AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Wit knew he was referring to the baby as well as Ayelish, and it was nearly his undoing as he held back the sob of emotion threatening to break free. He looked away, unable to see or feel anything but the fear of not being able to protect his family, and choked. “That’s my whole world.”
“We know,” Cane said. “We got you, man. We got you.”
There was a numbing silence among the group as they each took a moment, feeling the emotion, understanding what was on the line and feeling the pain of the comrade. A few swiped away rogue emotions or pinched the bridge of their nose, fighting the shared feeling. Wit was hurting. He was scared for probably the first time in their presence. They wanted to ease his pain and protect his future as much as he did.
Everyone heard Liam in their ear. “Comms are up.”
And with that single statement, they were back on track and mission ready as each replied,copy, acknowledging their role.
“Load up,” Luke said. “Let’s roll.”
Wit rushed to Ayelish and pulled her from where she was still perched on the side of the SUV she was riding in and just held her. With her forehead to his, they didn’t say a word, just knew what the other felt.
“I’ll see you in a few,” Wit whispered before he carefully helped her get her footing and rushed back to the Prius where Rip and Dillon were waiting outside. Rip slapped Wit’s shoulder and nodded his head in some sort of solidarity or understanding, and they all jumped in. Wit never looked back.
The convoy moved just as they’d explained. To the naked eye, it wasn’t obvious that operatives were everywhere, but Wit noticed them, even if he didn’t acknowledge them. This is how it worked. No eye contact. No funny gestures. No knowing looks that a nearby enemy could or would pick up on and pull them out of the crowd.
Wit listened to the chatter over their comms as they ran into various obstacles along their diversion route. The team ran like a well-oiled machine with solutions to every problem or would-be problem along the way. It was seamless, well-practiced, and like something right out of the movies. This is what they did, and they were fucking brilliant at it.
They were halfway to their destination. Making good time with only minutes left until this stage of the game was over and they were safely behind the confines of their protective fortress, Watermark.
“I’ve had it with all these fucking bicyclists,” Coy said over the comms. “They’re out in full force today.”
“Welcome to Portland, cycling capital of the world,” Declan replied.
“This isn’t right,” Coy fired back. “Construction ahead and narrowing lanes. This wasn’t on any of the specs.”
“Copy,” Luke said. “We have heavy movement behind us, too.”
“You all know the drill,” Dace informed. “Let’s go.”
Wit buried his head in his hands as he listened to the action the rest of the team was taking on. They’d done just as they’d explained to him and broke off into small groups, creating a diversion, testing their surroundings, trusting their instincts.
“We have a tail,” Cane rattled off. “Trying to shake them.”
Rip noted Wit’s anxious behavior when he looked at him through his rearview mirror and tried to lighten the mood until they were sure they had a real issue. “Are you sure it’s not just groupies after your tight T-shirt?”
“Nah, that’s you, flexin’ and showing off, big guy,” Cane fired back through the comms. “Your tail clean?”
“Affirmative,” Rip answered. “We’re clean over here.”
“See? That was just jealousy, Rip,” Killion chimed in taking them all by surprise as humor wasn’t always his strong suit.
“Alright, nerd. I’ll bite. Why would I be jealous?”
“Because my shirts tighter than yours,” Killion fired back, earning laughter from the team.
Wit smiled at the gesture and humor of it all. But it was short lived.
“Shit,” Cane said. “We just picked up another.”
“Let’s pick up their route,” Wit pleaded. “It’s me they want. C’mon, Rip.”
“Get Wit to Watermark. No exceptions,” Declan, head of BK Security and everyone’s big brother, warned. “Rip, you hear me? Don’t get anywhere near them.”
“C’mon, boss,” Wit tried once more.
“One more word and we cut your comms.” Declan threatened. “We were good at this shit with you, but we were good at this shit long before you joined us, and we’ll be good at this shit without you on this one. Hear me?”
