Grayson

Chapter Forty Six

Grayson~

"There's no goin' back once we do this." Grayson said flatly.

Slater was silent, obviously considering the consequences of what Grayson was suggesting.

"Termination would be the least of our worries." Grayson added.

A deep scowl covered Slater's face as he contemplated the decision that Grayson had already made.

"They need us. Now." Slater finally stated, prompting Grayson to continue his movements in the armory.

"Glad we're on the same page."

"But we gotta be smart about this, Gray. You come stormin out of here with an arsenal strapped to your back Hunter won't let us get past the front gates."

Grayson stopped moving. His desperation had blinded him to the logistics.

"I'll text my guy. Have him supply us with what we need. But he can't give us the comms and GPS. We're gonna have to get that from Nate."

Being the team leader of Delta, Slater was more level headed than Grayson and considered all of their options before speaking.

"Let's convince him you're going home to rest and get your head straight, but that you want GPS tracking devices to see Emma's location while you're away from Knight."

Grayson nodded along before pulling out his phone to text his mercenary contact.

"How do you know this guy anyway?" Slater asked, eyeing the screen as Grayson requested weapons and supplies.

"You don't want to know."

Slater scowled at Grayson's response.

"He's good...at what he does. That's all that matters."

Accepting, but deeply disliking Grayson's answer, Slater simply nodded and took in a deep breath. The weight of the decision they were about to make was heavy, but they had no choice.

With his gym bag on his shoulder, Grayson moved toward Nate's office.

"I can't be here." He said without having to fake the anguish in his voice.

There was empathy in Nate's eyes and he nodded.

"How can I help, brother?" It was obvious that Nate didn't know if Grayson wanted full radio silence with updates, or updates every hour.

"You got anything I could take home with me? I know we can't do shit until tomorrow, but I'd like to at least keep tabs on her."

"Sure thing." Nate said, spinning around in his chair and rolling over toward a locker that held various electronics.

"Take this...and this." Nate handed him what looked like a thick laptop and a small device that plugged into it.

"Thanks man. Is this dependent on wifi?" Grayson asked.

"Yeah, but that little thing I gave you boosts wifi signal so you won't have any issues at your apartment."

Grayson exchanged a look with Slater that was too quick for Nate to notice.

"You got anything that'll work via satellite?" Grayson added.

His question caused Nate's smile to drop.

"What?" Nate asked, the humor and softness leaving his voice.

Shit.

"Nothin, man. This is great. I appreciate it." Grayson corrected quickly as he held the electronics in the air and headed down the hall. Slater didn't follow him and stopped off in his office, trying to conceal their actual plan.

Making it all the way to the parking lot, Grayson loaded his bag and the electronics into the back seat, but stopped as soon as he heard Nate's voice.

"Yo Gray." Nate called out harshly.

"What's up?"

"You think I'm an idiot?" Nate snapped.

"What?" Grayson tried to play it cool and feigned confusion.

"Name one fuckin place that you're about to go that wouldn't have wifi." Nate's accusation was swift and his scowl was deep.

Grayson couldn't lie. He couldn't think of any plausible explanation. Instead he hung his head and sighed.

"I can't let you do this." Nate said, shaking his head and taking one step back toward Knight.

"What if it was Claire...and Hunter said no." There was so much pain in Grayson's voice and Nate stopped immediately.

"What did you just say?" Nate snarled.

"What if Claire was being gunned down in a foreign country...and Hunter said no. Hunter said wait. Let her helplessly run for nearly 48 hours on her own before we go get her."

The muscles in Nate's jaw jumped and tightened beneath his skin at Grayson's question. He huffed out a harsh breath and rubbed at his temples as if he was playing out the scenario in his mind.

"I won't lie for you." Nate stated coldly.

"I'm not asking you to. Just give us a head start."

"Us?" Nate practically screamed. "You know what? Just don't say any more...Here." Nate slammed a small device against Grayson's chest, a device that Grayson assumed would allow them to track Emma and Olivia via satellite.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me." Nate was clearly disgusted with himself and worried for Grayson's safety and job security.

"You've got about an hour before everyone realizes what you've done. And you do understand that goin in dark like this without Hunter's protection...Do you know what you're doing Gray?"

"I'd take a prison sentence for Emma. I'd take a fucking bullet for Emma." Grayson added coldly.

"You might have to do both...Alone." Nate snapped before turning on his heel and walking away.

Nate's words cut Grayson deeply and he winced as Nate turned his back on him.

"But for the record, Gray. If it was Claire...I'd have already left...Be careful brother."

Grayson's heart was too broken to smile, but he gave Nate a grateful nod of his head before climbing into his truck. What he was about to do was going to gut his team. He was breaking their trust. He was disobeying orders. He was committing treason - Everything he hated in this world, but Emma needed him.

I'm coming for you Emma.

*********

An hour later Grayson and Slater were loading bags on a small plane that was commissioned by a soldier turned private mercenary named Archer.

"Didn't think you boy scouts had it in you." Archer scoffed.

Slater bristled at the insult, still wrestling with what they were about to do.

"Just fly the fuckin plane." Grayson growled.

"Sir yes Sir." Archer said with a mischievous tone.

As the engine's started and the plane lurched forward, both Grayson and Slater's phones started to buzz and ring with messages from their teammates. Without answering them, Grayson and Slater locked eyes with one another.

"You ready for this?" Slater asked, knowing the consequences were grave.

"I don't have a choice." Grayson said with sorry in his eyes and rage in his heart.

"Let's roll." Grayson said loudly, slapping the side of Archer's seat. 

**********

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