Page 34 of Ashfall
As long as I have him, I'd willingly go into the deepest parts of this world and raise an inferno across the lands for him.
I tugmy bulletproof vest at the sides, making sure it's tight for the hundredth time since we left. I tap my chest to ensure the hidden knife I have is secure in its sheath stitched inside the material. Adam worked on changing the rigged bracelet for a tracker that is now banded and clasped high up my arm - hidden under my sleeve. The thoughts that rail through my mind whenever I clock it, send a thick mist of discomfort through my stomach.
In case I need to be hunted down.
I gulp the acid that burns my throat surrounding that outcome. They'd never find me. Volokov would make sure of that.
Noc and I are up front in the land cruiser, the rest of the team in the back. The drive here has been mostly silent, the kind of hush you find at a graveyard in the middle of the night. Noc’s stern commands now fill the vehicle, asking everyone to repeat the plans and their roles - three times. The stakes are high. A large hand wraps around my thigh and squeezes my knee, and my own instantly reaches out to encase it. I wish we were back at the safehouse, in his shower. Back in that bubble of just him and I. But we need this, we all do. Graves needs to be stopped.
“Five minutes out.” Adam calls from the back. My hand stiffens around Noc’s as he fixes me with a glare and speaks. “We'll get in and get out. Volokov will give the signal when we've got to take the shot.” I nod, turning from him to stare straight ahead. Volokov called earlier, indicating that he’ll tap the roof of his car, once they’re a safe distance from Graves... He also mentioned something about not wanting his mutt's blood on his good suit.
Evening is starting to creep across the sky, the lingering shadows creeping out across the landscape as the sun begins its descent. It'll likely be darker in the woodland when we get there and, for the first time in my life, I’m nervous for the night. Upahead, two black Jeeps are pulled over on the road.Volokov. Noc pulls in, grinding the car to stop. I move on autopilot. My finger thumps into the belt to release it, swinging the door open as thick fingers clench around my arm, tugging me slowly to face Noc. His face is contorted in dread that he's fighting to keep back. I feign a smile the best I can, my voice no louder than a whisper. “I'll be fine, promise. I’ll see you soon.” His jaw tightens, clearing his throat whilst reducing the pressure of his hold. I see the moment the darkness inks over to consume him, stepping into his persona I now know heneeds. “Get back to us, Nyx.” Adam calls out, but it's sealed in with a thump of the door I close. My hand palms the glass in response.
Noc and I round the completely blacked out jeep behind us, its high beam lights blinding us in a hue of white. Noc slinks between the vehicles to stand with me as the passenger window slinks down, revealing a smug looking Volokov. “Nocturne, Brodie.” he nods in greeting. I don’t say a word, directing my focus to the pre-evening sky ahead, securing the fortress of my mind whilst the door beside me feels like it's silently screaming for attention, causing my arm to heat.
Noc leans his hand against the top of the car as he speaks to him in Russian. The abrupt switch to English has me turning my attention back to them. “I’ll call you when I’m approaching the drop off.” Volokov's voice grates against my ear drum. “All going well, that is.” His egotistical smile falters as I glare at him with dead eyes, my fortress strong. I risk one last look at Noc, his face is completely unreadable now, but his eyes tell a different story, they always do.
He taps the car and my hand trembles against the cold metal of the door as I open it, revealing one of Volokov's guards. Sliding in, I keep my demeanor as loose as possible. “This is Noc’s bitch?” the guard asks no one in particular, his accentheavy.Fuck this. If my glare could kill, he'd have the breath snuffed out before he even finished that sentence.
“Shut your fucking mouth. Or I'll make you mine.” He blanches at my bite, Volokov's laughter fills the car. “I told you, she’s feisty.”
I’m so fucked.
Thirty minutes later, we’re jolting along a rutty dirt road, the forest pressing in tight before revealing a wide open clearing. A familiar convoy breaks into view ahead and my chest constricts – Graves. Volokov’s arm leans against the window, eyes fixed ahead into the open area. “Get on the floor and stay hidden, not a fucking word.” I don’t hesitate, sliding down into the space on the floor. It’s tight, but I’ve the advantage of my height and flexibility to squeeze in. A dark, scratchy cover is tossed over me, along with what feels like a bag tossed on top. The car eases to a stop minutes later, followed by three thumps of the doors closing. The silence stretches, the car now filled only with the blood rushing in my ears and my breaths dragging in and out – I’m alone. I bring my hand to rest on top of my vest, giving easy access to my knife, just in case. Outside, I hear muffled voices, someone must have kept the window cracked.
