Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

CAGE

C age and his team raced to the beach on the seaward side of the island, stopping only long enough to grab protective gear and guns. As they made it to the top of the precipice above the beach facing the sea, he kept his gaze fixed on the horizon. The sea was calm, deceptively serene, as the rising sun cast its golden light over the waves. He had spent years honing his instincts, and tonight they were screaming at him that something was off. He'd checked the perimeter twice already, his team hadn't reported anything out of the ordinary, but still, he couldn't shake the unease.

The island was covered in a tapestry of vibrant and diverse foliage. Olive trees, ancient and gnarled, dotted the landscape, their silvery leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Their twisted trunks told tales of centuries past, standing as resilient sentinels against the sea breeze, and allowing for cameras to be hidden away so they could see anything coming or going.

Interspersed among the olive groves were clusters of cypress trees, tall and slender, their dark green needles creating striking silhouettes against the clear blue sky. The evergreens added a sense of timeless elegance to the island, their presence a constant reminder of the region's rich history and enduring beauty. With the beach as an open field of fire between the sea cliffs and the ocean, having the trees and other foliage to hide behind gave those defending the island a much safer way to do so.

The lower slopes of the island which ran down from the top of the island where the castle itself was located were covered with dense maquis shrubland, a mix of aromatic plants and hardy shrubs that thrived in the Mediterranean climate. Wild rosemary, thyme, and lavender released their fragrant scents into the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea, which made it pleasant to be around, but again provided places to hide men and cameras.

As the first of Carlyle's boats reached the shore, Cage's team was ready. Even though they had moved rapidly, they'd been able to do so silently. Their silence was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Cage moved with precision, his weapon a natural extension of his body. He fired at the intruders, taking down two men before they could even disembark from their boat.

"They're well-armed," Davis's voice crackled through the earpiece. "And they've got numbers."

"We've got the advantage of terrain," Cage replied. "Keep them contained on the beach. Do not let them get past the perimeter."

The battle was fierce, a brutal clash of will and skill. Carlyle's men were relentless, but Cage's team was disciplined, their training and experience giving them the upper hand. Cage moved through the chaos with lethal grace, his mind focused on the task at hand. He knew that if they broke through the front lines, it would be a far larger bloodbath inside the fortress.

"Cage, we've got a problem," Davis's voice came again, strained. "They've brought in heavy artillery. RPGs."

Cage swore under his breath. "Fall back to the secondary positions. We need to draw them into the choke points."

As he gave the order, he heard the telltale whoosh of an RPG being launched. The explosion rocked the beach, sending debris flying. Cage ducked behind cover, his eyes scanning for the source. He spotted the shooter, a tall man with a shaved head, reloading his launcher.

"Cover me," Cage barked to his team as he broke from cover, sprinting towards the enemy. He dodged bullets, his focus unerring as he closed the distance. The man saw him too late. Cage tackled him to the ground, disarming him with a swift twist of his wrist. A quick, lethal strike to the throat, and the threat was neutralized.

"Secondary positions secured," Davis reported. "But they're pushing hard."

Cage glanced around, assessing the situation. Carlyle's men were unrelenting, their attacks coordinated and brutal. But his team held their ground, their defense unyielding. He knew they couldn't hold out forever, though. They needed to end this quickly.

"Davis, get the snipers into position," Cage ordered. "We need to take out their leaders, disrupt their command structure."

"On it," Davis replied.

Cage moved to higher ground, taking a position where he could survey the battlefield. Through his scope, he identified key targets, marking them for his snipers. One by one, they fell, the precise shots of his team picking them off.

The tide of the battle began to shift. With their leaders down, Carlyle's men started to falter, their attacks losing coordination. Cage seized the opportunity, leading a counteroffensive that pushed the invaders back towards the water.

"Retreat!" one of Carlyle's lieutenants shouted, realizing the battle was lost.

Cage's team pressed their advantage, driving the attackers back to their boats. The few who remained were either quickly subdued or fled back to the beach, pushing their Zodiacs back into the water. As the last of the boats retreated, Cage finally allowed himself to breathe.

"Status report," he called out.

"All clear," Davis replied. "Casualties are minimal on our side. They won't be coming back anytime soon."

Cage nodded, relief washing over him. Maybe Carlyle's men wouldn't be soon returning, but he had no doubt that at some point the Shadow League would mount their own assault.

"Good work, everyone. Let's secure the area and tend to the wounded."

As his team moved to clean up and secure the fortress, Cage made his way back to the command center. He needed to check on Willow, to make sure she was safe. His heart pounded in his chest as he moved toward the main house.

"Jones?"

"We're good, sir. She's pretty antsy. I'm going to bring her up."

"I'll be with you in just a bit."

When he entered the main house, she was there, sitting on the edge of her couch, her face pale but determined. She stood up as he entered. "Cage, are you okay? Your men?"

"We're all good; minor casualties. Thank you for your concern," Cage said, running his hand through his hair. "It's over. You're safe."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and fear. "While I certainly appreciate that, I would have been very upset if anyone had been seriously injured on my account." She shook her head. "I never should have started this. I should have either just stayed or disappeared."

"Neither of those were options. Frank would never have wanted you to see him in a weak position, and the League would have wanted you dead. No. You did the only thing you could, and it took guts to do it," he replied. "You need to stay alive. You're important."

She leaned into him, her body trembling slightly. "I was so scared. Not for me, but for all of you."

Cage nodded, his resolve hardening. He would keep her alive. Willow Carlyle was not at all what he or anyone else thought. Frank Carlyle had crossed a line today. This wasn't just an attack; it was a declaration of war. And Cage was determined to end it and ensure Willow didn't need to worry about a divorce. She'd be much better off as a widow.