Alex Villavasso [Villavasso - Sailor Ray and the Beginning of the End

Sailor, you ready to go? Thirty-minute warning.

Yeah, Im getting ready right now. Ill be at the rendezvous in time. No worries. I study the finish on my Beretta before tucking it into my coat. If I get caught up in traffic, go on without me. I know where to go.

As soon as I finish my sentence I hear Blaze groan into the other side of the phone. I want to pull away, but my cell is pinned between my ear and my shoulder.

Were playing this safe, remember?

I remember. I tuck another gun into the opposite side of my coat. You dont have to remind me. If anything, Ill be there early, I respond flatly.

Okay, well talk later at the spot. Be safe.

Yeah, you too. The phone clicks and the call drops. Him being nervous is making me more nervous than I already am. I know Im not invincibleand Im well aware that this is my first outing since me and Vartal parted ways. Theres a lot less room for error now, among other things.

The plan is to bust into a warehouse and ruin their operation. Its a smaller target. The main one is farther north in a different city. Our job is to divert their resources while another group hits them hard. Im all for it. Anything to clean up the streets while Im here. Chicago has enough problems without a demon-inspired drug flooding the streets.

Hopefully things go smooth.

****

I pull up near the designated alley and walk the rest of the way. The spot isnt too far from the warehouse, a couple blocks, but its far enough away to deter any suspicion.

Youre early. Blaze steps to me, his hands resting in the pockets of his jacket.

Is it really early, if Im the last one here? I shift my gaze to the woman posted up against the wall, opposite of Blaze. Whats up, Abs? Perimeter clear?

Yeah, last I checked, we were good, and that was less than five minutes ago. I just got back.

Perfect, I respond. So we should be heading out now, right?

Give it a minute, Ray, Blaze says concisely. No need to rush things, were going for precision. Its just the three of us for nowwere a team. We play it smart until we can rendezvous with the others.

And then we mosh on them.

Got it.

Everyone good on weapons? Water, knives, bullets? Double check your weapons if you havent already.

Roger that. I reach into my jacket and grab one of my Berettasmy gun of choice. I check my magazine. Full, of course. I already checked it before I left the house.

Stealth is going to be a huge factor in our success, guys. Quick, clean kills. Were not looking for a straight up firefight until we get the advantage, Blaze says.

Youre asking for a lot, you know that? Theyre stronger than us, faster. Better everything, I respond, my attention now focused on my second gun. And theyre not oblivious.

I know, but thats always been the case.

Yeah, I agree, Abby chimes in. As long as the three of us stay together, we should be fine. We held our own against Desmond. Were good at covering each others backs.

I cringe but do my best to hide my emotions from the others. We cover each others backs, sure, but Vartal has played a considerable part in my survival. Every major encounter I had during his stay, he was there to bail me out. Hex, the coffee shop, Desmond, fucking Frank and Helenam I out of my league with this one?

Knowing the infrastructure will come in handy, too, Abby says dryly. Im assuming you two have it committed to memory.

More or lessI know where to go and where not to go, I respond to her, my mind drifting back into the conversation. I dont exactly have a photographic memory.

Same. Blaze nods. Just show us where we need to go if you come up with a better course of action once were inside.

Got it. The main thing is stealth, like Blaze said. Once were inside, we take care of them and crash the operation and pave the way.

Right, then we cover the others while they scoop the drugs out of the warehouse. I shift my weight onto my right leg. Easyalthough I still dont like how were rotating groups.

Less chance of a flank, Blaze reminds me for the umpteenth time. We move in waves for more coverage and surveillance.

When the plans were first being discussed, some guy suggested planting explosives. It would have been simpler, sure, but it would have been too messy. It would definitely gather media attention when the public finds the homemade explosives. Theyd think its terrorist activity or something, not to mention wed have to factor in the possibilities of casualties from a Sphinx cloud lingering in the air for a couple hours. It doesnt take an Abby to know thats bad news.

Well, lets get to it, Abby says as she puts her hands into her denim jacket and begins to walk towards the alley exit. Itll do a lot of good once we take it off the map.

Yeah I respond as she walks past me and fold my arms.

See you guys at the meet up. I turn and watch Abby turn the corner and, fully confident in her abilitiessomething that Im lacking right now.

You good, Ray? Blaze sneaks past my blind spot, easing into my peripheral vision.

Yeah, its been like, a week. Im still a bit sore, but Ill manage. Nothing serious. Ive already had enough near-death experiences to last a lifetime. I know how to handle myself, I answer without looking his way.

Yeah, Blaze answers concisely.