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I need to stay calm, but this isn’t like before.

My hands shake as I quickly pack my bag, thoughts running through my mind of what they could be doing to her.

They may not kill her, but there are worse things than death, these people are the ones that taught me that. And if Rosa deployed her best team—and if what Ben said is true—I know very well who we are up against.

Discomfort twists in my gut. Darian Steel.

My mentor, and someone I have kept far from my thoughts since I was a teenager. The man taught me everything I know about recon, stealth, and hand-to-hand combat. I never expected to hear that name in my life again. I looked up to him, but that was a long time ago. Circumstances are different, and if I have to end him…

I will.

I surpassed Darian by the end of my training. But that doesn’t mean I can write him off as a threat. He is one of the most terrifying men I know.

I hear a knock on the door. “Cade? Are you in there?” Jack asks as the door cracks open.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

I watch him as he walks in; even Jack’s posture seems different now. I hate that I didn’t know, that I stayed away enough to not notice those small differences.

“I reached out to my guy about a flight. He’s ready for us.”

“Good, do you have everything you need?”

“Yeah, we have the map and security information, but once Rosa’s team gets back, we’ll need another update. Walking in blind at this point wouldn’t be wise.”

“No, it wouldn’t. Thankfully we have the muscle if things go wrong.”

“Isn’t one of them enough?” he asks, scratching the back of his head.

“You need to get over it; this isn’t about your comfort or mine, Jack.” I look at him.

“You’ve changed,” he says flatly, his expression shifting. “You seem more open-minded, and I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. Your skepticism was always your strongest trait.” He raises a brow.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done; are you?”

Jack stares at me, his eyes dark. He seems to swallow the room whole. I know he would do whatever it takes, it was a dumb question. But I needed to see that fire from him.

“The Covenant has beings like Kai and Alok. Like it or not, we need them.” I grab my bag and go out the side door. Jack follows.

“What’s our approach?” he asks from behind me as I head to my truck.

“We don’t know if Gregor is at the compound or not; if we’re lucky, he won’t be. The plan is to infiltrate from the forest, take out exterior guards by picking them off. Once we get inside, we need to acquire Calli and Gen and get them the fuck out of there. That’s where you and Alok come in; he will get them, and you will take them far away to a secure location only I know.”

“What about you?”

“I sure as hell don’t intend on dying, if that’s what you’re asking. I need to cut them down.” I toss my bag in my truck.

“And if that Gregor guy shows up?” he spits out. I pause, looking at him for a moment. “What’s your plan then?”

“I got no fucking clue,” I say honestly; that shit is out of my wheelhouse. “But we can find out.”

Jack follows me as I turn and head for the front door. I open it wide, seeing Kai sitting at the kitchen island and Alok standing across from him, drinking my whiskey. I look over at Alok, his large jagged horns twisting around the sides of his head. He looks as if he has a blue hue to his skin. Fucking creepy.

“We need a plan in case Gregor shows up. What can we do?” I ask Kai.

Kai points to Alok, and my brows pull together in confusion.

“Ask him.” He gestures to Alok. “I’m not strong enough to go up against a council member. Gregor is old and quite powerful. I’d be a distraction at best.”