Hyder gritted his teeth in frustration.“Eric, I’m calling in the personal favor you owe me.”

A brief silence followed his announcement.“What do you need?”

“I need a team.At least eight men.Highly skilled for mountainous terrain and an evac out of the country,” he said.

“What’s the mission?”

“Extraction.I need the targets alive.I’ll debrief the team once they are assembled,” he replied.

“When do you need them?”Eric asked.

“Tomorrow morning.I’ll send you a list of requirements and equipment.”

“This is going to be expensive.Our debt is settled once this mission is completed and you have no more tokens,” Eric replied.

“Understood.If this mission is successful, all debts are cleared,” he agreed.

“The team will assemble at the wharf complex at 0500 tomorrow morning.Provide your list to the Operator.She will ensure that all equipment is secured,” Eric instructed.

Hyder breathed out a sigh of relief.“Thank you, Eric.”

“Hyder?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Lose this number.If you call it again, there will be a price,” Eric directed before he severed the connection.

A shiver ran down his body.He knew what the price would be—a bounty on his head.He would wipe the phone’s memory and toss it into the sound tomorrow morning.

“This had better work,” he muttered, knowing he had burned his last bridge.Looking down at the phone, he pressed another contact number.“Isabella.I need to know where you want your cargo brought....Yes, I know where that is....No, I don’t have any yet, but I will.I have everything under control....Yes, I can take care of it.Consider it a bonus.”

He ended the call, rolled his shoulders, and stared out of the window.He focused on the missions ahead.With that in mind, he sent his request for equipment to the Operator.

While he would have liked to take care of Isabella’s added request personally, he decided it was more important to focus on the capture and delivery of the humans.That was his primary mission.The other was merely a routine cleanup.He would assign one of the men Eric sent to take care of Lorne Timberwolf.

“I’m going to meet with the elders.They would like to speak with me—in private,” Mitchell said.

Tracy nodded, understanding that the elders would feel more comfortable talking to Mitchell alone.After the tense dinner and meeting, she could use a little space herself.While she was exhausted physically, her mind was still too worked up to sleep.

“I think I’ll sit here for a little bit, then head back to the spot Mallory showed me earlier.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he promised.

“Take your time.This is important.I’m sure they have loads of questions.I know I would if the situation were reversed.”

He bent to kiss her.She slid her hand around his neck and tilted her head, meeting his lips.Her lips parted under the pressure of his, and a feeling of contentment filled her when he deepened the kiss instead of pulling away.She was breathing fast by the time they pulled apart.

“I love you, Mitchell,” she murmured, caressing his cheek.“Everything will be alright.”

He touched her lips, caressing her lower one with his thumb before he straightened and dropped his hand to his side.

“I’ll see you later.”

She swallowed and followed him with her eyes as he walked across to an area that was curtained off.He pulled the curtain back and turned to look at her over his shoulder before he disappeared behind it.She sighed deeply and turned back to face the fire.

He love us.

I hope so.