Perfect Ruin (Unyielding #2)(100)

I stiffened, brows rising at his question, but I knew where it came from. Bad shit… really bad shit happened here. “I’m solid.”

Deck nodded, his brows low as he continued to walk until we reached the opposite side of the building. “Don’t trust you, Kai, and my men are going into this without much intel. And we are because there are kids involved and losing them isn’t an option. Moreno living isn’t an option.” His stance was wide as he met my eyes, unflinching and direct. “You have anything to share, do it now.”

Deck had men who had his back because he gave a shit. It was the complete opposite as to what I was accustomed. Operatives from Vault did missions on their own and we didn’t care about one another because we were conditioned not to care. Getting an assignment or mission done took precedence over all else—even lives.

And that sat heavily on me. It rubbed me wrong and it was wrong.

But I did have something to share. “London.” Deck nodded. “Anything happens to me, make sure she stays safe.”

His scowl deepened. “Everyone gets out alive. You can look after your own f*ckin’ woman.” He slapped me on the back and it was a surprising gesture coming from Deck. “Don’t like you, Kai, but I get you now. So, I’ll let you live and I’ll have your back.”

The corners of my lips curved up. “No invites to Sunday brunches at your place?”

Deck huffed. “Fuck, no.”




Vic took out the two guys on the roof with his sniper rifle before we went in. Then he shot the grappling hook onto the roof with the crossbow and within seconds, we zip-lined onto the roof of the compound. Since it was daylight, we had no cover and no cover was shit, because we were visible to two guards.

Tyler and Vic unsnapped and dropped before we hit the roof and each took one out. We went in from this position because Vic said they were lazy f*ckers who smoked too much and hadn’t bothered to look up in the hour he’d been watching the compound.

“Landed,” Deck said into his headset.

Vic responded, “Clear.”

Tyler repeated, “Clear.”

Deck and I kept low and made our way to the north side of the roof. I had the rope out and grapple hooked within seconds before I rappelled over the side. I hit the ground and had my knife in the side of the guard’s throat before his finger flicked on the trigger of his rifle.

“Clear,” I stated and Deck rappelled down and quietly landed beside me. I dragged the body in through the door and dumped it in the first door on the left, which was a classroom.

“I’m in,” Vic said. He was coming in from the south while Tyler had eyes on the front.

“North clear,” Deck said.

Dimly lit hallways, damp musty smell, and f*ck-as-all hot with no circulation. I shook my head as the familiar smells hit me and I staggered, placing my hand on the wall. I’d been compliant by the time I was moved here, but the pain hadn’t stopped.

I’d been dragged down this hallway, the bottoms of my feet bruised, and then beaten until I couldn’t walk.

“Kai.” I swung around as a hand came down on my shoulder. I had my knife to Deck’s throat within a millisecond. Deck. Fuck. Not a handler.

“Shit.” I shoved away from him, but he didn’t seem concerned that I’d had my knife to his throat; instead, he nodded and gestured for me to lead the way.

“Two Jeeps leaving the house,” Ernie stated. “In a hurry. Could be Moreno inside second vehicle. Serious firepower.”

What the f*ck? There was no way they made us that quick. There was no alarm. No gunshots.

“Eyes on the entrance,” Tyler said into the headset.

Deck and I jogged along the corridor to the electrical room. Deck was taking out the power, so the guards would lock the kids up in one room until they investigated the issue.

Deck chin-lifted and went inside. I kept going, pulling my second knife from its sheath on my left hip as I drew closer to the door that led into the yard in the center of the compound where the pits were located and where we trained with weapons.

The lights flickered a second before a loud thump and whoosh as the power shut down.

I stood with my hand on the latch waiting for Vic and Deck.

My back against the wall, I heard light quick footsteps coming from the south, and then Vic was beside me. He wore black cargo pants and a snug black T-shirt that was covered by his vest. A pistol sat at his right hip and he held in his hands a kickass Combat Assault Rifle.

We needed to give enough time for them to gather the kids up and lock them down. Deck came down the corridor and joined us.

I held up my hand and counted down as I listened for the footsteps on the other side of the door.

One

Two.

Three.

I gave a short, abrupt nod to Vic then threw open the door and rolled to the right as Vic took out the first guy, Deck the second, and my knife the third.

I was on my feet and running toward a guard already shooting at us. I threw my knife while I ran. I didn’t stop as I passed him, but yanked my knife from his chest and kept running. I knew this place like the back of my hand. Nothing had changed. I knew where the pits were and where I had cover. What screwed with me was the overwhelming feeling of dread that was f*cking with my head.

The images. The feeling as if someone had a fist in my abdomen and was trying to rip out my guts. This place made me sick. It was sick and cruel what they did to us, what they were still doing. What they planned on doing with the drug.