Page 411 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Kade smiles with tears in his eyes. ‘You and me, Bodyguard.’

They linger for a few moments longer, sharing space, looking. Just looking at one another without needing to speak. Lachlan’s fingers make swirls and figure eights on Kade’s inner wrist, and they stay that way until Vasily comes up the stairs, calling their names.

Lachlan kisses Kade before pushing away from the wall.

‘We’re here, Silly.’

Vasily says, ‘So are they.’

✴

Ballistic glass and an exterior steel shutter stand between the five of them as they peer through the narrow observation strip on the fourth floor. Dozens of vehicles are taking up position around the Tower.

Dark vans, armoured transports and unmarked four-wheel drives occupy the surrounding streets, empty lots and elevated ground just beyond Iron Star’s clearance radius. They’re even setting up on the grassy space between the Tower and the woods.

The circle is almost complete.

‘Cole,’ Kade says over dark band. ‘Numbers.’

‘One hundred and thirty-seven confirmed so far, but there are more approaching from the north-east.’

‘Resets?’

‘None identified.’

Lachlan moves closer to the glass.

He studies the spacing between vehicles, the teams occupying rooftops and the equipment being carried into position. Tripods. Drone cases. Portable barricades. Heavy weapons placed behind cover but not yet mounted.

‘At least four different private outfits.’

‘How can you tell?’ Vasily asks with genuine interest.

‘Different formations, different equipment, no shared uniform.’ Lachlan points through the narrow opening. ‘This isn’t an extraction. They’re building containment, communications and overwatch.’

Kade says, ‘They may be waiting for an entry team.’

‘That’s likely, yeah.’

‘I sense a heavy storm incoming,’ Blaire tells them.

‘How bad?’

‘Violent.’ Blaire’s gaze goes distant. ‘The pressure is collapsing. It will reach us within the next two hours.’

The rain told me.

‘A storm will partially obscure our external surveillance,’ Riley says.

‘Theirs too. Thermal contrast degrades in heavy rain.’

Another convoy turns into position below.

‘Are they waiting for the weather?’

‘It’s what I would do,’ Lachlan admits. ‘Have the PMCs hold the perimeter and await blunt-force entry for heavy extraction. A Tower like yours can’t be breached easily without an insider.’ He looks at Riley. ‘I don’t want to step on your toes—’

‘Sure you do.’