Carrera’s anger settled back down.
“I know Luciano is intense,” Carrera said. “He’s also fiercely loyal, and he lives by a set of rules in a world he’s built from nothing.”
“A dark underworld.”
“If he’s going to find the worst of the worst, he needs a long leash,” Carrera said.
“Agreed,” Dakota replied.
Thiscouldhave been when Carrera shared how close he and Luciano really were. That Luciano had brought him into his inner circle. That Carrera was a Santini Assassin. But this wasnotthat moment. No matter how far off course Luciano went, or how many murderers, rapists, or monsters Luciano tracked and killed, Carrera would not stop him.
Luciano had his reasons, and Carrera understood them.
Dakota rose. “Let’s put you in a fleet vehicle.” En route to the hangar, he said, “The vehicles are bulletproof. The license plates and the VIN number can’t be traced back to ALPHA.”
After they rounded the corner, a handful of people dressed in combat fatigues headed in their direction.
“Perfect timing,” Dakota said. “It’s the rescue team.”
Rebel, Brit, Addison, Hawk, and Prescott loomed into view.
“Hey,” Rebel said pulling Carrera in for a bro-hug. “What’s this guy doing here?”
“Are you coming on board?” Hawk asked.
“He’s Z’s replacement,” Brit said.
Carrera broke into a smile, but said nothing.
“He’s on special assignment,” Dakota said, and the team laughed. “We have no secrets, do we?”
“No, brother, we don’t.” Prescott extended his hand to Carrera. “It’s great to have you here.”
“Where’s Slash?” Dakota asked.
“Outside, on the phone,” Rebel replied. “She’s on an undercover job, but she’s still training with us.”
Slash turned the corner, and her beauty stole Carrera’s breath. Like the others, she’d dressed in camouflage fatigues, pulled her hair into a ponytail, sunglasses shading her eyes.
“Why is everyone standing around?” she called out.
“We’re waiting for you,” Brit replied.
As she got closer, her gaze found Carrera’s, and she pulled off her sunglasses. “Hey, Carrera.”
“Slash,” he said.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Special assignment,” Dakota replied, and the team laughed.
Slash swept her gaze over the group, settling on Carrera’s. “I’m missing something here.”
“I’ll fill you in,” Addison said, looping her arm through Slash’s. “We’re rope dropping from the helo today.”
“We’re also climbing up,” Rebel said. “Carrera, if you’ve got time, stick around.”
As the team hurried toward the locker rooms, Slash said, “Hey, Carrera.” She flipped him off before vanishing into the women’s locker room.
