Page 94 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

"Copy that."

"Wolf, what are you seeing on the security feeds?"

"Nothing unusual. No movement inside or out. But…" He pauses. "The camera placement is off. They’re focused on approach vectors, but there are blind spots around the actual house entry points."

Exactly what I was afraid of.

"Almost like he wants us to come in through certain routes," I murmur.

"Fuck," Levi breathes. "It’s a trap."

"Has to be." I study the structure again through my scope. "He knew we’d find this place. Probably counting on us rushing in the minute we confirmed Sunny was here."

"So what’s the play?"

I consider our options. The maintenance tunnel remains our best access point—we’ve already cleared it of obvious traps. But Garrett’s absence bothers the hell out of me.

"Rex, what’s the tunnel construction. Can we send someone down?"

"Concrete and steel, like the main structure. But there’s something odd—regular spacing of what looks like utility boxes along the walls. And it’s tight, like I said. Ty’s the only one who would fit."

"Don’t touch them," I order. "Can you get any readings on those boxes?"

"Checking… shit. They’re putting out low level electrical signals. Could be sensors, could be charges."

Levi’s hand tightens on his weapon. "If he’s rigged the tunnel—"

"He’s probably rigged the whole house," I finish. "Multiple kill boxes. Force us to choose which way we die."

"But Sunny’s down there," Levi argues. "We can’t just—"

"We’re not leaving her." We just need a little patience. And time we don’t have. “Ty, stand-by to make entry.”

I’m about to issue a new plan when—

Headlights sweep across the trees.

"All teams, hold position," I order. "We’ve got company."

A black SUV moves slowly down the access road. It stops about twenty yards from the house. Even in the dim light, through my scope I recognize the driver.

Garrett.

He doesn’t get out. Doesn’t turn off the engine. Just sits there. Watching. Waiting.

"He knows we’re here," Levi breathes.

"Of course he does."

And he’s waiting.

"We need a distraction," I mutter. "Get him away from that car and into the house."

"How?"

"Rex, place a breaching charge on the east side shed. Small blast. We make it look like we’re coming in that way. Ty, as soon as that blast goes off, make entry. We need to get you inside while Garrett's distracted."

"Copy that. Initiating countdown." Rex's voice is steady as he begins.

---