Page 265 of One Winter Knight
“Reception is shitty,” Dusty added.
“I’ve got you.” Fiona had something in her hand and started navigating. “Keep going. Turn here. Now turn here.”
I turned sharply into a gravel road. We passed multiple no trespassing signs that had little lights on them so you could see them in the dark, like they wanted you to absolutely know you shouldn’t be here. The whole thing felt like something out of a horror movie. I stopped short, right before hitting a thick chain across the road.
Saoirse rolled down her window, aimed her big gun, and shot the chain. It fell to the ground, but there was no sound of bullets, just a chain dropping.
“Wow. Look at my wife go. What a fancy gun you’ve got there,” Dusty commented, beaming with pride as I drove over the chain.
“Like you, I invest in quality equipment,” Saoirse replied.
“Okay, I’ve found the barn Big Tad indicated on the map. I think we should leave someone in the car in case we need to exfil quickly, given we don’t have a pickup team,” Fiona replied. “Turn here and go past that barn.”
“The images I could tap into show armed men, mostly with rifles.” Saoirse started talking to Fiona about positioning.
Hale’s panic had switched to calculation.
Wait for us, we’re coming. Don’t do anything reckless.We weren’t being that reckless, right? After all, half of us were trained professionals.
“Should I be the getaway driver?” I asked, a little worried about how far we were from the main road. Also, could I remember how to get back? I frowned. Probably. I was pretty good at that.
“Yes. Dusty, you’re coming with us. You’re our lookout,” Saoirse added.
“Whatever you need, Mi Cielo. Can we rappel off the barn roof?” Dusty gave her a hopeful look.
“No.” She leaned over at whatever Fiona was looking at. “Go off the road and stop by the trees. Turn off the lights.”
I did as she said. Wow, there were lots of stars, and the moon was out.
“Okay, my cousins have full control of their cameras. Let’s go.” Saoirse opened the door. She had three big guns? One went in a holster, one she handed to Dusty.
“I’ve got this, too. In case they have secondary systems we don’t know about.” Fiona had some little device in her hand.
“Good call,” Saoirse praised.
Dusty just stared at the big gun in his hand. “What is this?”
“It’s the real version of what you and your friends use at your adventure range. Only shoot it if you need to, try to maim, not kill. If you die, I will end you,” she told him.
“Same.” He kissed her.
“This is for you.” Saoirse handed me a taser. “Stay here. You don’t have to keep the truck running, but be ready to turn it on and go when I give the word.”
“Copy that,” I replied, giving her a mock salute.
The three of them crept out and I watched them, trying to send as much reassurance through the bond as I could. Now Hale wasn’t exactly panicking, but he was very worried. I grew curious about what was going on.
Maybe I should text Big Tad to see if he was still here. The car was dark and I heard things. I got my phone and let him know that we were here and that they were moving in.
Moments later, there was a bumping sound and some guy wearing ripped flannel and a red cap stood right there at the window with a rifle.
Oh shit, maybe I shouldn’t have gotten on my phone. It probably lit everything up.
“You're trespassing,” he growled.
“We’re just here to do some business with Clegg.” I held up my hands, but didn’t roll down the window.
“Get outta the truck,” he yelled, hitting the window with his gun.
