Page 158 of The Best of Us

“This is TOC,” Izzy cut in. “Alpha Team, you have at least five hostiles advancing toward you. Target packages are still in the center of the house, but there’s a flurry of movement inside.”

“This is Alpha Two, roger,” I confirmed. “We’ll cover you.” I glanced at Hudson and Carter as Enzo and Alessandro flanked me. I gave Hudson a slight nod, silently telling him to be safe and not get himself killed, and then he took off with Carter.

“This is Foxtrot One, doing a quick flyover to help clear that path to the watchtowers for you,” Easton said as the helicopter blades chopped the air, announcing his return.

The guards on the ground redirected their focus to the helo, giving me an opening. I sniped the closest tango who’d made himself known, putting him down before he could raise his rifle, then took out two more with suppressed headshots before Easton finished off the last two.

“Alpha Team, you’re a go. Move in,” Carter signaled once he and Hudson were in position.

Rifles in hand, my brothers surrounding me, we rushed the property, closing the distance to the main house where Delta Team was already inside.

“This is Foxtrot One, looks like they called for backup,” Easton alerted as we neared the back terrace. “Second wave inbound. Two vehicles approaching fast. We’ll take them out,” he assured us.

“TOC, we’re going in. I need your eyes,” I requested.

Alessandro tossed in a flashbang before we breached the first hallway, clearing rooms according to Gwen’s instructions.

Just as I moved down the next hall, a smoke grenade landed at our feet. Thick, acrid smoke swallowed everything in sight, including my eyeline to my brothers.

Instinct kicked in, and I yanked up the bandana from around my neck, covering my nose and mouth and keeping low as I scanned for movement.

“Alpha Two,” Izzy came through my earpiece a moment later, her voice sharp with urgency. “Tango immediately coming from your right with a knife. You see him?”

My body reacted before my mind caught up. I let my rifle hang on its sling as he lunged for me. Catching his wrist mid-strike, I twisted—snap—then reversed the blade into his throat, cutting deep. The gurgling choke confirmed my hit.

I retrieved my knife, stepping over the body as I called out, “Alpha Three. Four. Where are you?”

“We’re good. Clearing more rooms,” Alessandro responded, forgetting his call sign, but from the sounds of the breathy grunts, he was in the middle of CQB.

“Alpha Two, we’ve got a problem,” Gwen interjected. “Daniel and Lennon just left the house. They broke away in the chaos, but it looks like he’s taking her toward the cliffs.”

I heard my son cursing in the background.

“On it.” I relayed to Delta and Alpha Teams I was moving back out to pursue.

Delta confirmed they were close to neutralizing themafiosi.And Sebastian didn’t need to explain what he meant by neutralizing them. Knowing they’d never be a threat again was a small comfort in the chaos.

Rushing outside, I was momentarily caught off guard by the afternoon sunlight, too bright after that smoke-filled corridor. My brain faltered for a second, recalibrating.

“Alpha Two, get down!” Hudson shouted over comms.

I dove behind a nearby statue just as rounds slammed into the plaster, sending debris flying.

“Got him. He’s down,” Hudson confirmed. “You’re clear. Fornow.”

“Where’s our target package?” I asked, knowing Hudson would recognize I was talking to him. “Still heading for the cliffs?”

“Yeah. He’s got a strong grip on her. I can’t get a clean shot without risking her, too,” he answered. Not what I wanted Colin to overhear.

“This is Alpha One. We’ve got you covered. Go,” Carter said before two enemies up ahead were laid out with neat and accurate headshots.

I caught sight of Lennon struggling in Daniel’s grasp and tossed one of my own smoke grenades to cut visibility from the sun as I sprang forward.

I couldn’t believe I was back to square one, chasing this motherfucker down. This time on the other side of the world from that abandoned factory.

Emerging through the cloud of smoke, I realized I was on Daniel’s ass. “Stop!”

Daniel was standing at the edge of the cliff, his grip on Lennon iron-tight with one hand, a gun pressed to her ribs in the other. I could take the shot, but there was a chance he could also get off a round. Possibly fall off the ledge, taking her with him.

---