39
Aiden
We’ve gathered in the forest a mile away from the facility. We’re so close to where we need to be yet so far away. far away in terms of knowledge. It’s not sitting well with me because we’re doing things the old fashioned way.
It’s as I said to Olivia. We’re checking the place out, and moving in if we see an opening to do so.
The delay this morning was us trying to get Dominic’s device to work.
It didn’t, or rather it’s not working yet. He’s designed it to wear away the firewalls bit by bit, weakening the system. Until it does, and we don’t know when that will be because Eric has some crazy ass set up that outdoes everything we do.
We’ve come too far to sit and wait.
Fuck knows I’ve been sitting down and waiting for long enough.
“You have to assume the facility and the surrounding areas are like a death trap,” Alejandro begins in an accented voice that suggests he mostly speaks Portuguese and only English when he has to. “There have been reports of the place being rigged with traps of all sorts of descriptions designed to kill you in a heartbeat.”
He reminds me a lot of my father even though the two men look nothing alike.
Alejandro is a lot younger at forty-six years old, but he carries himself with the authority of an older man who’s seen the rough edges of life far too many times.
As I look at him before us I can tell he’s seen too much death. A little like me.
It does take one to know one. I think it might be something about the light a person carries with them that’s recognizable.
Those who live in the darkness like me, carry none. That’s what we recognize.
I see it now as I look at him.
“The house is over there.” He points toward the path with the tallest trees. “My men will show you the way. It’s important to keep to the path and follow them precisely. This is their territory so we’re like lamb to slaughter if any of us gets caught.”
I believe him and that’s what worries me.
“In that case, I think it’s best we group up,” Massimo suggests. “And use the communicators.”
“I agree,” Alejandro answers with a clipped nod. “How about ten men stay here for back up and we go in with the rest in three teams of ten.”
“Agreed. You stay here. If shit hits the fan, we’ll need someone strong to see everything through.”
“Alright, let’s do this.” Alejandro shakes Massimo’s hand almost like he’s saying goodbye already.
Massimo looks unfazed and focused. Two things I wish I had right now.
Unlike him who’s taking charge, I’m like a walking time bomb ready to go off. Like the savage I am, all I have is death on my mind. Death and the image of the disappointment I saw on Olivia’s face writhing through me.
Neither of those are good for me. They are both throwing me off balance, and I can’t afford that.
We split into three groups between the three strongest men here leading. That’s me, Massimo and Dominic.
I have Maksim at my side, who still isn’t happy with me for withholding the information on Eric. He didn’t say anything when I briefed him and Ilya this morning but I could tell he was pissed, whereas Ilya expressed no emotion one way or the other.
At the head of us are two of Alejandro’s men who lead us through the thicket of trees. Trees so thick and dense you would hope to never be lost amongst them. With everywhere looking the same, you’d probably be lost forever. The place reminds me of the forests in Russia. A person could go missing there and never be heard of again.
I glance at Maksim as we move and note the way he’s moving. It’s like a true warrior and like the way my father trained us. He moves like he’s protecting his leader so the mission can be carried out.
I’ve been thinking about what Dominic pointed out from Persephone’s revelation. I can’t wrap my head around it because like always there’s something I’m missing. Some key factor, and that key factor might excuse my men.
My cousin in particular, who’s always had my back. a man who moves like him, essentially using himself as a shield is not the kind who would betray another. Neither is a man like Ilya.