Page 52 of Unmade

We’d installed better surveillance for them, but we had no reason to believe the Hahns knew who my family were. That was the thing about my involvement with Hillcroft. I’d never once tried to hide my identity; I served under my name, and my apartment was in my name too. Instead, Vince and I had removed all traces of our family members. We’d severed all public ties that could link us to Kat or our parents. And there was no fucking way someone had been following me this year. Not only was that part of my specialty in the field, but we’d been extra careful because we knew the case hadn’t been solved yet. Nobody would ever find me on social media, and my lease allowed me to change trucks every three months—a lease that was under the name of a shell company owned by Hillcroft.

I’d thought about this so many times the last couple of weeks. I’d hashed it out with Coach and the guys in Intel too, and the verdict was the same. My family could not be linked to me unless I was being actively followed.

* * *

August 23rd, 2024

“What did the break-in result in?” I asked.

“Fake IDs. Shitty ones too,” Coach replied. “The Galveston fuckers are about as important and useful as Nassim.”

Fucking naturally.

“We expected this, though,” he pointed out. “They never send anyone of importance in the first attack.”

True.

So, I was just gonna stand here with my dick in my hand and wait for the second.

It was the only reason I was keeping Alex with me. The only reason we’d made Hillcroft our temporary home. She was gonna be homeschooled starting next week too. I wasn’t risking it. Besides, my brother-in-law was on his way home, so Kat was busy packing up their house. It wouldn’t be fun for Alex there anyway.

When we reached the first floor, we parted ways. Coach was getting a late lunch, and I had my South America class.

All twelve recruits were seated already, and I walked over to the whiteboard and grabbed a pen. Leighton was seated in the middle row closest to the door, as usual.

Something had happened to his mood this week, and I feared it was my fault. I’d just…realized I was spending a little too much time with him. He was way too fucking easy to talk to, and I honestly lost track of time around that kid.

It wasn’t healthy. If he got attached to me…

Who’s getting attached?

I clenched my jaw and wrote a question on the board. One I knew the recruits had been itching to ask for a while, but they’d wisely kept their mouths shut.

Why are we learning about South American wildlife?

I faced the class and avoided looking at Leighton.

A handful of hands went up in the air, and I nodded at Gabriella.

“Because chances are we’ll spend a lot of time there if we become operators?” she guessed.

I nodded. “That’s one of the answers. Anyone else? Riley?”

“To be able to defend ourselves and treat wounds if we get bitten by a snake or whatever,” he said.

I pointed my marker at him. “Let’s dig deeper on that one.” I faced the board again and started making a list. “It’s definitely required to know your local jungle pharmacy when we drop you in one of these countries, whether you need to make a poultice to treat a wound or you’re hauling up leeches to use them as natural blood thinners.” I underlined the latest item I’d jotted down. “But first and foremost…Make enemy territory your own. We’ve all read the books. We’ve seen the documentaries—US troops in Vietnam… The terrain was unlike anything they’d ever experienced. Diseases, the wildlife, the climate—all of it. Up until you can utilize it, it’s a weapon pointing at you. The moment your boots touch the ground, you’re at a great disadvantage.”

By now, all of them had opened their notebooks to take notes, and it was impossible not to notice the pink one Alex had picked out for Leighton. It stood out.

“We’ve gotten a good start with some species and plants already, but I wanna make one thing clear,” I went on. “You cannot dig deep enough. It’s not enough just to know about the existence of caimans. I want you to know their breeding season, their warning tells, and the force behind their jaws clicking shut. You need to know that encountering an anaconda is likely no problem at all, but if you see a tiny-ass bullet ant, hightail it the fuck outta there.”

Tanner eagerly raised a hand, unable to sit still. “And don’t get bitten by a Fer-de-lance.”

“Absolutely not,” I agreed. “There’s no one there to take you to the nearest antivenom drive-thru.” I folded my arms over my chest. “But you know what? Your enemy might use one of those snakes against you. What’re you gonna do then? Say he finds your camp, and he unleashes four or five of them right by you. Do you run away? Do you stay calm? How do you pick one up? Do you know what provokes them and how quickly they strike?”

It was almost comical how exhausted the recruits suddenly looked, and I couldn’t blame them. It was a lot to take in.

Zander raised his hand, and I nodded.

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