Page 37 of A Ballad of Blackbirds and Betrayal

A predatory smile touched Atticus’s lips.“Good.Cornered men make mistakes.”

“He’s deployed additional security and moved up the timeline.Demonstration now scheduled for 1400 hours.He’s desperate.”

“Cornered,” Atticus corrected.“Let’s make him regret it.”

They descended to the command center, where the team was already preparing.Weapons checked, communications tested, tactics reviewed.Two dozen additional personnel moved around the core team.

“Vehicles prepped and ready,” Griffin announced, his British accent clipped under pressure.“Three primary teams, four secondary response units.”

“Any progress identifying which convoy has the bioweapon?”Atticus demanded.

Cal shook his head.“All three have identical thermal signatures.Can’t distinguish without eyes inside.”

“Then we intercept all three,” Atticus ordered.“Nate, Eden—take convoy Charlie with Team Three.Griffin, coordinate from here.I’ll lead Team One on Alpha.”

“With respect—” Griffin began.

“Mitchell made this personal eight years ago,” Atticus cut him off, his voice hardening.“I’m going into the field.”

The room fell silent before he continued, “Davis and Thompson will handle civilian evacuation.We have forty-seven civilians at risk—get them clear before Mitchell deploys.”

“Max, Jade—with me on Alpha.Reza, we’ll need your infiltration skills if the convoy reaches its destination.”

“Doc—” Cal turned to Sabrina, “—we need multiple doses of the countermeasure.”

“Fifteen doses ready,” she confirmed.“Plus an aerosol version that could theoretically neutralize an airborne release.”

“Theoretically?”Eden raised an eyebrow.

“It’s untested,” Sabrina admitted.“But molecular modeling suggests it should work.”

“We’ll take it,” Nate said, accepting a container.“Better options than regrets.”

“Gear up,” Atticus ordered.“Wheels up in five.”

The team dispersed, leaving Sabrina momentarily adrift.

“You should rest,” Atticus suggested.“You’ve done your part.”

“And wait here while you risk your lives?”She squared her shoulders.“I’m going with you.”

“Sabrina—”

“This is my field.If anyone’s exposed, minutes will matter.You need me.”Her gaze didn’t waver.“Besides, I handled two combat tours.I can manage this.”

His jaw tightened, the muscle jumping as he weighed command against protection.“Gear’s in the armory,” he finally said.“Three minutes.”

Sabrina quickly selected body armor and changed into tactical gear.When she emerged, Reza handed her a Glock 19, which she checked with familiar ease.

Three vehicles waited in the garage—Reza behind the wheel of a matte black Range Rover, Nate and Eden in a similar vehicle, Griffin opting for an unmarked sedan.

“Alpha convoy approaching the I-35 junction,” Cal reported as they moved out.“Clean intercept window in twenty-three minutes.”

They separated at the first intersection, Reza pushing the Range Rover beyond speed limits through the empty streets.Sabrina watched Atticus’s profile, struck by his transformation into pure operator mode.

“Alpha convoy consists of three vehicles,” Cal continued.“Lead and rear SUVs with security, middle transport with cargo.Ten personnel total, all armed.”

“Rules of engagement?”Reza asked, taking a turn that pressed Sabrina against the door.

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