“He didn’t say. He and Dave got some idea concerning the Commandos.”

  “He and Dave?”

  Pain shot him a skeptical look. “That’s what I thought.”

  Chapter 3

  Jane finished the report as the room slowly filled with people.

  Skull sat to her right, Elena to her left, and Luke was pacing back and forth while Peter and Dave were discussing something in hushed voices in Peter’s room. It was impossible to hear anything through the open door, and she gave up, giving the report another look.

  Her sister’s sharp voice startled her. “Where have you been?” Pain stared at her with her best stern look.

  “Um. Writing the report?” Jane said.

  “Since when do you write reports?”

  “Since Ryan’s been injured?”

  Jane saw it in her sister’s face when Pain realized she was being ridiculous and gave up.

  “Mm-hmm.” Pain stalked off to the other side of the table and took a seat next to Marco. Their expressions strangely matched.

  “Everyone’s here, great!” Peter greeted them, walking into the office. He paused in front of Marco. “Where’s Ryan? Is he okay?”

  “Peachy,” Marco grumbled. “He’s showering.”

  “You’ll get him caught up then.” Peter perched on his desk and looked at Jane, humor lurking in his gaze. He quickly masked it, and she narrowed her eyes, sensing she wasn’t going to like what happened next.

  Dave brought out a flip chart with an excited look, and Jane heard her sister sigh and mutter, “Brace yourself. Nonsense is coming.”

  Marco’s lips quirked up in a lazy smile.

  As Dave drew a few horizontal lines on the flip chart, Peter said, “Dave got an idea that could help us track down the Commandos, but I’d like to hear more opinions, hence the meeting. Hear him out and let us know what you think.”

  “Thank you,” Dave said with a polite nod, making Pain roll her eyes.

  He looked over the gathering with a serious face. His wrinkled t-shirt and messy hair weren’t helping the situation, and Jane found herself suppressing a smile.

  “As you all know, the Commandos have only been seen in deserted, industrial parts of Brooklyn, and the search parties haven’t brought any results. They’re obviously tracking us—probably using infrared scanners—to keep their distance, so it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to sneak up on them.”

  “We,” Pain whispered with an ironic glance at Marco. He elbowed her but smiled anyway.

  Dave ignored her, too preoccupied with whatever was on his mind. He drew a few squares in between the lines on the flip chart.

  “The weather makes it difficult to track them from the air, and there are no good cameras in those areas, so Rooney can’t track them down either. Now, we could install cameras there, but covering every street would be impossible. However, if we could get the cameras to move somehow, each covering a part of the area, it would give us a more dynamic picture at less cost. But the cameras still have to be inconspicuous, so using a car or a drone is not an option.”

  He drew a few vertical lines, separating the imaginary street into square blocks with four buildings in each of them.

  “So, we need someone to carry the cameras and GPS trackers.” He ticked it off on his fingers. “We need them to stick to a specific area. And we need them to be invisible.”

  He made a dramatic pause as everyone stared at him, and Skull yawned like a bear.

  “Stray dogs! That’s what we need!”

  Everyone’s expressions slowly turned into frowns. Jane darted a look at her sister. Pain was staring at Dave without blinking, as if she were having a heart attack.

  Seeing that no one had anything to say, Jane cleared her throat and asked, “How are you going to, um, make them stick to one area?”

  “That’s the thing!” Dave clapped his hands, making everyone flinch. “We don’t have to, because they already have their territories, and they are always on the move. At night. In packs. Invisible…”

  “Kill me,” Pain rasped. “Kill me now.”

  Peter kept silent, watching Dave with amused eyes, as if happy with the unexpected entertainment.

  “Oh, come on,” Dave groaned. “It’s not like we have any other ideas. Don’t you think it might work?”

  “Okay, okay.” Pain pulled on a serious face. “How do we do it? Who will carry out the mission? You think we should call Batman?”

  The room exploded into booming laughter. Elena kept her gaze down but smiled all the same. Covering her grin, Jane saw Dave’s face turn red while Peter pressed a hand to his face, his whole body shaking silently behind Dave’s back.

