Without Wings Chapter Ten

Maybe all they’d needed was a good rough fuck. It had been longer than usual for them, and despite the hell of the mission, they needed an outlet for their emotions. Over the years, Edward had mellowed with maturity, and though she had done the same, it was nice to feel reckless again.

Snorting as she twisted her hair up into a bun, Bella thought that nice wasn’t nearly a strong enough word for what they’d done. For what he’d done to her. If she were honest with herself, she’d mostly been along for the ride. Her nipples were tender, her clit still felt swollen, and all she could think was that she wanted a repeat.

But they had a mission in their sights, and there was nothing in the universe that could stop her from rescuing her son. Sleep had been light, curled in the tiny bed with her husband for a handful of stingy hours before the sun baked the earth outside their window. If not for the unrelenting heat, perhaps they could have slept later. Then again, too much information and doubt ran through Bella’s mind for true rest to take over. 

Part of her felt deep down that only some of them would make it out alive. The odds were obvious, but no one wanted to have that conversation. She knew who she would sacrifice without thinking twice; the mercs were a lifesaver—literally—but she held no great affection for any of them. They’d all treated her with a great deal more respect once she laid Tito flat on the ground, but that didn't mean she loved them or held them dear in her heart.

If Holden perished in the middle of the rescue, it would be easier on all of them. Perhaps he knew that, since he’d been hiding out more than usual.

“I’ve got ears on the entire house,” Dara assured Bella when she asked. “As we all agreed, he hasn't made any phone calls. He let me bug his phone when we first arrived in France, and he hasn't had any incoming or outgoing messages.”

So, he wasn't communicating with an unknown factor to plot against them. Maybe he felt responsible for what went down with the agents in the first place. Maybe he knew his days were numbered. Or maybe they were all missing something.

“Do you have the same uneasy sensation I do?” she asked Emmett at breakfast.

He handed her a plate of eggs and toast and sat at the table across from her. “Yes, but I always do before something like this goes down.”

“You’re not one hundred percent confident, the way Edward seems to be?”

Pushing his eggs around with his fork, he paused and stared at her for a few seconds. “No. In my opinion, the fear is what keeps me smart.”

“Makes sense.” As she ate, she tried to work her brain around the reason for the anxiety. If it was as Emmett said, merely caution telling her to be careful, then she could live with that. It simply felt like more.

Others came into the room, and Jake split the rest of the cooking duties with Danny. Most of them stood to eat, but Bella held her hand out to Edward until he took her spot. Standing behind him and resting her hands on his shoulders, she kissed his cheek.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“This is the last full day before we see our son.”

Her stomach twisted. “I wish I could be as optimistic.”

“Mullah was there yesterday morning and said the men are all alive.”

“I remember the report.” That wasn't enough to quell the sickness in her belly. “He also said they were skinny and weak.”

Sitting still, Edward didn't comment for a long time. Finally, he picked his fork back up. “Then it’s even better that we’ll get them out of there tonight.”

Her intuition often served her well. It was something she’d honed over time; listening to it rather than dismissing it. Now, though, with her emotions tangled up over the personal stake, she didn't know what the right thing to do was.

“We’ll wait for two hours past nightfall,” the commander said. “We’ll go in same as last night.”

Nigel said, “Only, instead of turning back, we’ll go in through the tunnel the boy uses. Hopefully, Hollywood won’t have to use explosives on the door to gain entry, or we’ll be making too grand an entrance.”

“I’ll stay further away behind the closest rock,” Danny said. “Jasper should stay with me, and we’ll keep an eye out for movement.”

Though Bella wanted Jasper inside with them, she understood the necessity of having the snipers outside to keep watch.

“Paul has gathered a few more weapons for us all,” Namron continued. “Better to have too many guns and not need them.”

To not be overly prepared was to find yourself dead had been Edward’s motto as long as Bella could remember. 

“Without Tito, we only have Dara to rely on for satellite and comms, but we trust her.” Dwayne glared over at Holden. “Don't we?”

Interesting. Bella was dying to know if the two of them had exchanged ugly words at some point.

“Of course, Commander Namron. After all, you’re in charge here.”

