Rack & Ruin (THIRDS 3)

All this time, Ash had been working undercover? Everything suddenly started to make sense. The absences, the attitude, the constant justification of the Coalition’s actions. The way he pushed Cael away. Dex had gotten it all wrong. Damn it. He should have trusted his gut. Ash had never been a traitor. In fact he was the complete opposite. He knew what this kind of assignment would entail. How it would affect his relationship with those he cared about. But he’d gone out and done his job anyway because that’s what a THIRDS agent who believed in what he was doing did. He put the safety of the city’s citizens before all else.

“It was imperative Agent Keeler maintain his cover until the identity of our mole was discovered. Unfortunately, it looks like his position has been compromised. I received a digital ransom note from the Coalition twenty minutes ago. They want to do a trade. Agent Keeler for Mr. Reyes.”

Agent Taylor shook his head. “How do we know they won’t kill Ash anyway?”

“They won’t,” Cael snapped. “We won’t let that happen.”

“Agent Brodie.” Lieutenant Sparks laced her fingers over the podium. “Suggestions?”

Dex turned in his seat to watch his partner. He’d come to know that look. Sloane was running all the options through his head, the different scenarios and possible outcomes. He would be searching for a way that would result in recovering Ash, not losing Reyes, and possibly getting their hands on the Coalition once and for all. Sloane shifted his gaze to Sparks. “We give them Reyes.”

Sparks studied him. There was something in her gaze. “What do you need?”

“For the Coalition to allow us to choose the location, since they have the upper hand.”

“I’ll get it done.” She turned off the screen and turned to speak with Tony while Sloane addressed the room.

“Everyone, let’s suit up and head out. You’ll receive my instructions on the way.”

Sloane wasn’t taking any chances, and Dex didn’t blame him. If they wanted to get Ash back in one piece, they’d have to tread carefully. The tension was palpable, with everyone looking grim and determined. Sloane informed Destructive Delta that they were going in heavily armed. One of their own was in trouble, and they would be retrieving him using any means necessary. Once they’d geared up, they waited in the BearCat until Reyes was escorted in. His hands were cuffed, but his legs were free. He was also wearing a tactical vest and helmet.

Tony secured their prisoner, and the BearCat headed off with Beta Pride and Beta Ambush keeping their distance. Sloane had relayed the information of where he wanted them to stand by. He withheld the location of the tradeoff, instructing the two Team Leaders he’d give them the address when it was time to move in. Taylor had been livid. Sloane didn’t care. Right now, Destructive Delta only trusted each other.

The BearCat drove up West Street and made a left on Oak Street, which was barely wide enough for the truck to fit through. The road abruptly turned to dirt and gravel. To each side of their truck was a long chain-link fence. Their left was pretty much clear with nothing but an empty lot. But ahead of them and to their right it was a mess. There were train compartments and storage units stacked all over the place in varying heights. There were piles of wooden pallets, bundles of rusted metal fencing, trucks, cranes, slabs of concrete, cinder blocks, and a whole lot of shadows. It was a tactical nightmare, but for some reason, it’s what Sloane wanted.

Hobbs slowed the truck, and Calvin came out from the front. A black wool beanie covered his blond hair, and he was dressed in a black uniform rather than their standard charcoal gray. He looked like he was about to burgle someone, except the black tac vest and large, elongated black bag in his gloved hand stated otherwise. Calvin gave Sloane a nod, before silently slipping out the back of the truck.

Calvin was a quiet guy, but Dex was coming to learn the quiet ones were the ones you had to look out for. His teammate might not be a military sniper, but that didn’t make him any less skilled or dangerous. Dex could see it in the guy’s face. Something in his deep blue eyes clouded over when he was about to take position for a hit. He never discussed how he felt about what he did or when he had to take someone out. That’s what the THIRDS appointed psychologists were for.

With Calvin gone, the truck continued down the dirt road and pulled off to the right. The place was brightly lit in some areas from the floodlights while other areas were cast in shadows. Unless he was wearing his night-vision goggles, there was no way Dex would know what was stalking around in the darkness. It would be up to his Therian teammates to have those areas covered.

Sloane was out of the truck first, and the rest of the team followed. Maddock and Hobbs got Reyes out of the truck. The rest of the team got into formation, and they escorted Reyes into one of the brightly lit areas in the center of the yard. Showtime.

There were containers in front of them and behind, as well as to their sides. They stood in a neat little row, geared in their tac vests and ballistic helmets. They had enough firepower to take down a small army and were prepared to do so if the Coalition gave them any trouble. This would be the first time they’d be facing the group. They heard the sound of multiple footsteps on gravel and watched the masked members of the Coalition emerge one by one from behind one of the rusted steel containers. They were all dressed in black-and-gray camouflaged uniforms, black masks covering their faces, bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and carried plenty of firearms. Bringing up the rear were two large Therians dragging Ash between them. They kept their distance, Ash held up between them.

Cael took a step forward, and Dex discreetly held a hand out to stop him. They couldn’t give the Coalition any more power over them. Now that the bastards knew Ash hadn’t really betrayed his team, they could use him against Destructive Delta.

“We have Reyes,” Sloane announced. “Let’s do this.” He turned to Hobbs. “Hobbs—”

“I’m going,” Cael said, his expression uncompromising.

Sloane shook his head. “Cael, Ash can barely stand on his own. His weight is too much for you.”

“Then Dex will help me.”

Sloane looked to Dex who nodded. If it’s what Cael wanted, Dex wasn’t going to deny his brother. Dex would have demanded the same if it had been Sloane. It was obvious Sloane wasn’t happy about it, but he gave in.

“All right. Be careful. We’ll watch your backs.” Sloane gave a nod and stood to one side as Tony and Hobbs handed Reyes over. Dex could tell his dad was unhappy about the decision, but all he did was ask them to be careful. Dex had every intention of protecting his little brother.

They each took Reyes by an arm and walked him toward the members of the Coalition holding Ash. Dex felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He didn’t like this. He knew Sloane had a plan, and his trust in Sloane was the only thing keeping him grounded right now. As they slowly made their way over, he quietly addressed his brother.

“You okay?”

“I’ve been better,” Reyes muttered.

“I wasn’t talking to you, asswipe.”

Cael’s gaze remained straight ahead of them. “I’m fine.”