Page 65 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

Screen two is showing Zed, North, and Mac mid-air and preparing to land.

Screen three is South, Alex, and Jamie. They, too, encounter guards, but this time, there are six. South’s team creeps up on them quietly while a few of them are distracted. They are on their phones, smoking and laughing.

South signals to split and go around them and come up behind. One of the guards spots them and starts to shoot. Bullets are flying everywhere, but South’s team dodges them and attacks successfully. Alex shoots one of the guards in the shoulder and then another in the thigh. South takes out two more, shooting to disable, not kill. Jamie, however, didn’t get the memo as he takes two out with direct hits to their chests. The four that are maimed are cable tied, gagged, and moved out of the way.

“What the fuck, Jamie? You were not supposed to kill anyone. It’s not our fucking scene. They should have been alive when the cops get here. I just hope East can sort the fucking footage,” South says, looking directly into Jamie’s body cam.

For fuck’s sake. As if I haven’t got enough to do. I pull off the feed, cut it, and upload it back into his camera. It’s the best I can do with so little time. If the cops ask for it, it’ll just look like a break in the signal. We just have to hope the cops believe that they were shot by their own team.

“Make sure Jamie switches guns,” I instruct South quickly. I don’t normally talk to them when they are in the middle of an operation, but we need to make sure Jamie comes away clean.

The guys that have joined us are part of the Irish Contingency. They are all ex-military soldiers who have worked with Zed and West many times before.

It makes me think… I’ve met all the guys who are there with them so many times before, yet I never actually met Zed until that day at the pool when I mistook him for Drake. How did I never meet him before?

Concentrate, East.

The two teams meet in what looks like the centre of the house. There are more guards and more gunshots. All the enemy guards are down, gagged, and tied.

“Split, take a room each, and for fuck’s sake, try not to kill any of them. Find Matias. I definitely want that fucker alive!” West directs.

They all take a different direction. I can still see them all, but it’s more difficult to keep track of them individually.

I scan the screens, flicking my eyes from one to another. Zed’s team is now on the ground and positioned, watching the outside of the building.

It won’t be long now before the police start to arrive. The amount of gunfire will have been noticed by now.

West had already informed the chief of police what the plan was, and they are holding out for as long as possible, but if the public calls it in, they will have to make themselves known.

Each room is searched, but Matias is nowhere to be found. When South’s camera goes black, my stomach flips.

“West, South’s camera is off! He’s in the—”

Bang!

“West, get to South, now. His feed is down, and I don’t know if you heard the shot, but I did.”

Just as I finish, South’s camera comes back online. There, in clear view, is Matias, rolling around the floor holding his groin.

“You ever fucking look in my sister’s direction again, and I’ll do more than shoot your fucking dick off!” South barks. Then, he leaves the room as the others rush toward him.

What the hell…? He shot his dick off! I should be disgusted, but I can’t stop the small smile. I never thought of South being able to shoot someone. Yeah, he’s an arsehole, but I didn’t think he had it in him.

“What the fuck man?” West growls.

“Someone tie the fucker up before I put a bullet in his head,” South replies.

The team works quickly. As they finish up, the sirens can be heard in the background.

“Time to go,” West directs as they all casually walk out the front door toward the field where Zed, North, and Mac are waiting.

I sit patiently as I watch them all gather together and board the waiting plane. West turns when he gets to the top of the steps. I can see all the police vehicles.

“See that, East? See all those police? That’s the fucking end of this shit show. Tell Sutton and Kara we are on our way home.”

I didn’t need to tell them. They have been standing directly behind me the whole time watching everything.

When we see the plane door shut, all three of us hug and hold each other.

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