Page 148 of Javier

“King, what about your land drone?” Omega asked, ignoring me.

“I just switched it to image-based automated.” Bracing on the seats, King moved forward.

“Bekker’s mine, K-man,” I warned. “He’s a tough motherfucker. I know how he fights.”

“Goof.” King crouched next to me and met my eyes. “Yourplan’s brilliant, but you’re the wrong volunteer.”

Shit.

King wasn’t wrong about my subpar condition. On the other hand, I didn’t want him to risk his life for a turd that was my responsibility. I tried to push off the floor, but my legs buckled.

“Don’t move, you dense blockhead.” Missy held me down and King raised his eyebrows, giving me his annoying “you see?” look. “Listen to Kai,” Missy said. “He’s talking reason.”

“We’re a team,” King reminded me. “Let me do this, bro. Let me do it for you.”

He knocked his head toward Missy. I understood what he meant. I understood very well.

“I can use some additional target practice,” Cooper commentated from his place at the back of the van. “I’ll give K-man an assist.”

“You clowns will need a babysitter.” Ferranti ejected his carbine’s mag and clicked in a new one. “I’m up for a little face-to-face with those sorry asses. I can set my drone on auto as well. Let’s give those BB drones a chance to show us what they can do.”

It blew my mind that the guys were willing to do this for me, to risk their lives to try to save mine while at the same time protecting the woman I loved.

“Good to see the kids are all grown up.” Bozeman actually smiled at me, a miracle in itself. “I’m happy to take them to the park, boss.”

“Can’t leave the women unprotected,” I countered. “Their safety is foremost.”

“I concur,” Dagger said, and the others nodded.

“Is anyone listening to me?” Missy piped up. “Antivenom. That’s the priority. Thena, please help. Say something.”

“Javier, I’m not letting you out of this van until we get tothe hospital.” Kneeling on the floor next to me, Thena turned to Omega. “I can handle a weapon. I’ve been training with Cooper. I can be useful. Don’t be an overprotective alpha-fool. I can deploy one more weapon to put on the board and get us to the antivenom while the guys do their thing.”

Omega screwed his face and kept driving at top speed, but I could tell by the gleam in his eye that he saw the same opportunities I’d identified and a way to achieve several objectives with one play. We could protect the women, snatch Bekker, and neutralize his mercs.

“Forget the hospital,” I said. “Drop me off and make the U-turn.”

Dagger’s nostrils flared with an exhale. The guys started to argue the points.

“All right, listen up, people,” Omega shouted, putting an end to all debate. “We’re a team. We work together. This is not a suicide mission, and we don’t leave anyone behind.”

“You’re not leaving me behind,” I clarified. “I’m volunteering.”

“Cut through the shit,” he barked. “You’re not combat ready, Guzman. That’s a fact.”

“I can buy you enough time to—”

“Enough!” He slammed a hand on the wheel. “This is what’s gonna happen.”

When Dagger took command, everyone listened, and that included me, even though I did roll my eyes at him and got away with it, but only because I was bitten.

“Two teams,” he said. “King, Ferranti, and Cooper will deploy when I give you the go. As Guzman proposed, you’ll circle around the battle, come at Bekker from the rear flank, and bring him in alive if possible. You got that?”

“Got it, boss.” King and the others got to work, making their preparations.

“Bozeman, you’re with me,” Dagger said. “I’m gonna need a navigator and a frontal gunner to break through. Thena, you’ll remain low and cover the back. Find a helmet. Wear it. Don’t any of you fucking dare die on me. That’s an order, people. Guzman, we’re gonna get you to the hospital rain or shine.”

I started to argue. “But—”

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