Oh, so that was his rub. She imagined for a man with an ego like James Holden’s that it would be hard to have to come in second. Or maybe it was third, since Nigel was the 2nd commander. 

“She’s the best you’ll find outside our fair isle, fellas.” Seamus stretched, dropping his plate in the sink and turning on the water. “Her only competition is back home in Ireland.”

“Hush your mouth, man.” Dara plopped her hands on her hips. “There’s not a lad here or there who’s better than me.”

“Ladies,” Nigel interrupted. “We’re trying to hash out the mission.”

Bella caught Dara sticking her tongue out at her brother-in-law, who winked at her before washing the dishes. If it weren't for the looming threat, it would be just like home.

Dwayne spread out a map on the now-empty kitchen table. “Once we’re close enough, we’ll go radio silent and dark on all fronts. According to Mullah, the tunnel is their sewer system. Sorry to say it, but that’s going to suck.”

That went without saying. Pointing to the various rooms drawn by a child, the commander tried to explain the position of the cells in relation to the sewer.

Shuddering at the idea, Bella thought about getting caught down there like rats in crap. What a way to die.

“Do we know what types of weapons they have access to?” Edward asked.

“Same as we do,” Hollywood responded. “We get ours from black market deals, and they can do the same. It’s likely they have more explosives than most people would bother with, but that’s how they have fewer men on the rooftops.”

“They don't snipe, they kaboom,” Emmett translated.

“Yeah.” Hollywood glanced around the room before taking his dish to the sink to wash it. For the most part, everyone had done a good job of taking the initiative to clean up after themselves. 

“Which is why it’s better if we aren’t caught. They have zero issues blowing themselves up if it means we die too.”

“No thought for self-preservation.” Jasper paced in the small space. “And that makes them one thousand percent more dangerous than anyone we’ve ever dealt with before.”

“I don’t plan on dying tonight, but if it means my son is safe and can go home to his family, then it is what it is.”

Bella’s stomach sank. “That’s not our objective.”

He stared at her so coldly she nearly shivered. “We fight fire with fire.”

Yes, the devil was back, and though she’d enjoyed him the night before, now he was the man with no compassion or thought for her feelings. Instead of engaging him in an argument, she stared back wordlessly.

Dwayne cleared his throat. “While there’s always a possibility of casualties, it’s our fervent hope we all make it out alive, including the imprisoned agents.”

“Once we make it into the tunnel,” Nigel said, “then we follow the system through to the underground cells.”

“They’re filthy, dark, and smell like the bottom of a grave,” Stephen said. “At least, according to Mullah. But he says the bars aren’t strong or close together. More like hastily thrown together and only meant to hold in weak men.”

“Not to hold out strong men,” Hollywood pointed out. “We’ll take a portable torch and bolt cutters.”

“One way or another, we’ll get the doors open.” Swiping her hand over her eyes, Bella tried to picture it.

“It won't be pretty.” Holden frowned.

“What?” Jake asked.

“I’m thinking of what it’ll be like to drag grown men out through the sewer system if they can’t walk.”

“Then perhaps you can stay here and paint your nails,” Nigel barked.

Holden glared at him. “Funny.”

“Like your face.”

“Enough,” Dwayne said with a weary sigh. “Christ, it’s like wrangling toddlers around here.”

Stephen spoke up. “We’ll pack-strap carry them through the tunnel. Once outside, we’ll have the other crew available and we can switch off.” 

“And then we’ll essentially run like hell for the humvees.” Hollywood sat back in his chair. “Danny and Jasper will watch our backs from the rocks.”

“The likelihood of the men on the roof seeing us is pretty high by then,” Jake said.

“Darkness is our ally,” Edward said. It was the first he’d spoken in a while.

Bella almost thought he was being metaphorical. “If we move fast enough and go the way we came in, we should stay out of their field of vision.”

“Enough talking about it,” Edward said as he rose. “We need to rest before nightfall hits so we’re ready to go.”

As he left the room, the others all glanced around at each other.

Emmett said, “After a while, hashing it out irritates him. He works on instinct as much as he does on plans.”

“Be that as it may, we have to plan down to the second.” Jasper gazed down the hall in the direction Edward had taken. “Normally, he knows this.”