  Marco’s arm shot up in the air. “Operation Doggy Style! I called it!”

  Peter shook his head, but the laughter raged even more loudly.

  Marco flashed a grin and peered at the flip chart, his eyes narrowing. “What’s that, in the center?” he asked over the lingering laughter. “Looks like a… horse with horns, and it’s wearing a toilet on its neck?”

  “It’s a dog!” Dave exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “With a camera.”

  Pain swallowed her laughter and pointed her thumb at the door. “Go practice in your cave. Serious people need to talk serious business.”

  Dave dropped his marker on the table and strode to the exit. “Okay, I think I have better things to do. And y’all can sit here till the end of time, trying to come up with an idea of your own.”

  “We’re joking!” Pain called out.

  There was no response, and she turned to Peter with an apologetic look.

  “You’ll talk to him later,” he said.

  “Me? Why me?”

  “Because I said so.” He cleared his throat, his face serious once again. “Okay, let’s not forget that while we’re laughing here, Chris is in a coma, and a few more of our men are God knows where. We have to find them. Rooney will prepare the cameras tomorrow. You, Jane, Marco and Ryan… Take Chad and Elena for practice. Our squad will keep an eye on you, so you should be safe.”

  Jane shot a bewildered look at her sister as Pain’s jaw dropped.

  “Wait, we’re actually doing this?” Pain asked.

  Peter’s shoulders lifted. “Why not? We already have those tiny cameras and trackers that will work. Just add collars and dog food. With some data and the software we have, we might just figure out their routes. You’ll try a few packs, and we’ll see where it gets us.”

  Pain only blinked, speechless, while Marco stirred restlessly at her side. “That all? Gotta get my beauty sleep,” he said.

  Peter stared at him. “It’s nine PM. And about Ryan—if he’s not good to go, take someone else to be the lookout.”

  Marco waved a hand, standing. “He’s fine.”

  Jane gave him a suspicious look as he left, sensing he had plans for the night, despite Peter’s order to stay indoors. Peter dismissed them with a nod, and Jane picked up the report and got up. Pain joined her in the hall.

  “Any plans for tonight?” she asked Jane as they walked into the elevator.

  Jane shrugged. “Gonna watch a movie and veg out with Marco and Ryan. You?”

  “Kinda stepping on my duties there, no?” Pain smirked. “Was it that bad?”

  Jane nodded. “I thought I’d seen everything. After this last job, not so sure anymore.”

  Pain grinned as they walked to their room. “Just stay in the building and don’t drink what they drink, whatever they say. I’ll pass. Chad’s probably back already.” She eyed Jane with a dubious frown as Jane walked past her and reached for Ryan’s doorknob.

  “I gotta show this to Ryan.” Jane wiggled the clipboard at Pain. Her other hand closed on the doorknob and pulled it open. “I can write it, but he’s gotta—OH, CRAP!” She slammed the door shut, Ryan’s naked figure disappearing behind it. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s okay!” she heard Ryan’s voice.

  Jane cursed, while Pain didn’t bother hiding her devilish laughter.

  “Now you’ve seen everything,” Pain said with a wink and hid behind the door before Jane could throw the clipboard at her.

  She sighed, muttering, “Just one side of everything…”

  Ryan’s door flew open, making her jump.

  “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry! I should’ve knocked. It’s all Pain, she distracted me…” she mumbled, but Ryan raised a hand, stopping her.

  “It’s not your fault. Marco left the door unlocked. It’s just, getting dressed can be tricky if you only have one good arm.”

  “I know.” She slipped past him into the room.

  He was wearing gray sweats now and still no shirt. She was used to not staring.

  “We always pester Marco about barging in,” she said. “And you’d think after getting flashed by him so many times I’d be blind by now, but unfortunately, I’m not.” She smiled and raised the report for Ryan to see. “I need you to sign this so I can…” She trailed off, her smile faltering, as Ryan ignored her and picked up his big gray sweater instead, struggling to stretch it over his shoulders.

