Kaal nodded, a grim resolve in his eyes. ‘I’ll gather the best men,’ he rasped. ‘We’ll get her back, no matter what it takes.’
Mak remained standing, forearms crossed over his chest, his eyes fixed on the now-blank screen. His mind raced, but his determination was evident.
‘Conceding to their demands isn’t me going soft,’ he muttered, more to himself than anyone. ‘It’s me saving my woman. After she’s secure and in my arms, there won’t be a place in hell deep enough for Zolan to hide from my fury.’
Kaal’s voice echoed back from the doorway. ‘Understood.’
Mak stared out at the viewscreen of the Corvette, which Koda piloted as it banked toward the map coordinates provided in the data cube.
Brooding, Mak attempted to gather his thoughts, but his mind kept returning to one thing: Saba.
Was she safe? Had Zolan harmed her?
His wrath intensified, but he forced himself to push the worst-case scenarios aside, focusing instead on the mission ahead.
Kaal, seated beside him, glanced his way. His concern was apparent, but he remained silent, understanding the storm that brewed in Mak’s chest.
Mak bestowed him a chin lift, a subtle acknowledgment of his presence. He had to stay strong for Saba.
Kaal gave a nod, his lips pursed, and his eyes firm. He had Mak’s back, always.
Behind them sat Asa, another strongman, also here to back them up.
The four of them were dressed in the latest gray man gear, with no labels, brands, or identifiers.
Their IDs were perfect forgeries, and if they were caught in crossfire and mortally wounded, identifying them would be almost impossible, except for Mak.
Kaal swiveled his chair to address the two strongmen, discussing the final details of their plan before turning his attention to Mak.
‘We’ve cross-checked and confirmed the location provided,’ Kaal said. ‘Brother, we’re walking into a Sidan protectorate, into an unknown enclave.’
Kaal reclined deeper in his seat, lost in thought. ‘Zolan is a badass mofo. From what I know of him, he also has no qualms fighting dirty when he chooses to.’
Mak leaned back in his plush crash couch, nursing his secondkahawaof the day. ‘Well, I wasn’t counting on smooth sailing whatsoever,’ he drawled, the strong, bitter flavor of the drink waking his senses and keeping him alert.
Kaal’s expression grew grave as he reached into his leather carryall. He pulled out a firearm and handed it to Mak.
Mak studied it, shaking his head. ‘Think we’ll need this?’
‘Fokkyeah,’ Kaal muttered. ‘Don’t know what wild Sidani hell we’re walking into.’
The weapon in Mak’s hand was sleek, a semi-automatic, cold-hammer-forged, polymer-framed handgun with a high price tag.
It was one of the latest designs, capable of firing high-tech, energy-diamond-charged casings that could eviscerate flesh.
The slugs could regenerate and reform, a feature that Kaal had kept secret until now.
Mak slipped the armament into his bag, nodding. ‘We’ll have to tread with care when it comes to Zolan. He now has both of hissisters under his control. No telling what he’ll do to them to get what he wants.’
‘I get it,’ Mak growled, his fists tightening at the thought. ‘I’ll hold off from tearing the man apart till they’re safe. After that, all bets are off.’
Kaal raised his chin to Mak, wisely choosing not to argue.
He knew better than to challenge Mak’s rage when it was simmering so close to the surface.
The rest of the journey was spent discussing strategies and the potential risks ahead. Time seemed to drag on as they neared their destination.
Finally,The Selburniaappeared.
