Page 12 of Into the Shadows

I’d prefer it to be the former. We’re well-equipped to defend ourselves in the event of an attack. It’s the unknowns that will fuck us over.

Victor and I watch through the window until night falls. There hasn’t been a single slip in their security so far. We change shifts to get some much-needed sleep. I check in with Kyle and Oscar, who have come up with a few viable options. Our original plan still seems like it might be our best, though.

“Get some rest. We’ll need you sharp tomorrow.” I leave the two of them at the table in the kitchen. When I get to my bedroll, my thoughts begin to spiral. Plans and strategies hold my attention until I force them away. I can’t afford to be sleep-deprived tomorrow. It’ll get someone killed.

“You got your guardian angel?”Kyle teases me.

I flip him off but check my pocket just in case. The guys gave me hell about putting that picture of Lottie in my pocket the first time. Then we got ourselves out of a few scrapes that we shouldn’t have survived, and since then, they’ve called her our guardian angel.

I haven’t read a single email she’s sent me over the past four years. There’ve been plenty of times I’ve almost given in, but I couldn’t fucking do it. She needed to move on from me. I didn’t want to hold her back from finding the man she was meant to be with. It would also likely kill me if I found out sheactually did find someone else. So, I stopped reading her emails.

I’ve written plenty of drafts that I’ll never send. Just because I haven’t read her emails doesn’t mean I’ve stopped writing to her. It’s become cathartic to share my thoughts with Lottie, especially knowing she’ll never read them.

My eyes haven’t left our target’s house. The guards are starting to get a little lax in their patrols. It’s been two days since they arrived, and we’re running out of time. I can’t afford to wait much longer. The potential for them to leave is high, and I won’t miss this opportunity.

Our original plan was to move into the house once a few guards left with the mistress. Now, our safest option is to stay distant and snipe the target when he’s leaving the house.

Based on their movements, he’ll likely be leaving any day.

Kyle and I are relieved from our posts, and we move into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Sleep is out of the question for me now that my gut is telling me they’ll be leaving soon. I have no idea what their plan was. No one has shown up for a meeting, and they haven’t made it obvious they know we’re here.

I’ll be on edge until we’ve done our job and are safely on our way home.

“We’ve got movement,” Victor calls out.

“Is Oscar in position?” I ask Kyle, who nods. Oscar is our best sniper and has been on the roof most of the day after the guards’ movements had changed. “Everyone, to your posts.”

The guys scatter to their positions while I move into the bedroom. Victor and I both set ourselves up in a window. His position has the best view, but mine shows the side of the target’s house. We’ve been prepped and ready for a while now, just waiting for the moment to come.

Black SUVs pull into the driveway, and the guards surround them. They’re alert, eyes scanning their surroundings. We remain still. We don’t want to give away our position.

Movement from the front door catches my attention. Our target comes out, surrounded by more guards.

“Oscar, do you have a shot?” I ask into our comms.

“Not yet.”

“Fire when ready.”

“Copy.”

It’s as if time slows. We hold our breath, waiting for Oscar to take the shot.

The gun sounds. Even with a silencer, the pop is still audible. The bullet hits our target, causing the guards to scatter.

“Nice shot, Oscar. Let’s move.”

The team jumps at my order. Within minutes, we’re in our trucks and getting out of Dodge. Unfortunately, the enemy is just as fast.

“We’ve got company,” Kyle says from the driver’s seat. I turn around to see three black SUVs on our tail. We’re not in a city, so losing them will be tough.

Kyle pushes our vehicle as hard he can without crashing us while the rest of the team prepares to fire. This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but it’s where we are.

Shots are fired at us, and I instinctively flinch.

“Hold on,” Kyle warns as we lean into a turn at a much higher speed than is safe. Somehow, our second truck stays tight with Kyle. He opens it up on the straightaway to gain some distance, but it’s not enough. The enemy is going just as fast around the corner.

“They’re dropping back,” Victor calls through the comms from the other car. Before he even finishes speaking, an explosion rocks through us. Our second vehicle is now a fireball in our rearview mirror.

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