Page 96 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Soon enough, they reach the grounds of the Penhalyx Estate.

Kade’s guts curl in strange warning.

In all fairness, it’s probably that he hasn’t gone this far from the Tower in forever. The few times he went with Riley to negotiate with the other outfit leaders during the construction of the Accords, they met in the central parts of the city, and that was years ago.

This is much farther out.

By the time they arrive and the vehicles slow, Kade is already mapping what he can of this new location, even in the dark.

The surrounding grounds of what seems to be the Estate are enormous, big enough to be a nature reserve. They unload a good distance away, establishing a VSA beside an overgrown helipad at Lachlan’s suggestion. Kade trusts that, if nothing else, Lachlan knows this area well.

‘Good fallback into the trees, and there’s a private road nearby,’ he explains, as if he needs to justify this place as a vehicle staging area. ‘Plus, elevation.’

Kade stays close to Riley, weapon aimed down, his finger resting alongside the trigger guard. The October air is cool and slightly damp, earthy on his tongue. Kade is assessing danger, sightlines, potential ambush points while Riley stares around, turning slowly, his expression oddly childlike, wondrous even.

‘You OK?’ Kade asks his boss, who shakes himself.

‘Yeah.’ Riley gives no apology or explanation, not that Kade expected either. He just wants Riley focused. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Should Seth stay in the—?’

‘He’s coming.’

Kade gestures for Lachlan to join him. ‘How do you wanna do this?’

‘There were units patrolling around here when I did recon last night.’

‘You and I can take them out first,’ Kade suggests. ‘Clear a path.’

‘No, we all go together,’ Riley decides. ‘Tanner can take point.’

Kade has never heard Riley issue a tactical order in the field. The details of execution have always fallen to the First Captain.

‘I agree,’ Lachlan says, looking to Kade. ‘Diamond formation work?’

‘Yeah.’

They make their way across the dark, quiet grounds towards a skeletal husk looming on the horizon. Lachlan seems to know every inch of where to navigate, pausing the formation only three times as they move in silence. Kade keeps a close eye on both Riley and Seth.

Why did Riley burn Seth’s hand?

It’s gnawing at him like a hungry, toothless snake.

Minutes pass with no sign of anyone.

‘It’s too quiet.’

Luca glances at him. ‘Trap?’

‘Or we just got really lucky.’

They hold position in a dense scrap of foliage while he assesses the approach path. Above them, the moon is making her way through the sky.

Tonight the IV becomes a III.

‘Units up by the front entrance,’ Lachlan says after several beats of heavy quiet, broken only by waves lapping the shore, wind tousling the leaves and frogs clicking unseen among the reeds. ‘I think he’s early.’

‘Who?’ Kade asks. No answer. ‘Lachlan, who—?’