know that Jonah had found love and was making it work, even if it had meant retiring from the business aside from the odd job here and there. Az couldn’t imagine that life for him and Madi, languishing on an island perfecting their tans, but the idea of a vacation… Just him and Madi alone in a bungalow over the water. That sounded like just what they needed once they brought Bennington and his operation down for good.
“Can you direct us toward this potential panic room escape tunnel, your highness?” Sadie asked.
“Should be about a half a block away on the service road you’re already on.”
“Get in.” Sadie smacked the side of the van.
They piled in and Sadie took the wheel, driving them down the service road until Jonah pointed out a manhole cover. At first, Az thought Sadie would suggest one of them enter through the tunnel, but she chose a more direct route, parking a tire on top of the cover. “Now, it doesn’t matter what it is. He can’t use it,” she said with a smug grin.
“Alright, we’re on foot from here. Don’t get dead,” Jonah said, fist bumping Madi and Az before taking off with Sadie and Ronin.
Madi followed Az from the vehicle, taking his gun from his belt and checking it over to ensure the round was chambered. “Don’t accidentally shoot yourself in the dick. I would be devastated,” he said as he handed it back to him.
Az scoffed. “I may not be the marksman you are, jaanum, but I do just fine. Besides, I have a good chance of surviving a bullet wound, but if you accidentally stab yourself with one of my poisons, you’re a goner, and I can’t have that.”
Madi opened his mouth to make another comment, but Az silenced him with a firm kiss. “Let’s get this over with. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Az took off before he could change his mind and decide he wasn’t willing to leave Madi to pull off a perfectly routine mission on his own. Maybe this was why Cas and Jonah had gotten out of the business. Things that once gave Az a sudden burst of adrenaline now caused a gnawing worry in his gut. It was a double-edged sword, this love. He didn’t want to do a job without Madi, but he had an overwhelming fear that they wouldn’t make it back to each other. He shook the thought away. There was no place for doubt at a time like this.
Az took his place at the center of the east-facing wall, forced to wait for Cas to act as his eyes, forced to trust a stranger to keep them all safe. Az had never worked with a team before. It was a completely new experience to have a group of people watching his back. But he trusted Madi, and Madi trusted Jonah and the others, so Az trusted them, too. He had no choice.
“Everybody in position?” Cas asked.
Once more, everybody answered in the affirmative.
“Jonah, you’re a go.”
A minute passed before Jonah came over the comm breathlessly. “North side clear.”
“Madi, you’re up next. Go now.”
It couldn’t have been more than forty-five seconds before Madi said, “West side clear,” but it felt like time ground to a halt.
“Sadie and Ronin go.” Az jumped, catching the lip of the concrete wall, feet dangling. He listened as they confirmed their kills. “Az, go now.”
Az pulled himself up and over the wall, syringe uncapped and in hand as he came down behind the guard. The man swung around, but Az plunged the syringe into his neck before he could raise his weapon. He was dead before he hit the ground. “East side exterior clear.”
“The exterior motion lights and alarms are down. Head to the doors…now.”
Az stayed low to the ground as he jogged toward the exterior entrance of the large mansion. He crouched by the doors, pulling his pack off to grab his gas mask and the tear gas canisters. Az’s hand was on the door handle when Ronin’s voice stopped him cold. “Fuck, we’ve got a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” Jonah asked.
“Eastman’s car is still here.”
“Is that a problem?” Madigan sounded unconcerned.
“If you were him, wouldn’t you get out as soon as you could? Makes me think something’s off.”
“You think this is a set-up?” Az asked.
“Maybe. I don’t know. If it’s not and he’s still inside, we’ll need to watch out for him.”
“What do you want to do?” Cas asked. “Send someone in to look for him?”
“Fuck it,”