Choices || CAPTAIN AMERICA (Book 4)

Chapter 1

The streets of Lagos were quieter than they should have been. I stood in the shade of a building, leaning against the wall as I listened to the team's chatter through the comms. Steve's voice came through first, steady and clear as always. "All right, what do you see?"

Wanda's soft voice followed shortly after. "Standard beat cops. Small station. Quiet street. It's a good target."

I adjusted the cuffs of my suit, eyes scanning the area. The street might look quiet, but my instincts told me otherwise. Something was coming, and it wasn't going to be pretty.

Steve was already analyzing the situation, his voice cutting through the quiet. "There's an ATM in the south corner, which means..."

"Cameras," Wanda finished for him. That girl was sharp, no doubt.

"Both cross streets are one-way," Steve continued.

"So, compromised escape routes," Wanda observed. I could hear the faint clink of her spoon as she stirred her tea.

I smirked to myself. "Escape routes or not, they're not getting away from us."

Steve didn't slow down. "Means our guy doesn't care about being seen. He isn't afraid to make a mess on the way out. You see that Range Rover halfway up the block?"

Wanda's tone lightened, almost playful. "Yeah, the red one? It's cute." I rolled my eyes. Wanda and her aesthetic.

Natasha cut in, ever the pragmatist. "It's also bulletproof, which means private security, which means more guns, which means more headaches for somebody. Probably us."

Wanda, never one to shy away from reminding us of her powers, chimed in again. "You guys know I can move things with my mind, right?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you should relax," I said, my voice dry as I chimed in. "This could turn ugly in seconds. Being prepared is half the fight."

Nat had a similar mindset. "Looking over your shoulder needs to become second nature."

Sam, always the joker, decided to jump in. "Anybody ever tell you you're a little paranoid?"

Nat wasn't having it. "Not to my face. Why? Did you hear something?"

Before the banter could continue, Steve's voice came through strong again, cutting off the chatter. "Eyes on target, folks. This is the best lead we've had on Rumlow in six months. I don't want to lose him."

Sam's voice, calm but ready for action, replied, "If he sees us coming, that won't be a problem. He kind of hates us."

"Sam, see that garbage truck? Tag it," Steve ordered, his tone clipped. The tension in the air was rising, and my own heartbeat picked up. I knew what was coming next.

Sam responded, quick as ever. "That truck's loaded for max weight. And the driver's armed."

Nat's voice followed without missing a beat. "It's a battering ram."

Steve's voice rang out, giving the signal. "Go now."

"What?" Wanda asked, confused.

"He's not hitting the police." Steve pointed out. And with that, all hell broke loose.

Sam launched into the air, wings slicing through the air with precision, and I couldn't help but watch with a hint of admiration. He took out two soldiers before they even knew what hit them. Not to be outdone, Wanda hovered above the rooftop, her red energy glowing as she blocked a barrage of bullets like it was nothing. As I was running towards them, I saw Wanda lifting one of the soldiers effortlessly, tossing him toward Sam like a toy.