“Steady,” Zane says in my ear. “Stay focused.” His tone is clipped, a throwback to the countless missions I’ve gone on beneath his command.
Am I that transparent? “Copy. No movement, Cap,” I tell him. But we all know that doesn’t mean a single thing. Sometimes, the biggest risks are nearly invisible.
A bird flies overhead and calls out.
My pulse kicks up another notch.
I reach the door and check both of the hinges first. Then, I gently tap the door handle. “I don’t see anything on the outside that makes me think it’s wired. Anything on your end, Demo?”
“No signals registered,” he says. “All clear.”
“Move in, Cable Guy. Eyes peeled.”
“You’ve got it, Cap.” I take a deep breath, then slowly and carefully push the door open, ensuring I feel no tension as I do. The slightest bit of pressure could mean the thing is wired. Just like the door of my shop.
It swings open without resistance, casting a bit of light into the otherwise pitch-black boathouse. The main room is clear, but there’s a room at the back with a door partially open. From where I’m standing, I can’t see inside.
“All-clear in the main room. Moving to back.” The stench of mildew fills my lungs as I walk farther inside, the ground creaking beneath me. “Jack?” I call out as I move closer.
Still nothing.
Please don’t be dead.
How will I explain to Anastasia that I failed?
I click on my flashlight, then gently push the door leading into the back room. Weapon raised, I move in—but the second I do, my stomach plummets.
“There’s no one here.” I look for any signs that anyone has been here recently, and spot a chair in the back corner. The dust has been knocked off the seat, and there’s duct tape partially attached to the armrests and two front legs.
Jack was here.
But where is he now?
“Get out!” Demo yells through the coms. “A signal just went live, Cable Guy! GET OUT!” he roars.
Adrenaline surging into overdrive, I scan for the closest exit. At the back of the room I’m in, there’s a window covered with a thick curtain. A small sliver of light shines through just below, so I take a chance—and I sprint toward it. The curtain gives way for me as glass shatters.
But I’m too late.
The pressure hits me first. A deafening pounding of blood in my ears as I’m thrown from the building with such force that it knocks the air from my lungs.
I hit the water like a bullet, plunging into the surface as debris rains down on top of me. After a beat of confusion, I get my bearings and start swimming, the adrenaline shielding me from whatever damage my body took from the blast.
Remaining beneath the surface, I swim out, putting as much distance as I can between me and the building. My lungs burn, thanks to not being able to draw a full breath, but I keep pushing forward.
Whatever damage I took can be dealt with…so long as I don’t drown.
Hands grip the top of my vest, and I’m yanked from the water.
“I’ve got him.” Ryker’s deep voice is music to my ears. “You good?” His arms are wet, his face twisted in anger as he visually scans me for any life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, I seem to have none.
I cough, drawing in a few deep breaths to satisfy my burning lungs. Then, as soon as I have my bearings, I sit up and survey the building. It’s less than a half mile away from us and has likely been completely leveled, taken down to the piers that once held it up. That is, if the smoke rolling off of what’s left is any indication of the destruction.
There’s only one reason I survived. I look to the sky. Thank You for saving me, Lord. Thank You, God.
Exhausted, I drop back down and close my eyes. “You know, I’m really tired of this guy blowing me up.”
“You and me both.” Ryker guides the boat back to shore, where Zane and the others are already waiting on the portion of the dock that survived the blast. He’s on the phone, gaze sharp, jaw set, but as soon as my feet touch the creaky wood, he thrusts it into my hand.
