Windward knight

Chapter Two

Hyde was the first to breach the room. They'd moved through the school like ghosts, searching for the asset, and coming up empty. Now, she stood before him. Pale, terrified, and waving a cricket bat in their general direction.

"Easy." His command was just as much for his men as it was for her. He sensed his team as they moved into position, spreading out in the small space.

Evelyn Page's picture didn't do her justice. Seeing her in the flesh was like a punch to the gut. Diminutive and courageous. Dark tendrils fell softly around a pale face. Liquid brown eyes brimming with tears met his gaze, and she raised her chin.

Hyde opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.

"There's nothing for you here. Shoot me and get it over with."

Ah, shit.

"Ma'am—"

She nodded towards the left corner, her arms trembling so hard that the bat looked like it would fall from her nervous grip. "I have money... An ATM card.. in...in my purse. I can pay you... please."

"Deceased Tango. Nine o'clock." Ivan spoke quietly into his mic as he slid up beside the teacher's desk. The soldier didn't bother to check for a pulse. "Looks like a guerilla... possibly injured by friendlies."

"Copy that. Check the perimeter. We'll wait for the all-clear." Hyde lowered his weapon.

He didn't like the layout of the room. An ugly-ass wooden tree sculpture took up most of the space, holding up some kind of indoor treehouse. Continually scanning the top platform and the room, his men waited for his next move.

"Miss Evelyn Page, we need to extract you. We're American soldiers and are here to help."

Instead of lowering the bat, she edged backward. "You could be mercenaries for hire. I don't see an American flag." She glanced at his sleeve.

"We don't wear identifying marks in the field. We don't have time—"

"You're dressed just like him." Evelyn pointed at the dead dickbag. "All in black."

"Night-time camo. Look, ma'am, we need to move." He stepped towards her, and she retreated, almost tripping over a faux tree root.

"Who sent you and when? How did you get here so quickly?"

Only honesty would calm her ass down. "We got our orders two hours ago. We were in Lahore on a training exercise with local military."

"What's your name?"

"Hyde. Ma'am. And this is Ivan, Scout, and Jagger." Hyde nodded at his wolfpack.

"Like Jekyll and Hyde? That's not very promising."

"Trust me... you want Hyde on your side." Ivan grinned, and Hyde rolled his eyes.

Hesitating, she shifted before obviously coming to a decision. She lowered the bat. "I can't leave. Not without the children. And Fiona."

He knew about the three missing kids. Of course, this wouldn't be a straightforward mission. Exfiling the children wasn't technically part of the brief. Their targeted asset was the defiant lady standing in front of him. But, Hyde and his team would never leave innocent children in the hot zone.

"Who's Fiona?"

"A fellow teacher. She went for help—hours ago."

"Description?"

"Athletic... short blonde hair. Really pretty. and... wearing a blue sweater."

"How old?"

"My age—I think."