Page 101 of The Art of You

An uneasy look crossed Alfie’s face, and yeah, we were all in the same confused-as-fuck boat. “We need to hit their safe house once they try to roll out. Based on the intel we have, they plan to advance in ninety minutes, give or take. They’re fifteen kilometers outside the city on the border of a park. My team still has them in their sights.”

Alessandro came up alongside me. “How many tangos are we up against?”

“Thermal heat imaging suggests nine inside the safe house. A few on the perimeter. Overwatch tower with two snipers. Four SUVs parked there.”

At least he’d done his homework. Decent start for the op.

“So, as they’re loading up the vehicles, we take out their guys in the tower and disable their front and back SUVs to box the other two in. Then we move in on the target,” I said in agreement, and he nodded. “How’s the terrain around the safe house? You said they’re near a park. I assume they’re not in a civilian-populated area?”

“No other buildings or homes nearby. Isolated and wooded area. Only one dirt road in and out. Gated and fenced property sitting on two acres. There’s a shed on the edge of the property, about five hundred meters away from their parked vehicles, that has a decent vantage point for overwatch if we can breach the property without being caught. A skilled sniper could handle that location as overwatch.”

I didn’t miss how Alfie’s eyes narrowed on me, as if curious if I still had my magic touch on the long gun.

Yeah, yeah I fucking do.

“We can’t let them drive away from their property, or we run the risk of civilian casualties or getting detained by the police ourselves,” he went on. “But it’s doable. We have an infil plan mapped out we’ll go over with you all.”

“Still out in the open, but they will be, too, I suppose,” Constantine said, inserting himself into the conversation again.

“We’re down to only three on my team aside from me. Keith’s our best sniper, but he’s the one who was shot Friday night. He’ll sit on comms for us. He’ll be our eyes with the drone we have up, and our ears as well.”

I let go of a deep breath. “Yeah, okay.” I’d still need my people to check into Alfie and his team before we rolled out, and he had to know we’d be doing that.

“We’ll communicate the plans over a secure line. I don’t want to risk us being together until it’s go time.” Emotion caught in his tone for the first time since he’d arrived. “I’ll call in about thirty. We’ll map everything out then and meet up a mike out from our infil spot.”

All I could do was nod, still trying to wrap my head around the turn of events.

“And, uh, just so you know, you made the right call fifteen years ago. No one on our team blamed you for what happened, or for . . . Matt.” He locked eyes with me. “I have a wife and two kids. A good life. The others do, too. We’re better. I mean . . .” He paused for a moment and cleared his throat. “I won’t lie and say I don’t suffer from PTSD here and there, but that has nothing to do with that one op. You know how it goes, dodging trash on the road while driving, worried about a hidden IED. But, uh, that’s standard shit most of us will always deal with after serving.”

Another pull of emotion from him, was followed by a heavy sigh that didn’t sound entirely defeated.

“All in all, man, I’m good,” he continued, clearly needing to get this off his chest. “Just thought you should know that before we head out.”

I bowed my head, accepting just how much I did need to hear that.

“Alfie,” I called out without looking up. “Thank you for saving our lives on Friday. I owe you one.”

“Just have my back out there today,” he responded in a firm tone, “and consider us even.”

Chapter 39

Isabella

“Yes,of course I’ll be safe. Love you, too. Talk soon.” Roman ended the call with his wife, catching my eyes as I entered the living room of the suite. “Are you doing okay?”

“I’ll be better when I know what’s going on,” I said as someone knocked.

“It’s me,” Hudson called out.

Wasting no time, I ran over and flung the door open, my breath catching at the sight of him.

He offered me a semi-smile, which set off a stone of hope skipping into my stomach.He then peeked around me, eyes on our third wheel. “We’re rolling out soon. Alfie claims he’s on our side, but we should verify the backstory he just gave us and check out his team, too.”

I did a little fist pump in my head at the news and let go of the door and lunged for him.

Without missing a beat, he slapped his palm to the door to keep it from whacking into me, and I looped my arms around his waist.

“My team will fill you in,” he told Roman. “They’rewaiting for you next door. We’ll join you soon.” He moved his free hand up and down my back and whispered, “We need to move so he can exit.”

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