the map, and gave the next direction.
It took over an hour and forty beanbag rounds to explode nine land mines. With each one that went off, the mood of those around him grew a bit grimmer. Nine land mines.
There would be more. Other traps, other ways the Bellator Dei leadership would try to keep the cult’s secrets.
Jennika tapped her own headset then pointed to the switch. Luca flipped it, tuning into the comm link that everyone else was on.
“Woohoo! That last one was a good one,” Oscar said enthusiastically.
Luca blinked. That was Oscar’s voice, but it didn’t sound like Oscar.
“It’s not a fucking fireworks show,” Oscar grumped.
Wait, that was Oscar, which meant the first voice had been Langston.
Luca’s stomach knotted, but he didn’t have long to dwell on his guilt over what he’d done to Langston, Mina, and Rich.
“Clear the channel,” Owen commanded.
“Aye, aye, Mr. FBI,” Langston said.
“We have clear pathways,” Owen continued. “But there are no guarantees. Breaching is a risk, clearing the buildings is a risk. There’s no shame in backing out.”
Through the open door of the van, Luca saw Owen looking around at the handful of people who had started to gear up—strapping on vests, checking tool belts, and putting on helmets. None of them looked up or acknowledged what Owen had said.
“This is your chance to take a step back, and there is no shame or cowardice in it,” Percival added.
“Out teams?” Owen asked.
“Ready.”
“Ready.”
“Last call.”
Luca could see Owen putting on his vest while his voice came over the comm link.
“We’re all going in, boss.”
“Let’s find these people, rescue the ones we can.”
Luca didn’t know who any of the voices belonged to. They were strangers to him, but they were willing to risk their lives to go in and search for any information they could find about the Bellator Dei. They had just spent an hour listening to land mines being detonated, and they were still willing to go in. The cynical part of him said it was because they wanted to put an end to the Bellator Dei. They were, after all, enemies of the Masters’ Admiralty, and, by extension, the Trinity Masters.
But part of him, perhaps the part of him that had taken a leap of faith and joined the Trinity Masters, believed that the members here today wanted not just to stop the Bellator Dei, but to save those people, like his sister, like his younger self, who were trapped. Victims. Even if they didn’t realize it.
Luca passed Jennika his headset and stepped out of the van. Oscar and Selene were waiting for him. Neither one of them had on protective gear, and Oscar looked pissed, especially when Owen passed Luca a helmet and vest.
“They won’t let us go in with you,” Selene said quietly.
“Good. I don’t want to risk you.” He looked at them. “Either of you.”
“Be safe.” Oscar’s voice was gruff as he helped fasten the Velcro of the vest.
“Is your robot ready?” Selene asked.
Luca picked up the remote he had put down in order to guide the land mine clearing effort. He clicked a button and then used the joystick to guide the robot forward, toward the open front gate.
Selene put his helmet on, and once more he could hear chatter on the comms. “We’ll be here. Come back to us.” Selene blinked, as if she’d surprised herself. Oscar was frowning at her, but it was a frown of concern.
Luca allowed himself one moment—one brief, quick, beautiful moment—to pretend he was coming back to them. Then he shut those feelings down hard. He needed to concentrate on the job at hand, do what needed to be done in that compound to save innocent lives.
And when it was over…all of this was over. He wouldn’t be coming back to them. He couldn’t.
“We’re taking building two,” Owen said. “We’re going on a separate channel, and if needed, Jennika can patch us through to the other team. As you suggested, Luca, they’re taking building four, the, uh, school facility.”
Luca was going to the main building that housed not only the dormitory, but the Prelate and clergy offices as well. He was hoping there would be records there, something that would give them a clue where they’d gone.
Where his sister was.
Those buildings were also the most likely to be rigged with some kind of explosive.
Owen looked at Luca. “Ready?”
He nodded, the helmet heavy on his head, and guided the robot forward. He walked behind it, fifteen feet of space between him and the small machine.