Page 213 of Deadfall

“We’re all set.” I straightened and nodded at the plane.

“Alright, boys, let’s fall back to the holding zone,” Knight said.

We moved back out of the hangar, and across the tarmac, until we bled back into the shadows of the trees on the other side. I hit the beach with the trigger in hand, and together we spread out along the shore above the tideline using the rocks as coverage.

“Hold position,” Knight ordered.

Before I could blow everything sky high, we had to wait for the signal that the other teams were in position. Several long minutes passed until finally, the words I’d been waiting for carried over comms.

“Light it up,” Ghost said.

“Fire in the hole,” I murmured.

The anticipation peaked as I pressed the button—

And nothing happened.

101

EMERSYN

I stood on the back of the boat and watched the inflatable with Nyx and Atlas’ team disappear into the darkness. The rotors of the helo whirled to life behind me as Arkady did her final checks. I was ready. Adrenaline surged through my veins—the usual nerves before a job.

I paced the deck. I needed to move. I hated the moments right before, when all the plans were set, everything was ready to go, it just wasn’t go-time yet. I wondered how Griffin and Seven were doing. Once the other team was in position, he would get the green light to blow up the landing strip. We were too far away to see or hear anything though. Without them nearby, it felt like a piece of me was missing. I rubbed my chest at the odd feeling. I hadn’t felt attachment like that in years.

“Load up!” My father barked.

I pushed all of those emotions aside, as we piled onto the skids of the Little Bird and it lifted off the boat. I’d never been transported like this before. It was exhilarating hanging half out the helo while the dark water rushed under my feet.

We were halfway to the island when I heard my father’s voice.

“What do you mean they didn’t detonate?” My father barked into the comms unit.

I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but it obviously wasn’t good. Nerves clutched at my heart. My father listened intently at whoever was on the other end.

“Roger that,” he said.

“DZ is clear! Two minutes out!” Arkady called.

Well, at least that meant Nyx and Atlas’ side of things had gone off without a hitch.

“Get ready,” my father ordered.

I didn’t bother asking about the failed detonation. Part of me didn’t want to know if it was bad, because I didn’t want it to impede on what I was about to do. We circled the estate, and I focused on the rope as it was dropped to the ground.

My father went first. He was the picture of calm competence. I was next. I dropped from the rope and the minute my feet touched the ground, my gun was in my hands. It was strange to be back on the island. My nerves were in overdrive. But at least this time I had night vision and a shit ton of firepower behind me.

I saw my father glance up at the roof and followed his gaze to see figures up on the terraces. He saluted them, and I heard Atlas over comms as our communications with that team merged.

“Overwatch in position,” Atlas reported.

“Roger that. Nyx?”

“Third floor clear,” he said. “Making my way to you.”

“Roger. Entering ground level now.”

My father motioned for our group to move to the nearest door. I followed behind him, convinced he would act like Riggs during a job. I braced for him to be overbearing and protective. We crossed the grounds, and I felt him keep me in his periphery. My blood heated, I was not going to go through this again. But, Griffin’s words came back to me—he didn’t know what I was fully capable of, but I would show him.