forward without any real force.

They shared a look before turning to visually inspect the metal latch. It was only then that Rafe noticed what appeared to be a few slight scratches. When he pointed them out to Lena, her fingers adjusted the grip she had on her Glock 19.

“We’ve got visible signs of a break-in,” Lena relayed to the others through the tiny mics in their ears. “Making entry now.”

His pulse quickened with adrenaline as he dipped his chin once more. Lena used her left hand to push the door open more fully while holding her weapon up with an outstretched arm. And just as they had a few times back in Syria, she dropped low while Rafe covered from up high.

We still make one hell of a team.

The thought had barely made its way through his alerted mind when every hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

Blood.

Rafe caught the coppery scent before they were fully through the door. He raised one hand, and everyone stopped. Lena stood as tall as her petite frame allowed while she visually swept the room.