  She put the clipboard on his bunk and stood there awkwardly for a minute, watching him battle with the sweater. His lack of emotion from the moment he opened the door baffled her. It would take one second to sign the report, but for some reason, he suddenly needed to get dressed, like she’d never seen him shirtless. No small talk, not a smile, not even a look in her direction. Nice, what did I do wrong now?

  An irritated sigh escaped her lips as she grew tired of waiting and went to him.

  “You can ask for help every once in a while, you know?” she said, noticing how he stiffened when she caught his forearm and pulled his hand through the sleeve.

  Ryan’s stormy blue eyes watched her as she carefully slipped the other sleeve over his bandaged arm. His stare felt strangely hostile, his tall figure looming over her.

  She pushed aside a nasty feeling and looked up into his eyes as the sweater slid down his body. “Are you okay?”

  He shrugged and walked past her to his bunk. Once again, she was left to stand there in confusion, her head blank. Hearing a rustle of paper, Jane turned around and found him right in front of her with the report in his outstretched hand. Silent.

  “I thought we could watch a movie or something.” She fell quiet as Ryan squatted over his bag and started rummaging in it.

  She was about to scream in frustration when his voice finally broke the heavy silence. “I’m just gonna go to sleep.”

  Jane blinked but only said, “Okay.”

  Grabbing the clipboard, she stalked to the door without another word. Her foot was already over the threshold when she sensed him behind her.

  “Jane, wait.”

  “Yes?” She spun, jumping when she bumped into him.

  “You dropped this at the stairs when we got attacked,” he said in the same cold voice, handing her a small knife.

  “Oh,” she breathed, feeling her heart sink. “Cool. Thanks.”

  She walked out and shut the door in his face.

  Chapter 4

  Pain shivered and shoved her hands deeper into the pockets, stalking down a dark street. Her eyes were on Dave a few steps ahead as she muttered, “If one of those damn dogs gives me rabies, I’ll kill him first.”

  “Don’t you already have it?” Dave said over his shoulder.

  “Ha-ha.” She turned to scowl at Chad. “What is he even doing here?”

  Dave halted, turning around and spreading his arms. “Seriously?” He was wearing gear, his first time taking it outside and not to the training hall.

  Chad stared at her. “Because you asked Peter to let him come?”

  She slowed down, confused, then vaguely remembered the conversation back at HQ. Peter had allowed Dave to come because the whole mission had been his idea, after all. And then she had also bribed Rooney to offer Dave a spot on the new surveillance team. All because an hour before that, she’d tried to talk to Dave, as Peter had ordered, and it ended in another fight and Dave storming out of the canteen.

  In her case, bribes worked better than talking when it came to relationships.

  She shrugged, walking by Jane’s side as Chad caught up to Dave, and Elena followed him, quiet as usual.

  “Why did she even do that?” Dave grumbled.

  “She probably hopes that you won’t find your way back home,” Chad said, patting his shoulder.

  Dave’s reply was indiscernible.

  Jane sniffled at Pain’s side. “You think they’re watching us?”

  The only thing Pain was watching was Chad’s ass. Some people are born for gear.

  “Wha—who? The Commandos or our squad?”

  “Both.”

  Pain shrugged. “Who cares?” She turned to Marco, who’d been scouting ahead. “What’s the situation?”

  “All clear.” He took the bag with their equipment from Chad and slung it over his shoulder. “Let’s keep it quiet. People do wander around here.”

  Pain pulled up her collar, glad that at least it wasn’t raining or snowing. They crossed an open space, and after another short alley, ended up at a moonlit intersection between a few warehouses. A single street lamp shone in the distance, casting yellow light on a path that circled the area behind a rusty fence. And on the other side of the intersection, a few dirty dogs were rummaging in a heap of trash.

  “I forgot my gloves,” Marco grumbled.

  “You said that twice already. Go get that big brown dog,” Pain said.

  “And y’all just gonna stand here? They’ll run off if I grab just one.”

