“About a half-click from the mine, we’ll split into two teams to circle the facility.” Davis pointed to the map to indicate the directions each team would go. “After that, Sunny will get into her hiding spot, then the rest of us will close in.”
“I don’t like it.” Bjørn slashed his hand through the air, and Davis had to admit he agreed with the man.
“Absolutely not.” Gunnar crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.
“It’s a good plan.” Rafe countered the opposition, and Davis clenched his teeth to keep his emotions in against the relief of having his team, all the Stryker family, here with him.
Davis bristled anyway. Laying out the plan of attack had gone well until he revealed the part that clenched his stomach with worry. He didn’t want Sunny anywhere near the fight. Now, he wondered if giving in to her brothers’ objections was smarter than going with his plan.
“Davis is right.” Sunny crossed her arms, a beautiful and determined reflection of her brother. “It’s not safe for me to stay here. If their helicopter gets airborne, I’m a sitting duck here with Bjørn’s helicopter.”
Yes, there definitely was that possibility. The bigger issue was Davis had known Sunny would refuse to be left behind. So, rather than try to force her to stay and then worry about her following, he’d found a way that he hoped she’d approve of.
“But you’re even more of a sitting duck close to the fight.” Bjørn pointed toward the mine.
“No. I’ll be hiding far enough from the fight that the chances of being found are slim, especially with me hiding north instead of south, where anyone escaping will most likely go. Trust me. I don’t want to be part of the fight.” Sunny shuddered and rolled her shoulders. “But I’m not waiting this far away while you take them down.”
“We don’t have any more Super Suits. You’ll be completely unprotected.” Gunnar paced away, then stomped back.
He referred to the bulletproof suits the Stryker team had brought along. The special fabric deflected bullets in a way that Davis still didn’t understand but completely respected. The team hadn’t expected to need so many, but with the Rebel men and the state troopers, the extra suits were currently occupied. Since Sunny had called Davis an idiot with a roll of her eyes when he had insisted she wear his, he’d pulled his on, though everything in him wanted to hold her down and have her brothers stuff her into the protection.
That wouldn’t build trust, though, would it?
“You all are being idiots.” Sunny threw her arms up, and Davis was glad he wasn’t the only one she called that. “We need to get going, now. So, unless you want to tie me down, therefore putting a big heat-producing flag for the bad guys, we’re done with the conversation.” She pushed past the men and stomped toward the facility. “You coming?”
Davis lifted an eyebrow at the Rebel brothers with a chuckle. “She’s a firecracker, all right.”
He jogged after her.
“Darn Rebel muleheadedness,” Bjørn muttered, but his footsteps followed.
Davis overtook Sunny. She winked at him as he passed, but her smile looked strained. When the team was half a mile out from the facility, he motioned them to split. Half of his friends slowed and disappeared into the heavy woods. The rest followed him left. They’d converge on the enemy from the north and west, limiting the chance of crossfire.
“In position.” Rafe’s voice whispered in Davis’s com.
“Copy,” Davis replied, his breath whooshing out that the devices worked.
What could keep communication down, but not the earpieces? Did it have to do with satellites? He shook off the questions and pulled short at a cutback in the hill he had spotted when he and Sunny had retreated earlier.
“There.” He pointed to the small space hidden by a cluster of willows growing along the creek following the base of the hill.
“It’ll do.” Sunny nodded.
Doubt skidded along his skin. “I wish it was high on the hill like our other spots, but—”
“Davis, it’ll work. There’s enough of an overhang that if I hear the helicopter taking off, I can easily tuck myself under it.” She stepped close and grabbed his arm. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just wait here and listen as you take these guys down.”
He touched her ear where the com nestled, then trailed his fingers to the mic around her neck so she could call in help if needed. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on hers. This was wrong, leaving her here unprotected.
“I have my gun and my pepper spray,” she whispered like she’d read his mind. “I’ll be fine. Go finish this so we can start those adventures.”
“I love you, Firefly.” He slid his fingers into her hair.
“I love you too.” She grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him with a desperation he felt all the way to his soul, then pushed him away. “Go.”
He took her in, her dark eyes shining a trust he still wasn’t sure he deserved. One he was determined to live up to. He swallowed down all his doubts balling in his throat, and, with a nod, turned from his light to face darkness once again.
“When this is done, we’re talking.” Gunnar’s cheek popped as Davis passed.
“A nice, long talk about intentions and all that stuff,” Bjørn added his input.
“Won’t take long at all.” Davis looked from one brother to the next. “I’m marrying your sister as soon as we can arrange a ceremony. I can’t live without her, and so I won’t.”
He clapped Bjørn on the shoulder as he passed.
“Well, that went well.” Bjørn’s voice sounded a little disappointed, like maybe he was looking forward to interrogating Davis.
Gunnar grunted. “Darn shame.”
Davis let his smile go as he slipped through the forest. One thing was for sure, he’d never met a family like the Rebels. He couldn’t wait to be a part of it.