Kash nudged Jordan’s shoulder. “He knows he’s supposed to be letting us handle security tonight, right?”
Jordan sighed. “We talked about it.”
Kash shook his head. “Nothing obvious, but…”
Zain straightened. He’d been teammates with Kash since their indoctrination into the Rangers. Even before they’d landed with Foster, Chase and the others. Zain knew a viable threat when he heard it. “Single or multiple?”
Kash glanced at Jordan, then Saylor. “Definitely more than one.”
Zain clenched his jaw. “Foster and Chase?”
“Already sent out a text. They’ll be grabbing stronger firepower and circling around to the north side. I figure we can split up and cover the rest.” Kash glanced at Saylor. “Assuming you’re okay backing Zain up? That your shoulder’s not going to get in the way.”
Saylor scoffed. “I survived theVigilant. I think I can follow Zain through the woods without fainting.”
Kash chuckled. “I won’t question it, again. Zain? Brother, you good with this? Because we can alter the plan to quiet whatever voices are raging inside your head.”
“The voices are telling me we’re already wasting time.” He glanced over at Saylor. “Three mags enough?”
She gave him a long, slow sweep. “I’ll be lucky if you give me enough of a sightline to get off a single shot, let alone three mags’ worth. And that’s not counting all the times you’re going to pounce on top of me like you did at my place.”
“If this is a viable threat, they’re here for you. I made you a promise. I won’t apologize for keeping it.”
Her gaze softened as she shook her head. “You’re lucky I think you’re cute. You got enough?”
“If we need more than four before backup arrives, we were never walking out of this alive.”
“That’s one way of thinking about it.” She stepped in and planted a quick, hot kiss on his mouth. “For luck.”
Zain thought about tugging her in for a second go — getting a real taste of her — until Kash snickered. Zain flipped off his buddy, then headed for the back of his place. The others followed after him, Jordan, Kash and Nyx branching off once they reached the trees.
Saylor waved him ahead, smiling when he arched a brow. “I’d never ask you to let me take point. I know just being here is probably eating you alive. That I might get hurt on your watch. But as I see it… There’s nowhere safer than by your side.”
“Holed up in Foster’s place with enough weapons to launch a small invasion might come close.”
“Maybe. But I know the way you think, and you can’t take a bullet for me if I’m not within reach.”
He snorted. “Like I said. One-of-a-kind. Stay close, only use the flashlight if you really need it and don’t get shot, again.”
She rolled her eyes, but fell in behind him, shadowing him as if she knew every step he’d make a second before he actually moved. The rain hampered the visibility, dropping it to maybe twenty meters as they wove through the foliage, the howling wind masking most of the forest sounds.
Zain stopped when they reached a fork in the trail, going to one knee as he searched the mud. Tracks. At least two different boot sizes. Branching off and disappearing into the thicker section of brush.
Saylor crouched beside him. “I guarantee there’s double that out here.”
Zain nodded. “No way whoever’s behind this didn’t send at least four guys. All likely heavily armed.”
“We can go back. Get more weapons from the armory I’m sure is hidden somewhere in your house.”
“It’s hard to be discriminate about who we target if we’re firing several hundred rounds per minute with an M4. We’ll follow. Stay low. And if I think they have the upper hand, we’re out.”
“I trust whatever you think’s best.” She sighed when he furrowed his brow. “I’m not unskilled, but I’ve never seen anyone as impressive as you with a gun. This is your wheelhouse, which means, I’ll default to your expertise.”
“Remind me to show you how much I appreciate your faith later.”
She smiled, and his damn heart kicked up. The exact opposite of how he normally approached a mission. Laser focused. Anything not directly related to the op stayed buried until he could examine it later. Having all these feelings… It was foreign. As if he’d walked into the middle of a firefight and had no idea whose side he should be on.
Saylor didn’t seem distracted. Followed him as if she’d spent her life immersed in black ops. Already knew which line to take, how to place each step to avoidleaving any trace behind. The kind of instincts that stemmed from innate ability, not training.
