Every time she saw the man’s coat, she was reminded that it was indeed winter, and yet it didn’t feel like it. Reese was wearing only a thin coat, a pair of leather gloves, and a wool hat to cover her red hair. Her knee-high snow boots were unnecessary because there wasn’t a snowflake to be seen.
This was the mildest winter she’d ever experienced. Actually, it seemed like every winter in West Colony was getting warmer and warmer, not to mention shorter. Reese’s mother had once told her stories about melting ice caps in the north and the rising of the oceans, but Reese hadn’t paid much attention. She’d never cared about the geography of the planet—her only goal in life had been, and still was, to destroy the council.
Now, as she and Sloan hid in a forest that didn’t have so much as a dusting of snow in the middle of February, she wondered if maybe the world had more serious problems than the Global Council.
“I don’t like this.”
Her head jerked in Sloan’s direction. “What don’t you like?” she asked. “The plan, or spending this quality time with me?” She couldn’t keep the bite out of her voice. She’d hoped that the peace they’d experienced during the drive would carry through to this mission, but it hadn’t.
“The plan,” he said irritably, visibly clenching his teeth. “It’s too quiet. Too few guards.”
“It’s exactly the amount of guards we accounted for. We might encounter a few extra ones inside, but I can’t see the Enforcers wasting manpower to guard one measly watchtower.”
“They might,” he countered.
“A waste of manpower,” she repeated, shaking her head. “They won’t be expecting us to hit it.”
“They would if they were smart. You should always expect your enemy to do the opposite.” He cast her a worried look. “Let’s turn around. Right now, sweetheart. We don’t need this outpost. Six, seven dead men? Is it really worth it?”
“I can’t believe you’d even ask me that.” If it were up to her, there’d be no Enforcer left alive in West Colony. Or any of the colonies, for that matter. Those bastards didn’t deserve to live.
The radio crackled as Rylan checked in. “There are only two guards out here,” he murmured. “Nash and Davis scouted the perimeter—no other Enforcers lurking in the trees.”
Reese glanced at the small one-story building. Ten yards away from it stood a brick tower manned by one guard. Sam was positioned in the trees with a clear vantage point to the tower, ready with her own rifle to take out the sniper. All Reese had to do was give Sam the word.
Fuck. This was the same situation she’d been in during the raid on the munitions depot last month. Everyone waiting for her command, and her questioning whether it was a good idea. Only this time it was Sloan questioning, Sloan urging her to reconsider.
She didn’t know if the itchiness of her spine was her instincts’ way of telling her to abort, or if it was discomfort from being this close to Sloan. She wanted so badly to reach out and stroke her fingers through his beard. Grip his chin and tug his mouth toward hers for a kiss.
She fought the urge, though. Avoiding his gaze, she clicked the radio on. “When I give the word, take out the sniper,” she told Sam.
“Got it,” was the quiet response.
“Rylan, after Sam neutralizes the sniper, you and Beck, and me and Sloan will take out the front and back guards simultaneously. Once we’ve secured the front and rear doors, wait for my word and then we go in.”
“Yes, sir,” came Rylan’s playful voice.
Sloan didn’t look nearly as amused as Rylan sounded. He adjusted his rifle and gave her a look that said he was unhappy with this course of action, but Reese knew he wouldn’t argue with her. Sloan always followed her lead. Which was part of why she felt so guilty. He’d followed her for so many years and she knew he would continue to do so, but . . . she was terrified of where she might be leading him.
To a childless existence? To a relationship with her and another man, because one cock apparently wasn’t enough for her?
She couldn’t choose between the two of them. They both made her feel such different things. Sloan was her rock. Rylan was her sunshine. She didn’t want to choose, damn it.
They didn’t ask you to choose, a little voice reminded her.
No, they hadn’t. But eventually they would.
Wouldn’t they?
This perfect little triad wasn’t going to work out. It couldn’t work. Sloan and Rylan didn’t deserve someone so broken, a woman so driven by revenge that she’d leave the warmth of their bed in order to fire bullets at men she didn’t even know.
Reese swallowed her dismay and focused on the task at hand. “Sam,” she murmured into the radio. “Now.”
She and Sloan didn’t even flinch when the sharp report of a rifle cracked through the air. Reese smiled grimly as she watched the tower guard jerk from the hit. Rather than fall inside the platform, he lurched forward, half-draped over the window as his rifle dangled over the edge by its strap.
The guards in the back snapped to attention and raised their guns toward the trees.