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Ziggy put a hand on my shoulder, despite my growl. “Don’t worry, Ghost. We’re not going to trade you for Axel.”
“Damn straight we’re not,” Honor said and marched up to stand beside Ziggy. “We’re getting you both out, and then we’re taking out Parker once and for all.”
As soon as he finished speaking, I heard the growl of an engine. I dropped onto all fours and growled back, watching headlights close on our position. Many of the others raised their hands against the light, protecting their eyes. I hissed at it.
The large car pulled up close to the tree line, illuminating the dark forest briefly before the headlights shut off. A car door opened, and an unfamiliar voice called out, “It’s me, Agent Mozley. Honor? Are you out there?”
“Fucking took him long enough,” Honor growled and lowered the machete he’d drawn. He dropped it back to the holster at his side before shouting, “Yeah, we’re in here. Come straight forward into the tree line about ten meters and you’ll bump right into us.”
Leaves and grass rustled as another human walked into the forest. He was taller than Honor, but not taller than Axel, andhad boring brown hair and flat brown eyes. I’d seen men like him all my life at the base, men who came in their strange black suits with their briefcases full of papers for Papa. He was always angry when they left, always meaner.
I shrank away from the man in the suit, letting loose a vicious growl.
His eyes flared wide, and he froze in place. “Holy shit. That’s him, isn’t it? The irqed?”
“Don’t worry, Mozley.” Honor came to throw an arm around Mozley’s shoulders, guiding him over to where the rest of them were standing. “Ghost is on our side.”
“I’ve never seen one before,” Mozley muttered. “Not in person, anyway. For some reason I thought you’d be…” He trailed off, swallowing hard as Honor brought him to stand in front of me. “Smaller.” Mozley spoke the last word in a barely audible squeak.
I stretched up to stand at my full height, pleased when he took a step back.
Honor rolled his one good eye. “So the long and short of the situation is this, Mozley. Parker took Axel by vehicle. There are tracks here that go off that way. We can either follow on foot or we can waste time going to get a vehicle that can handle the terrain.”
“Lucky for you, I brought my Jeep,” Mozley said. “But not all of you are going to fit in it.”
“Once we know the location, I can open a portal between here and there,” Ollie offered.
“Trees.” I pointed to the trees, indicating that was how I meant to travel.
Cupid nodded and flexed his wings. “Charlie and I will fly above. The trees will cover the trail, but we should be able to follow headlights.”
Mozley grunted and nodded. “Honor and Ziggy will go in the Jeep. If I drive, there’s space for one more. The rest of you, how many of you know how to shoot?”
Chris, Phoenix, Hopper, and Robert all raised their hands.
“I could always drive and make space for two,” Honor volunteered.
Mozley scowled. “Over my dead body.
Phoenix stepped forward. “No offense to the others, but I’m your best candidate. I’m former ESCU. I know how they operate, sir.”
Mozley eyed Phoenix up and down. “Ah. Sergeant Major Walker. Always wondered what happened to you. Welcome aboard.” He patted Phoenix’s back before pointing to Charlie, Hopper, and Robert. “You three will wait for the portal and be our backup. Um…er…” He glanced down at Robert’s metal legs.
“I’m combat ready,” Robert promised.
“You sure?” Mozley frowned. “I don’t want to push anybody who isn’t.”
Robert nodded. “Axel’s a friend. I’m ready to fuck up anybody who’d hurt him without hesitation.”
“He can hold his own,” Hopper promised.
Robert nodded. “Don’t worry about my legs. I don’t.”
Mozley nodded and put his hands on his hips. “All right then.”
Ben’s hand shot up. “Question. What do you want those of us who are non-combatants to do?”
“I’m glad you asked, Mr. Hammond,” Mozley said with a smirk. He held out his hand. “First, you’re going to surrender any and all recording devices to me and they’re going in a lead box. Last thing I want is this whole thing live streamed on social media.”
