Chapter 4

• “Testing, testing. I need to run a check before everyone is barking things at me.” Illias voice came over the radio. “Our lovely Princess and Prince will be designating the who goes where and all that, so I need to make sure they have it set up on their end.”
• “Talk less, test more.” A female voice said over the radio.
• Konner looked to see Asher smirking, so it had to be one on his team.
• “I couldn’t have said it better.” If he wasn’t mistaken it was Devin Addison’s voice now. “Is this heard by both teams?”
• “That’s a yes to team one.” Konner recognized York’s even tone.
• “Team two as well,” Jesse replied.
• “Check individual now,” Illias said in a clipped way. “Team one check.”
• “Received,” York replied.
• There were a few moments of silence. Konner was glad they were making sure all the last-minute shuffling hadn’t postponed things. Jesse and his mate had gone to help team two at the last minute, he’d caught a part of the conversation between Calum and Jesse, and both had agreed, it would be best if she wasn’t present at their location. Bear and Noah had also gone to help team two.
• “Okay boys and girls, the comm system is tip-top.” Illias announced, “I told you I could do the work of two.”
• “Before I leave to be overwatch, just remember to monitor the anti-tracking screen.”
• “I’ve got it, Torin, you go be a bird, I’ve got this.” Illias laughed.
• Torin was part of the tech team and was to work with team two, but his being a flyer was deemed necessary so he could check the area around the house they were hitting. This left the cocky Illias running both team’s comm systems, and the prince monitoring from their undisclosed location. Konner agreed overwatch was a valuable thing but could do with less chatter.
• “Talk, talk, talk.” Asher looked over at him for a moment before moving his gaze back to the road. “If you need me to grab anything or meet you to help when you’re coming out just give me a shout.”
• Konner nodded, without looking back at him. “Will do.”
• “I like working with you, much more than Nox.” He made a sound of annoyance, “I think he wanted me to bow down and kiss his feet.”
• Konner did grin to that. “Nox is,” he gave him a brief side glance, “better on a mission than he is as company.”
• “That’s a polite way to put it.” Asher nodded and then turned his attention back to the road.
• “Do you know why Jesse pulled his mate from team one?” If there was something he needed to know going in, he preferred some warning.
• “I know bits of it.” He cleared his throat, “Evanna, who is also Leah sometimes has some sort of personality disorder,” Asher looked over and shrugged, “I didn’t get into the details with that.” He checked the mirrors and then turned the corner without signaling, “Leah was taken when she was really young, but got away when she was sixteen.” Asher paused to look at him to see if he was listening. “Her family is at this first house, but with her disorder, it could,” he waved a hand around, “be debilitating, I think Jesse said, for her to see them in these circumstances.” He motioned toward the windshield, “that’s all I know.”
• Konner took a moment to digest all that. “I’m glad he made the call to help the other team. Things can get messy enough without something like that.”
• “I agree.”
• “I’ve worked with Jesse a few times, he’s good at what he does.”
• “No one better.” Asher nodded but didn’t look at him.
• “Creed and Torin are in the air,” Illias announced. “From this point on the comms will be separated so the teams can focus on those members they were directly working with.”
• That ended their odd version of small talk. Konner put his earpiece in and clipped the sides of his vest together. He hated wearing it, it made him hot, and the heat was not a friend to his kind, but it was necessary.
• Asher pulled the van over in the designated spot.
• They both sat in the silence looking up in the sky, even though they’d never see Creed in the dark from this distance.
• “All clear.” There was no mistaking Calum’s deep voice over the comms.
• Asher had the van moving before Konner could look at him. He appreciated that he did his part without hesitation.
• When they went around the corner, he leaned to see a very large, out-of-place eagle sitting on the roof of the house. He tapped the dash, “here is good.” He motioned to the shrubbed fence line on the other side of the house, “pull up there, leave room for the rest to be close by.”
• Asher nodded and stopped the van without comment.
• Konner was out the door and running across the lawn to the tree with the low-hanging branches. When he reached it, he squatted down, his back to the tree so he could see the rest of the team as they reached the house.
• Deacon and Calum moved silently toward him. Their steps in synch like a silent dance. Konner motioned to the side of the house and knew he wouldn’t have to spell it out as they went past him to be unseen below the window line of the house.
• York came from the other direction and signaled that two were coming in from the back. He kept going until he was right beside the front door of the house.
• “At the back door.” A whispered male voice announced in his ear. A quick headcount told Konner that it was Blair and Kobie at the back of the house.
• “In place at the front,” York said.
• “We have the side, waiting on a go.” Deacon’s level tone spoke through his earpiece.
• Konner looked to see Webb coming along the sidewalk. He’d keep watch in the driveway until they were coming back out. He gave him a quick nod and moved over to the other side of the front door. “Breach in three.” He wasn’t much for long-drawn-out entries.
• York moved to the door and waited for Konner to touch his shoulder, so he knew he was in place.
• “Two.” He said quietly. York stood up and prepared to breach the door lock. “One. Breach.”