For as long as she’d known him—and even before—her husband had always been the type to over plan. So why was he now afraid to work out the details when the mission was the most important one of their lives?

Jake raised his eyebrows. “Even when our goal was preventing the world from blowing up, he didn't shy away from planning.”

Bella didn't mention the fact that the two of them had agreed on him reverting to his old ways. It had been so long that maybe the two who’d known him longer than she had could forget the way he used to be. 

“Back in the day,” she said, “when it was the three of you, didn’t he act on instinct more than plans?”

“Yeah.” Jasper looked surprised. “But that was—” Cutting himself off, he seemed to realize her point.

“So that’s what he’s doing,” Emmett muttered.

Regardless of who was technically in charge, Edward was their leader. He was born for the role and had fulfilled it to the best of his ability his entire life. He’d never been given the chance to do it any other way.

“Maybe he’s right, though. We’ve talked it to death.” Holden left the kitchen as well, disappearing down the hallway.

“Is it possible he got a burner phone from somewhere?” Bella asked after a few beats of silence.

Dara gasped. “Maybe.”

“Why do you think that?” Nigel asked.

“Because something isn’t right with him, and I smell a rat.”

Dwayne scraped back his chair. “Looks like it’s time for an early fishing expedition, boys.”

The other mercs followed him, and Bella and Dara exchanged a look. “He won’t be happy.”

“Tough shit,” Bella said. After all the things he’d done to them over the years, it would serve him right to get his ass kicked.

Minutes later, Dwayne marched a red-faced James Holden down the hall by the scruff of his neck. The commotion brought Edward inside from the back door, shocking Bella. She didn't know he’d gone outside. They had agreed to stay in the house so they weren’t spotted by the neighboring households.

“What the fuck is going on?” Edward snarled.

“I’d like to know the same, frankly,” Bella shot back. “Why were you outside?”

Ignoring her, Edward moved up to get in Holden’s face. “What is it this time?”

Dwayne was the one to answer. “Bella questioned the likelihood of Holden having a burner phone.” Letting it dangle from his fingers, he continued. “Looks like her intuition was right.”

“Why the fuck do you need that?” Jasper demanded.

Edward snatched it from Dwayne and swiped the screen. “Shocking.” Reaching out, he grabbed Holden’s hand and forced his thumb onto the screen. “Don't think I won’t cut that digit right off your hand if I need to.”

Holden was clearly pissed, but he said nothing. No rebuttal, no excuses.

“Let’s see.” Swiping around on the phone screen, Edward hunted until he found what he wanted. “Messages between James and Tito.”

His jaw dropping open, Seamus rounded on Holden. “Are you fooking serious, man?”

“After all that bastard did and said, you’re on his side?” Bella wasn't even surprised, really. “Not only that, but considering what I did for you years ago and that my son is out there in a cave because of you, this is what you’re focusing your energy on?”

“Wait.” Holding up a hand, Edward stopped the low talking between everyone. “No.”

“What?” Bella demanded, hands on her hips.

Looking up, Edward focused on Holden’s furious face. “Why didn't you just tell us?”

“Tell us what?” Seamus glared between Edward and Holden. “What is it?”

“He’s using Tito.” Dropping his hand, Edward held the phone loosely and tapped it on his thigh.

“In what way?” Dwayne asked with a frown.

Holden’s expression didn't change one iota. “I told him I agreed with him and asked him to get me information.” 

Narrowing her eyes, Bella said, “What kind?”

“To see if the agency is setting us up. I followed all their instructions, and then they claimed they had no idea what I was talking about when they came to get Gonzalez. It was incredibly suspicious to me, so I needed information.”

“How would they set us up?” Emmett wanted to know.

“I think why is a better question,” Jasper mumbled.

“I knew we had a no-contact order in place, but I had to find out if we were in danger of being set up.”

“Doesn't seem like it.” Edward glanced at the screen again. “Sounds like you and Tito want to be more than friends.”

Holden rolled his eyes. “Shut the fuck up.”

“If there’s nothing to worry about, then we move forward as planned.” 

If only there was a way to be certain Dwayne was right. Despite finding the information about James, Bella still felt as if something was off.

“Mission is still a go.”