Chapter 25

TWENTY-FIVE

“How are you doing?” I ask into the comms in Nico’s ear. We are all perched in different areas around the base, but he has to enter for his new job an old acquaintance we bribed got him at the lab. He shaved his head and with that, the guard’s uniform, and the fake scars we added, he shouldn’t be too noticeable unless they look closely. Dimitri even created a very convincing background as a marine and paid mercenary. He just went inside the compound, and I hate not having eyes on him.

I remind myself it isn’t for long, since he’s going to plant the external remote so Dimitri can hack into their systems. From there, we can come up with a better plan, but none of us are willing to leave Nova alone another day, so we need someone on the inside.

His grunt echoes through my mic, and I smirk as I peer down the scope, watching the guards’ movements up top.

“This way. What did they say your name was, grunt?” another voice says through the mic.

“Jones,” Nico mumbles, lowering his voice even more to make it less familiar.

“Right,” someone retorts with a sarcastic tone and lowers his voice, but I can hear it through the mic. “All fucking muscle, brawn, and no brain. Like we don’t have enough of them already.”

I wait, counting the seconds of the guards’ rotations as they patrol from one side of the fence to the other. When I do, I scan the jungle, but I can’t spot any of the others at all, even though I know they are there.

“Right, this way, Jones. I’ll take you to security, who will check you all over and give you your job rotation. Bunks are up top if you are stationed here. You’ll get a number, you’ll either be nights or days, and we all eat in the cafeteria.”

“What about days off?” Nico asks haughtily.

The man snorts. “Not for a while, dumbass. They are on the verge of something big here, and it’s all hands. And don’t go asking questions. It’s a sure-fire way to get us all in trouble. Do your job, keep your head down, and get the massive paycheque you’ve been offered. After all, that’s why we are all here. Got it?”

“Got it,” Nico responds, seemingly put out, but it appears to assuage the man.

“Okay, here is the upper security office. There is another one deep within the compound in the underground structure. You will receive a tour if you are assigned there. I know they wanted more guards after a . . . security breach.”

“What kind?” Nico asks.

“The bad kind,” is all the man replies. “Yo, T, I’ve got a newbie for you.” I hear the sound of retreating footsteps.

“Name,” a bored sounding woman with a thick accent says.

“Rob Jones, Robert for full,” Nico replies, and then there’s typing and no more conversation until Nico breaks it. “Been here long, T?”

“Long enough,” she mutters. “Okay, lucky you, you have been assigned to the underground, or as we call it, hell. Here is your key card. Show it to the security officers down there and they will get you settled. Usually, you would bunk up here, but some officers get to bunk underground if they don’t mind it—most do.”

“I don’t,” he says quickly, too quickly.

“Play it cool,” I snap down the mic.

“Fucking military weirdos, always so eager,” T mutters. “Fine, I’ll assign you one underground. You’ll get a tour and all the other information down there. We don’t have many rules here, but stay silent. You see and hear nothing of what happens there except for security. Also, the only way out is in a body bag, got it, Robert?”

“Got it.”

“Here. Take the elevator all the way down. Oh, and Robert? Welcome to hell.”

* * *

NICO

The elevator is a service one, big enough to fit equipment, beds, or even a small army. The buttons tell me I’m at level one, and they only go down, so I hit the very bottom one labelled B10 and scan the key card. I checked the cameras as soon as I got in here, so I make sure I look bored, and I don’t speak into the earpiece, although I can hear the others wondering what it’s like. The small screen shows me the numbers as we drop, and I make sure to stand at attention, my hands clasped behind my back and legs spread. My duffle bag is tossed over my shoulder, and I’m wearing a black button-up to hide my distinctive tattoos as well as boots that are slightly platformed to change my height ever so slightly. I want to itch my head and the lack of hair there, but I ignore that too.

I wonder what Nova will think. She loved my hair, but it will grow back. I would do much worse things to be near her again.

The door dings as it slides open, and I don’t know what I expected, but it isn’t a plain white corridor leading farther into the underground laboratory. A guard turns the corner at the end and hurries my way.

“New guy?” he asks as if anyone else would have gotten down here. Plus, I know they checked me via camera before they even let the lift descend.

I incline my head, and he jerks his. “Follow me. They didn’t want you getting lost.”

Or wandering around, more likely, and seeing things I shouldn’t.

I follow him down the hall, my eyes bouncing around in fake interest, but really, I’m clocking all possible areas for attack and exits, needing to memorise it for the others.

“Nico, you good?” Jonas asks.

I can’t respond with the man walking at my side, peering down at an iPad, so instead I clear my throat. “This is far underground. What kind of research is conducted here? I wasn’t told.”

“For a reason.” The guard snorts and doesn’t even look up. “It’s our job to keep it that way, so no one outside of these walls knows anything, understood?” He looks up at me. “Don’t go getting a conscience, merc. There is a reason we hire certain kinds here. We don’t need your morals or brain, just your brawn, got it?”

“Got it,” I respond slowly as if having to think about it. “Do you get reception down here? I want to watch the games.” I shrug.

He chuckles. “Oh yeah, we do. We have the best connections in the world here, all thanks to the trusty scientists. You take care of them, they take care of you, if you know what I mean.” I nod like I do.

We turn a corner, and I peek into open doorways, but they all seem to be empty labs.

“This level is mostly just for the entrance. All the fun happens below, and those levels are only accessible by stairs. This is level one. Level two has living quarters as well as some medical rooms, and level three is the security base, as well as more labs and medical rooms. Level four is recreation and offices.”

“Is there a level five?” I ask.

He peers at me and clears his throat. “No questions,” he reminds me, and I bite my tongue. He leads me to some stairs at the end and down we go. The concrete walls are only interrupted by cameras, lights, and black stencilled level numbers beside sealed doors we have to scan to get into. At level three, we exit into a corridor. Most of the doors are shut, and I only see some guards milling around in a small kitchen, living room area, but to the right is a security office, which I’m led into.

“New guy. Jones. He’s yours.” The guard I’m with slaps my back. “See you around, man.” I just nod and quickly scan the room as the bored guard turns to the computer and starts typing, ignoring me too. The whole wall is filled with screens of all the floors and labs. This is where I will need to plant the bug, so I step forward, knocking into the chair he’s sitting on as my hand slips into my pocket. When he turns to yell, I practically stumble back into the desk, placing it underneath and holding up my hands. “Sorry.”

“Clumsy bastard,” he snaps, turning back to the computer.

I click my fingers twice to let Dimitri know and then refocus on my surroundings. This might be the only chance I have to look around in here, so I need to make the most of it.

I’m scanning the cameras for any signs or traces of her when a conversation from guards outside has me stiffening.

“Did you see the beating she took? No wonder the doc is so interested.”

“I saw her fight that military guy. She kicked his ass.”

“She’s hot as hell too. I might try and sneak into her room.”

“Don’t be stupid. The doc is her father.” He lowers his voice then, and I can’t hear more, but it’s enough.

She’s here.

Nova is here.

I hear the others cheering down the mic, and I smile but quickly school my features as the guard turns back to me with the rotations schedule. My heart hurts at the beatings they mentioned, but my girl can take it. She can survive anything, and she isn’t alone anymore.

I’m here.