  “He’s right,” Chad said. “Let’s get those three big ones. Then we’ll be done with this sector.”

  Pain shrugged, following the two of them. “Makes no difference. This is a bullshit idea.”

  Ten minutes later, they were done with one dog, the girls were in the middle of their third attempt to put the collar on another, and Marco and Ryan were still trying to lure out the third dog after the two previous ones had run off, probably scared by their size.

  Pain made sure the tiny green light was glowing on the camera and patted the dog’s head.

  “Someone’s watching us,” Chad said, crouching at her side.

  “Yes. Rooney and Peter. With popcorn.”

  Jane grinned, but Chad only frowned. “No. Here. Don’t look. He’s on the path, behind the fence.”

  Pain tossed another handful of dog food to the half-starved creature and looked at Chad. “Can you see what he looks like?”

  “A young man. Looks civilian. No tactical wear, if that’s what you mean.” He moved to the side, making space for Dave.

  “What are we gonna do?” Dave crouched next to him, eyes sparkling with excitement.

  Pain raised her mask, straightening up. “Stay here and watch how professionals deal with it.”

  She winked at Jane and Elena as the guys followed her with curious eyes, and turned to look straight at the civilian. Chad had been right—he was young, and obviously confused by their appearance and what they were doing here. Not much could be done about that.

  Slowly, she prowled toward him. The boy watched her with big eyes, frozen to the spot. When she halted a few yards from him, making sure to stay in the shadow, his jaw dropped.

  “Who are you people?” he asked, blinking.

  Pain’s hand reached for the katana, and she raised the sword above her head dramatically. Then she spoke, loud and clear, “We are the children of the night! How dare you speak to us, worm?”

  Jane cracked up behind her, and Pain didn’t bother to hold in her own laughter when the boy disappeared down the path in a cloud of dust. The katana slid back in its scabbard as she walked back, suppressing another outburst.

  “Gets me every time.” Jane grinned, giving her a high five.

  “Yep.”

  Dave and Chad stared at her, wide-eyed.

  “What?” Pain said. “He’s seen us, that’s it. Better if he thinks we’re some crazy sect or cosplay gang.”

  Chad and Elena chuckled, while Dave pointed a finger at Pain. “This. This is what she did when we first met.”

  “That’s so not what I did,” Pain said. “That was a completely different routine. I had to make you come back.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  Pain paused at a hushed curse to her left and watched Marco chase the poor dog through the gaping door of a dilapidating warehouse. Ryan stayed outside, his head bowed in resignation.

  She smirked, turning back to Dave. “Use that head, Forrester. You come back, I see your face, so if you talk too much about it, I’d be able to find you. This simple realization helps people keep quiet.”

  Dave swallowed and glanced at Chad.

  “He still wouldn’t shut up about it,” Chad said with a shake of his head.

  Pain only spread her arms.

  Something banged in the distance, followed by a shout.

  She whipped around, her eyes locking with Ryan’s as he froze by the warehouse door for a heartbeat, before dashing inside without a word.

  “Marco…” she breathed, and ran after Ryan, shouting instructions over her shoulder. “Stay behind us with these two, you hear me, Chad?”

  “Got it,” he said.

  They hurtled through the inky darkness. Her left hand closed on her flashlight, and as the bright beam pierced the dark, she could see the long expanse of the warehouse and another gaping door across an alley.

  She rose into the air now that she could see the way.

  “Stand back!” Ryan’s sharp voice made her speed up, and she broke through the second door before the others could catch up with her. “Don’t move!”

  The shield enveloped her as she landed away from the door and pointed her flashlight forward. Ryan was a few feet away, a throwing knife in hand. This building was in a much better shape but just as dark and big.

  Marco was in the center, sprawled on the ground next to a tall man in a long leather coat.

  “I’m not the one who attacked him,” the man snapped. “He left through that door.” He pointed across the room, and Ryan’s hand twitched.

  “Stand still,” she shouted to the man, worried that Ryan would take out their only witness. She could hear the others spill through the door behind her. “Jane, Ryan, go check if it’s true. I got this.”