“I've been trying to reach you for weeks! You and I have a real fucking problem.” Graves's voice is laced with panic.
“And what would that be?” Volokov sounds as bored as I imagine his expression would convey.
“Nocturne! When the fuck were you going to tell me he was alive and working for you? What the hell is this shit?” I’ve never heard Graves yell so much in my life than I have these last couple weeks, the man is losing his imperturbability - the world he's spent years building is disintegrating beneath his feet. “Who works for me is no concern of yours, Graves. You work for me, and you'll do well to remember that.” A loud bang causes meto jolt, and it's followed by heavy footsteps. It sounds like the guards from the other Jeep.
“Fuck you! We had a deal. Don’t mess me around Volokov, you’re forgetting I know where the weapon is stored. I'm the one who has it protected. I can just as easily call that in.”Wait a minute.
Volokov's voice cuts through my thoughts. “Behave Graves, You and I both know that’s an empty threat. You've got too much to lose right now. Besides, the boy works for me. He thinks by doing so he’s saving that female he cares so much for.” My body goes rigid at the mention of me.
“She's mine to deal with. Where is Nocturne? I know you know he has her, along with half my taskforce.” Graves has the audacity to call ushis. My blood is beginning to boil, I’m radiating heat under this blanket.
“Nocturne has gone off grid, I have my men hunting him.” Graves clearly isn't pleased with that; I can hear the snarl in his voice.
“I want them both. Kill the rest. I want him to watch as I ruin her. Smug little prick.”
If I ever needed my own proof of the kind of man Graves is, I just got it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
nocturne
Graves's egomaniac voice screeches into my earpiece from the scanner Adam planted to enhance the conversation going on in the center of the woodland. I huff a laugh while grinding my jaw at his words. If he thinks of getting even the tip of his finger near her, I’ll cut off both his hands from the joint and hang them on my Christmas tree.
“You'll be the first to know. Now let’s get down to business, there’s much to discuss.” Volokov’s isn't much better, causing me to crack my neck, I’ve heard it too much for one lifetime. I like to think I'm more than just one of those'touch her and die'guys. I remember the name of anyone who's even glanced at her the wrong way. And when the devil calls his favorite fiend home, I'll hunt them down in the afterlife and make sure their screams are so evocative, he’ll smile as he's lulled to sleep. The things I'm going to do to these men would make my mother weep if she knew what I was capable of.
“In position.” My words feel like they've been laced with venom as I stare down these two pricks through the scope. It'd be so easy to take the two of them out right now, but too lenient a death for either of them. I want to maim Graves, not kill him immediately. That process is going to be dragged outnice and slow. Besides, I can't risk Brodie. That’s not an option. Phantom’s a hundred yards up to my right, Blitz and Adam on the other side mirroring our position between the tree lines. The grass is long and thick here, concealing us as we make our way closer to the clearing, having to crawl the rest of the way. Lurking is my second favorite thing to do. The first is Brodie.
“We're in position.” Blitz crackles over the earpiece, my grip readjusts on my M4A1 SOPMOD, waiting for Volokov’s signal. The two of them are arguing like a pair of old bitter women, like one of them has forgotten to bring the good dabbers to the bingo hall. Well, it’s mostly Graves. Volokov seems bored stiff with the exchange, likely waiting for the main event to provide entertainment. Phantom signals to me, leaning down behind a tree as he speaks. “Graves is alone.” My pulse skitters, but I squeeze it back under control. “Keep looking.” I say. He'll have something up his sleeve, and we need to be prepared for all possibilities.
Volokov treads gruffly back and forward, whilst Graves throws his arms in the air. The color of his face gives away the reading of his blood pressure. How the fuck did he ever make Commander if he's this hysterical at his first hurdle. I can't wait to see the light leave his eyes. Blitz whispers down the comms. “Secondary target on the move.”
My scope shifts to Volokov, who is leaning on the hood of the car. The bastard’s toying with us. He likes to play games. He doesn’t know I play them better. I adjust my hold on the gun, pressing the buttstock against my shoulder to better control the weapon sway. I brace for the moment as he reaches an arm out to the back for the hood, but Adam’s voice barrels down the comms. “Shit, someone’s got Blitz.”
