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Shay burrowed himself closer to me and glanced up. “What happens now?”
I combed my fingers through his hair. “We’re probably heading to Hillcroft’s training center outside Quito. It’s just across the border in Ecuador. We’ll regroup, shower, eat, get some rest… We’ll probably say goodbye to Greer and Cullen.” They’d done what they came for, and they’d been the best backup we could’ve asked for. “River and I would like to send you with them.”
Shay lifted his brows. “Do you see that happening?”
I exhaled a laugh and shook my head. “Not for a second—but it would be ideal. We’d know you were safe and surrounded by people we know and trust.”
I’d already asked Greer if Shay could stay with him and his family while River and I assisted the others in Europe.
“Your aunt and brothers miss you like crazy too,” I said.
He bit his lip and dropped his gaze, thinking about it. “I can call them, can’t I? And I’ll see them soon, regardless?”
I half nodded. “It depends on how quickly we can find Marisa and Blake, but it shouldn’t be more than a few days. We think we know where they’re headed.”
“Then I’m going with you,” he said firmly.
I was too weak to argue. I didn’t wanna look away from him for a second. His mere presence was stitching up my ticker as we spoke.
“Fair enough—but you’ll be with Darius and Gray for the extraction,” I answered. I wasn’t budging on that. “You’ll be close by, just not smack-dab in the middle of it.”
“I can live with close by.” He kissed my jaw. “Can you fill me in on everything? Crew went to Europe or something, right? And who’s Carillo? I’ve heard his name tonight—and before. And did we lose anyone at the ranch?”
Oh hell.
“First, you rest,” I bargained.
* * *
Elliott Jones
Jesus Christ, I hadn’t been here in…over fifteen years.
I jumped out of the helicopter and glanced around me.
The place looked the same.
It was still dark, but my memories filled in the bits and pieces cast in shadows. Hillcroft’s training facility was a one-story red-brick building that formed a square around the courtyard, which was big enough for a helicopter to land in. Gravel crunched underneath my boots as I jogged toward the main entrance.
Aside from the mountains as a backdrop, you wouldn’t be able to guess you were just north of Ecuador’s capital. If anything, it looked like a training center from wartime England.
Except for the air. The air was thinner up here, and it became pretty cold at night.
For almost twenty-five years, Hillcroft had sent recruits here for bush training on the other side of the border. This was the big finale. Some theoretical testing, a couple language exams, and then bam, they dropped you in the jungle in Colombia, where you had to survive for two weeks with minimal supplies. We’d been given a daypack, a map, and two orders. Get to the location marked on your map—and don’t die.
James and Griffin took off right away, presumably to pick up the others first thing in the morning. They’d probably refuel on the way too.
The courtyard was suddenly blanketed in silence, and Coach strode toward the doors with a set of keys.
“Fond memories comin’ back, buddy?” He smirked tiredly.
I huffed a chuckle and shook my head.
He grinned a little and jogged up the steps before he turned around and faced our group. “All right, welcome to Ecuador—welcomebackto some of you. When all this is over, I’ll tell you about the time Reese mistook a factory fire for a volcanic eruption—”
“The smoke was black and rose high enough to finger-fuck a deity!” Reese widened his arms.
Danny and I cracked up.
