Page 244 of Entangled

It takes surprisingly little time to get a team mobilized. Before I’ve even recovered from my hangover, the sun still squinting blearily over the trees, Dom and Heather have the Rangers and a handful of the best civilian fighters packed and almost ready to go. Akira was nowhere to be found, but we can’t afford to lose any more time looking for her. Our team needs to move.

I quietly pack my own bags, wincing at the awful state of my room that I don’t have time to clean.

They don’t know it yet, but I’m coming with them.

Bristlebrook teems with restless energy. As I walk through the halls, I feel the change in the air, hear whispers about how things are finally taking a turn. I hear them chattering about the food and medicine we’ll bring home, and the freedom of their friends who were captured alongside Heather all those months ago.

Out on the lawn, Dom and Heather are busy directing people. Taking this, leaving that. But I can see their confidence. Their excitement.

They’re trained for this. The Rangers specialize in raids. Location seizures. Target extraction. They have the training and the arms, and they’ve even enlisted Bentley and his men to join their attack in exchange for Bristlebrook’s supply of inhalers. And of all things, the Sinners aren’t expecting an attack.

This is the best edge we’ll ever have.

But that same anticipation is a guillotine over my neck.

All I can think about is Sam up on that rock, whipping his men into a ferocious, bloodthirsty fury. He has an army of killers, a grudge against Bristlebrook, my bag of confiscated explosives, and when I freed the SEALs, I handed him two very effective strategic weapons... and my men are planning to walk right into his Den.

I can’t spend any more weeks agonizing over what happened to them, wondering if they’re dead, wondering if I’m going to end up exactly where I was when I was in the Sinners’ camp. Alone in the dark.

No, I can’t sit here, safe at Bristlebrook, while they go to fight. This won’t be another Heather situation, where I let someone put themselves in danger while I hide.

I’mgoingto Cyanide.

I walk across the grass toward Dom, bracing myself for a fight... but someone’s beaten me to it.

Jayk has his arms crossed, facing off with Dom. “I don’t do babysitting duty, fucker. They’re Heather’s minions—let her be queen of the castle.”

I slow, watching him, and my fingers itch to smooth the defensive sneer coating his face.

Heather looks up from the bags of rations she’s setting out for people to pack, her eyes turbulent. “Alastair owes me a life. I’m going.”

Sloane is so focused on checking her gun, it couldn’t be more obvious that she’s eavesdropping. Then I catch sight of Aaron, blatantly staring as he picks up a rations pack.

Apparently, it can be more obvious.

“I’m half the reason you all don’t get blown to shit every mission. Why the hell am I the one getting benched?” Jaykob’s eyes are bitterly dark today as they sweep over the gathered team. “Did I forget to make you a fucking friendship bracelet or something?”

Lucky looks up from where he’s sprawled in the grass, dimpling. “Thank God you were the one to bring it up. I expected mine on Tuesday, bud. What’s the deal?”

Beau shakes his head, biting back a smile, and walks up beside Jayk. He clasps his shoulder. “Come on now, Jayk, don’t be like that. We’re all friends here. Maybe when we get back we can all do something nice. You, me, and Eden. I reckon she’d?—”

Jayk grabs Beau’s wrist so fast and hard I squeak, my heart leaping into my throat.

“The only thing I’m going to do with you and Eden is show her how I can beat someone unconscious with their own dismembered limbs.” He drops Beau’s hand violently. “Touch me again, and I’ll start with your arm.”

Sloane snorts, and when Beau gives her an irritated look, she turns it into a cough.

“Is that possible? I feel like it would be too floppy.” Lucky nudges Jasper who hushes him.

Dom glances around at the avid crowd, and steps in toward Jayk, lowering his voice. “Staying isn’t a punishment, Jaykob. We need someone here to defend Bristlebrook if things go to hell, and the civilians trust you better than any of us. They can keep things running, but they need you to watch out for them. We can’t leave without protecting the people here.”

They stare one another down for a long moment, and I worry my lower lip between my teeth, shifting. Jayk’s gaze slides to me, and the stiff anger in his face slips, indecision warring in his eyes.

“Get Jasper to stay. It’s his house,” he says, but the fight has left his voice.

Dom’s shoulders relax. He’s back in his Ranger kit today—they all are—and it’s even better than his red shirts. He looks like he did the day I met him, dangerously competent and starkly attractive.

“Jasper isn’t as versed on the explosives, or how to set the trip wires.” Dom’s lips curve into a dry smile. “Besides, I think if you left, Kasey would do an Eden and follow you into battle with a bazooka.”

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