Luca may be the jokester, but he’s always had eyes like a hawk, seeing all the details.
We move forward in formation. Luca in front, Kellan taking up the rear,Felix scanning the left, and me scanning the right. We move in the shadows, listening for footsteps.
A loud clang echoes in the distance—we all freeze, weapons raised.
No one breathes.
Luca signals us forward.
We creep forward until the rows open into a wide loading area. A low rumble vibrates through the dock. We press ourselves behind a stack of crates and peek around the corner.
A massive cargo vessel glides silently toward the port, ghost-lights flickering along the hull. No radio chatter. No beacon.
Felix whispers, “Who’s that?”
“No idea,” Luca breathes, “But it can’t be good.”
The vessel docks with a heavy, echoing clang as its side presses against the bumpers. A ramp begins lowering with agonizing slowness.
Dozens of boots hit the metal ramp, men in dark coats file down in a disciplined line, not speaking, each carrying crates marked with symbols that look familiar. I grab my phone and hide, dimming the screen and searching.
“Do you know who Jace is meeting with?” Luca squats down next to me.
“I’ve seen the marks before, from Gideon’s files.” My fingers fly across my screen, my eyes searching, “Yes, yes, this is it.”
I scan over the documents, each word making my stomach feel like it’s being filled with lead.
“It’s one of Gideon’s biggest suppliers of weaponry. All the manifests from Alexei Morozov are some sort of industrial machinery parts.”
Luca’s eyes widen and we both go back to watching.
Jace is standing in front of a large truck with a couple of men at his side, taking the crates from Alexei’s men.
A tall man with broad shoulders moves from the boat. I nudge Luca, nodding at the man. I’d seen Alexei’s picture in Gideon’s files. Ex-military. Dark blond hair styled effortlessly. He’s wearing a tailored black overcoat and polished boots.
“Holy shit,” Kellan mutters.
This is international. A level of danger we haven’t touched.
Luca turns to us. “We’re stopping this. I don’t care what Jace thinks he’s doing. I don’t care what Gideon has over him. We end this tonight.”
Kellan and Felix nod. I feel my pulse hammering in my chest.
“What if he fights us?”
Luca stares past me at Jace’s silhouette. He’s not angry now, just broken.
“Then we fight harder. We’re taking Jace back, whether he likes it or not.”
I pull out a case from my back pocket, flipping open the lid to four earpieces. I pass the case around after taking one for myself. Luca smiles and it’s his goofy smile.
“Let’s cause some chaos.” He moves away, melting into the shadows, drawing his beloved twin daggers. Felix heads up the service ladder to give us sniper cover. Kellan moves to the opposite flank, settling behind a stack of steel drums with his rifle already braced.
I keep my eyes on Jace and Alexei. Alexei is talking with Jace. More crates are being offloaded by operatives. Jace looks like his usual self. Stiff and cold. My comm crackles softly as each of them check-in.
“Up on the catwalk, clear shot on the ramp.” Felix’s voice comes in.
“I’m ready to cover Jace.” Kellan comes in next.
