Sleeping is easier since I know that Raphael is okay, Ollie had a full night's sleep for once and I'm ready to spend the whole day hacking the security system so that our teams can go in without any issues.
The plan is currently being ironed out with the soldiers. The Dons are here but don't seem particularly bothered about the fine tuning of the plan and even Iosif has decided to go into the house for the fake discussions.
We're all sat in Church, having sent Blade off on an 'important' mission to get him away from the planning so that he can't let Bainbridge in on what's going on.
Hunter and Saviour are currently arguing again over what weapons to use for the third time.
"Just take your favourite weapons!" Bear shouts over them, vetoing both of their arguments and they nod in acceptance.
Prez's word is law.
They're planning on going in as soon as it's dark which gives me... I look up at the clock and sigh... seven hours to hack into the surveillance system.
It's not going to take me that long, I just wish we were able to get him back quicker than that. The good thing is I should have him back in my arms by midnight tonight, if all goes to plan anyway but we don't know the exact numbers inside.
We can only plan for so many contingencies and only a small number of scenarios will leave us with no deaths and Raphael back with us. Too many result in death and I'm terrified that it'll be one of ours, I couldn't imagine the guilt that Raphe would walk around with if that was to happen.
"Romeo, how far are you away from getting through the firewalls?" Bear asks, standing next to Breaker as they look up from the map to me.
"Not long, another hour maybe. As soon as I'm in I'll record the footage to loop it later, I'll probably have to edit it as well. I'll be ready by around five."
"Good, once we've got eyes on the inside we can figure out how many people are in there and where Runner is." Hunter continues, marking more stuff on the already covered map.
"I imagine he'll be with Bainbridge, I doubt he'd want to let him out of sight for very long especially if the Mafia are coming in to discuss terms." Saviour points to the main hall where Iosif is going to push for the meeting to be held, it has six doors in so all the splinter teams can meet in the middle with Prez coming in through the main door for dramatic flair.
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"Romeo, I need you shouting out where we've got men. If we're going in blind, we're gonna need to know how many people are around the corners so we can avoid getting shot." Saviour tells me as she straps on her kevlar and her katanas, the rest of the first wave doing the same alongside her.
"Got it, I'll try and keep an eye on all of you but you're gonna have to move slow in between targets since there is six of you and I can't watch you all at the same time." They all nod in understanding before slipping their HALO gear on and heading out to the chopper that is sat on our front lawn.
Everyone claps my shoulders as they head out, knowing now how much Raphael means to me and trying to promise me that everything will be fine.
I head into the lounge with Mari and Lexie, with the kids sat together and Miracle in a travel cot. I set up all the feeds on the projector screen and make sure that the girls stay away from the alcohol so that if I don't see the enemy, they can.
It did mean fighting Mari away from the wine and locking it away. Lexie wasn't so difficult as she's gotten used to waiting for Bear to come home from battle, Marielle still has a long way to go.
YOU ARE READING
Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)
RomanceI know he's followed me when the door shuts and locks behind me. His breath is on my ear before I can even think about anything and I relax against him as his teeth nip at the lobe. He reaches around me to start the shower and starts undoing my belt...
