Page 59 of Danger Close
“...they’re going to pay.”
****
The command centersmelled like gun oil, sweat, and vengeance.
Ezra stood near the far end of the ops table, arms crossed, rage simmering just beneath his skin.Around him, the Pathfinders moved with lethal efficiency—checking weapons, syncing maps, preparing for extraction.The room, usually a calm hub of training exercises, now pulsed with raw purpose.
Bateman stepped forward, jaw tight.“Marsh is stable, for now.Lost his left leg.Blake’s coordinated with the trauma team that has in him surgery from the evac heli.”
Ezra closed his eyes briefly.The image of Marsh’s blood on the pavement flashed behind them.It hadn’t even been twenty minutes.
“Now.We have to focus.We’ve got one of our own out there,” Bateman continued, voice low and hard.“And we’re getting him back.”
No one argued.The room was silent but crackling, like a storm waiting to hit.
Bateman turned to the console and activated the secured uplink.“Calling in Kai.”
The screen flickered to life with Kai’s face—tousled hair, devil-may-care smile, a coffee in hand like he’d just strolled out of a café instead of being dragged into a rescue op.
“Bateman,” Kai drawled.“You were obviously devoid of hot Hawaiian man candy in your day, and you decided to call me?I am honored.Where is that walking sex on legs man of mine?Hogan, I can’t—”
Before Bateman could respond, Hogan stepped forward, his voice clipped and tight with restrained emotion.
“Cut that shit out, Kai.”Ezra had never heard Hogan use a tone so harsh before.“Marsh is in a critical condition.Lost a leg.Obsidian Ridge was compromised.Ricky’s been taken.We’re operating under full lock and load, so unless you’ve got something useful to say, I suggest shutting your fucking mouth.”
Kai’s expression shifted instantly, every trace of casual charm gone.“Shit.Okay.What do you need?”
“Eyes,” Bateman said.“Names, routes, location.Anything that puts us on their trail faster than they expect.I’ve sent you two files, guys who infiltrated the Ridge.I want them found.”
Kai nodded sharply.“Give me ten.I’ll be back with answers.”
The screen cut out.
No one spoke.
Then the door banged open.
Bravo Team entered the room, loaded for bear.
Dev Roberts strode in first, followed by Aiden, Nick, Riley, Sam, Marcel, Glenn—and bringing up the rear, Maddox, built like a mountain with a smirk sharp enough to cut steel.
They were all kitted out, weapons slung, comms ready, eyes hard.
“Pathfinders,” Dev said, voice calm and cool.“You rang?”
Bateman met him halfway.“You have no idea how glad I am to see your ugly face.”
Dev shrugged.“We heard about Ricky.We’re here to help you bring him home.”
Maddox made a slow loop around the room, slapping backs, bumping fists—greeting his old team.When he got to Ezra, he didn’t offer a handshake.He just nodded once.
“You’re his?”
Ezra nodded, jaw clenched.
“Then we’ll get him back for you,” Maddox said simply.
Ezra felt emotion well within him, but he shut that shit down so he could focus on the task at hand.“Fuck, yeah, we will.”
