Chapter 6

6

She knew Cody would be fine.

Still, Paige's heart pounded as she crouched over his unconscious form. The rough asphalt bit into her knees, a far cry from the plush carpets mere yards away. A broken champagne flute glittered nearby, its contents forming a small, shimmering puddle that reflected the garish neon of a distant sign.

Mason loped toward her, his boots crunching on scattered cigarette butts and discarded betting slips. His rifle, sleek and deadly, seemed almost beautiful in its incongruity with the squalid surroundings.

She tried to smile up at him, but her face was too tense. "Nice shot."

He stared at Cody and made a face, his expression illuminated by the harsh glare of a flickering streetlight. "Eh. A quarter inch to the left would have been optimal. Coulda dropped him faster that way."

"No worries. I wouldn't have been able to catch him then."

Mason gave her a long look as he knelt next to Cody, the gravel crunching under his weight. "Yeah. I know."

The tranquilizer had worked fast, but they weren't safe yet. The screech of tires echoed off the alley walls, amplified by the narrow space. Paige tensed, but relief washed over her as she recognized the battered utility van careening around the corner, its headlights briefly illuminating a colorful mural of playing cards hidden behind years of grime and graffiti.

Nothing like their usual roaming accomodations, but they'd commandeered worse over the years.

"Go time," she muttered, hooking her arms under Cody's shoulders as the van skidded to a stop beside them, kicking up a small cloud of dust and debris. The side door flew open with a rusty groan, revealing Bridger and Tai ready to assist.

Mason brushed her aside, assisting the two men to sling Cody into the van. She scrambled in after them, and Graham gunned the engine before she'd even fully closed the door.

"Sorry for the delay," Fenn called from the passenger seat, his usual grin replaced by a look of concentration. "Had to take the scenic route to avoid some unwanted attention."

Her stomach clenched. "Consortium?"

"Yup. Dressed as LEOs."

Fenn wouldn't have seen the operatives for more than an instant. "How could you tell?"

He tossed her a trademark grin. "Sidearms weren't standard issue. Plus, one of them was talking on his in-ear comlink."

She shuddered. She was lucky her team was so skilled.

As they sped through the city, weaving through back alleys and side streets, Paige allowed herself a moment to breathe. But the reprieve was short-lived. Soon, they were pulling up to their destination, and a new set of challenges awaited.

Graham slowed the van, turning into the weed-choked parking lot of an empty warehouse complex.

The boxy concrete structure loomed before them, a far cry from Mason's elaborate standards for a safe house. Graham tooted the horn. The metal door of the delivery bay rolled up. He pulled inside and they exited the vehicle while Graham watched Cody.

As they entered the huge space, the musty smell of disuse hit Paige like a wall. Dust motes danced in the weak sunlight filtering through grimy windows, some cracked, others boarded up.

Kate, their main pilot, looked up from her perusal of the sad-looking kitchen area in the far corner.

Fenn's face lit up at the sight of her. "Hey, Gorgeous."

"That's Captain Gorgeous to you," Tai teased.

Fenn ignored him, striding across the room to give his fiancé a kiss on the cheek. Kate fingered the ring on her left hand, her cheeks growing pink.

To the surprise of exactly no one but Fenn and Kate, the two operatives had become a couple on their harrowing mission in the Arctic. Paige bit back a sigh as happiness, and a teaspoon of envy swirled around her heart.

The main floor was a cavernous space, littered with the detritus of its industrial past. Rusted machinery hulked in the shadows, while empty wooden pallets were stacked haphazardly against the walls. A worn metal staircase led to a small office area on a mezzanine level.

Mason winced as he surveyed their surroundings. "I know it's not pretty. I didn't exactly have time to find us a five-star setup."

The "living area" consisted of a worn couch flanked by a couple of battered armchairs. A wobbly table that had seen better days stood nearby, its surface marred by years of coffee cup rings and cigarette burns.

In one corner, a small kitchenette boasted a rusted sink and a mini-fridge that hummed ominously. Mason had managed to stock it with some bottled water and energy bars—the bare necessities for a potential stakeout.

"Hey, at least we have indoor plumbing," Fenn quipped, gesturing to a door marked "Restroom" with peeling paint. "Sort of."

Mason bristled. "I'd like to see you do better with ten minutes' notice and limited resources."

Paige intervened before the bickering could escalate. "We've worked with less."

The tech expert nodded gratefully, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. He prided himself on always providing the best for the team, and this barebones setup clearly grated on him.

She set up a makeshift command center on the wobbly table, her laptop casting a blue glow in the dim light. Tai started a perimeter check, his experienced eyes scanning for potential security weaknesses.

The abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town wasn't much, but despite its shortcomings, the warehouse offered one crucial advantage: multiple exits. Besides the main entrance, there was a loading dock at the back and several windows large enough to serve as emergency escape routes if needed.

As Paige watched her team adapt to their new surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. They might not have luxury, but they had resilience and resourcefulness—qualities that would be crucial in the hours to come.

Paige's heart raced as Mason and Graham carried an unconscious Cody from the van. Cody's dead weight was a reminder of how quickly things had spiraled out of control.

"Over here," Fenn said, gesturing to a tattered couch pushed against the far wall.

As they lowered Cody onto it, Paige couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. How had it come to this? The man she'd once trusted, now apparently in league with the Consortium. She pushed the feeling aside, trying to focus on the task at hand.

"Well, he looks comfy," Fenn quipped, breaking the tense silence.

Mason immediately began checking Cody's vitals. "Pulse is steady. Breathing's normal. The tranq should wear off in a couple hours."

Paige watched anxiously as Mason ran the device over Cody's body. The scanner remained silent until it passed over the base of Cody's neck. A sharp beep filled the room.

"Oh, man, this is not good." Mason jabbed a finger at Cody's neck. "Your boy's got a locator chip."