Page 157 of The Best of Us

“None at all.” Enzo elbowed me in the side before offering Colin the Sig Sauer P320 sidearm just to mess with me.

“Payback will be fun when your kids are old enough for—” I dropped my words, realizing I’d let myself head north and into the future—a future where I was still alive.

At the feel of Juliette lacing her fingers with mine, my thoughts derailed, and the chatter buzzing around us became white noise.

Don’t do this.

Don’t ask me to make you a promise I can’t keep.

With her beautiful green eyes sharp on mine, she set her free hand on my cheek, acting as though we were alone for an intimate moment. “You have to.”

It was like she was in my head again. Although, I suppose my face was doing enough talking for me.

“No choice.” Her green eyes glistened. “Promise me.”

I closed my eyes, rested my hand over hers, sinking into the warmth of it on my face. I did my best to rebuke the damn evil from getting into my head and whispered, “I’ll make it back to you both no matter what.”

Chapter53

Constantine

“TOC,this is Alpha One. We’re in position,” Carter transmitted over comms after we successfully scaled the seventy-foot rock wall using our grappling hooks and ascenders.

“This is Delta One, that’s a good copy. Delta advancing now. Foxtrot, you’re up,” Sebastian responded, directing Easton to prepare the helo for imminent action. “How are we, TOC?”

“Looking good from my vantage point,” Gwen replied. “Your countdown will begin on Delta One’s mark.”

Gwen and my sister, our eyes in the sky and inside the house, had already confirmed the location of our three hostages. Once we infiltrated the mainland house, they would guide us to Lennon and the others.

Echo Team, along with Juliette and our son, were anchored westward, away from any possible enemy fire but close enough for extraction when my team retrieved the hostages.

Our best escape route was south along the Amalfi Coast. Once the countdown started, the plan was to be in and out in under ten minutes, long before Italian Intelligence caught wind. Gwen had already hacked AISE’s systems and was ready to drop a bug to buy us those ten minutes. We owed her a lot for this.

First things first: get Lennon and everyone out alive.

After leaving Juliette and Colin on the boat, the only thing keeping my pulse steady was the M240B machine gun mounted on the stern, with Wyatt manning it. Not to mention the two other Tier One operators Sebastian had provided, armed with M4s and a grenade launcher for protection.

Carter signaled me. Time to eliminate the two cliffside sentries so the rest of Alpha Team could safely scale up behind us under our cover.

Gwen’s loop of the security feed provided our invisibility cloak, but that would be moot once Easton flew overhead, announcing our presence. The gunners in the helo would neutralize the snipers in the towers so Carter and Hudson could take their vacated spots.

“Now,” Carter mouthed, within arm’s reach.

We concealed our climbing gear, and I kept my rifle slung on my back, drawing my Karambit. The small, curved knife resembling a claw was solid and comforting in my grip. I stayed at Carter’s nine o’clock as we approached the hostiles from behind, creeping up to quietly slit their throats.

After dragging them into the bushes to maintain our cover, I swapped my Karambit for my Glock 19X, a crossover pistol that handled water better than a regular Glock.

Carter informed the teams we were in position, and Sebastian ordered Easton to fly in. “Start the countdown,” he told Gwen just before gunfire erupted on his cue from all directions.

“Alpha Team, you’re a go,” I transmitted once the helo gunners successfully took out the watchtowers. “We have your six.”

I took a knee beside Carter, using the bushes for cover as we fired off rounds at the guards rushing the property. Above, Easton banked hard and disappeared, diverting enemy focus.

“Delta has breached. We’re inside,” Emilia reported over comms. “Move to Phase Two.”

Hudson and my brothers reached our position up top.

Time to split up.

---