Thankfully I don’t have to worry about that, there are perks to having a house with too many rooms to count, one of them being a home gym. No waiting for machines, no small talk, just me and myself, the way I like it.
I sip my coffee from the safety of the corner shop, the window offering the perfect vantage point. Every few seconds, my gaze flicks back to them—just a casual sweep to make sure no one suspicious is loitering nearby. So far, so good.
It’s actually kind of entertaining. A parade of flushed faces and flailing limbs, all puffing and panting their way through the final stretch. Darcy’s friend is the standout—still clinging to that monstrous cap like it’s part of her identity. She looks seconds from collapse. Maybe it was a pity invite. Maybe Darcy just needed a buffer.
When the class finally winds down, they drift off toward Darcy’s house, laughing too loud, utterly oblivious to everythingbeyond their chat. Still, I’m oddly relieved she has company tonight. Even if it’s just this one girl—it’s another set of eyes, another body. The kind of thing the Manticore prefer to avoid.
Once they’re safely inside I dip back into the darkness, heading home for the night to do a little more research on Darcy’s friend. She might need as much protection as Darcy if they’ve got her name on their hit list.
But my phone is already buzzing away, a grounding reminder that no matter where I am, no matter what I’m doing, I’m always on call.
“Talia—”
“They’re mobilising tomorrow. Intel confirms target extraction scheduled for 2200 hours. They’ll intercept her en route from the gym—standard snatch-and-go. You’ll need to be in position and prepped. You kitted out and ready?”
“Yeah, I’m set. Is everyone else in position? Once they’re neutralised, we’ll need to move fast.”
“We’re ready. Say the word and we’re on you.”
“Appreciate it, Talia. Talk tomorrow.”
God. After months of near misses and girls slipping through our fingers, we’re finally in striking distance. These bastards are about to feel the full weight of it.
Darcy’s safe house is already locked down. The basement’s prepped for the snatchers—reinforced and rigged for answers. We’re going to dig through this nest of snakes, even if it means torching every inch of it on the way out.
They’re moving quicker than usual. Makes me wonder what’s got them rattled. Doesn’t matter. We’re ready. Me and the team.
Back home, I double-check the dart gun—loaded, primed, and I prop it by the front door next to the bag which is packed with tape, rope, and a transport kit. Everything’s in place. One last sweep of the house, then I arm the alarm and head upstairs.
The final quiet before the storm. Or something like that.
My mind races at one hundred miles an hour, plotting through every scenario, every way this can go wrong. I refuse to let them slip through my fingers again, this time we’re ready.
Talia will have the team on standby, close by but not too close, waiting for my signal. It will run smoothly.
It has to.
8
Nell
Holy fucking shit.
My fingers shake as I watch the feed back, the way he loaded the gun… the bag full of everything I feared.
He’s coming for her.
It’s too soon. I’m not prepared. I haven’t got enough information, but I need to warn Darcy.
We’re taking him down tonight.
I should’ve checked the feed last night.
Damn it.
By the time I got home, I crashed hard—face first into my pillow, fully clothed, like some tragic parody of self-care.
Even Boomerang noticed.
