“Copy that,” Kol said immediately.“Rerouting.”
The first shots came seconds later.
The sound cracked through Kol’s feed, sharp and violent.The camera jolted as he took cover, muzzle flashes strobing the dark hallway.Another Covenant voice that sounded like Elias swore as return fire lit up the frame.
“Shit,” Mara breathed beside her.
Eliza didn’t flinch.
“Two on your six, Rafael,” she said, eyes tracking the heat signatures converging fast.“They’re using the utility shaft—cut them off now.”
Rafael pivoted without hesitation.The feed swung, then steadied as he fired, two men dead.
“Clear,” he said.
Dominic’s voice cut in sharply.“They’re guarding someone.”
Eliza’s stomach tightened.
“Where?”
“Second floor.Back room.”
She pulled the overlay tighter, isolating the area.Most of the signatures clustered where expected—armed men, moving in patterns that screamed training and money.But one signature ...one was wrong.
Too still.
Restrained.not moving
“There,” she said.“Room three-alpha.Someone’s tied down.”
Kol’s feed shifted instantly.“On it.”
Rafael reached the room first.
The door came apart under his boot.
The camera flooded with light—and blood.
The woman was tied to a chair in the center of the room.Her face was swollen, split at the lip, one eye already darkening.Blood soaked the front of her shirt.Her left arm hung at an unnatural angle, clearly broken.
And she was swearing.
“Hijos de puta!”she screamed, trying to kick despite the restraints.“When I get free, I’m going to kill every single fucking one of you!”
She lunged forward and tried to bite Rafael as he got closer, no doubt with the intent of helping her.
“Easy,” Rafael said, already cutting her free.“We’re getting you out.”
She barked a sharp, disbelieving laugh.“Seriously?”
Rafael snorted.“No, we’re from the local gun club looking to increase our fucking membership.”
Eliza couldn’t help herself.“Rafael,” she snapped into the mic.“Do not be sarcastic to the poor woman who’s been tortured.”
The woman’s gaze flicked toward the camera, sharp despite the pain.“Okay then,” she said flatly.“Get me out.”
Gunfire erupted again, closer this time.