"It is," she replied. "As far as you need to know."
"Thank her like you mean it," he snapped.
"I fuckin' mean it," I replied, offering a weak gesture at her. I did, I meant it. I was appreciative of the effort and extreme risk that went into a high altitude, low opening jump in the middle of the ocean and everything that went into finding me and dragging me to the safe harbor afforded by North America. "Thank you."
She shifted, recrossed her legs. "No problem."
"Itisa problem," Kaisall argued. "We were on vacation. In Jamaica. This guy has to go get himself shot and interrupt our damn holiday. I had plans for that time and they didn't involve scrambling a transport plane, tapping a team of medics, and sending my—my April into a no-win situation where she had to small-boat your ass to a fucking fjord. All because you got shot on the job."
"To be fair, the gunshot wound wasn't my biggest issue," I replied, pointing at my busted arm. "This situation was more troublesome but I had it covered."
Another eyeroll from Kaisall. "Okay, sure."
"Hell, I'm happy I didn't have to steer that tanker myself. I thought about it a few times. Take out the crew, head to Greenland, get a little time in the hot springs. That's as close as I'm getting to an island vacation, right?"
"Please don't remind me that I leftmyisland vacation to orchestrate your exfil strategy," he said.
"Weleft, Jordan," April said. "Weleft our island vacation."
"To that end," I started, attempting a nod at both of them, "why don't we return to that island vacation? The last thing my brother needs under his roof is an injured spy with no cover." I lifted the water to my lips, gulped down a sip. "Just take me back to Jamaica with you."
"You need ongoing medical attention," April replied.
I gestured to my side. "Come on, Tomb Raider. You've pulled out a bullet or two and kept on going. I'm sure of it."
She spread her hands out in front of her. "Not a one."
"Bulllllllshit," I hissed.
"It's true. Believe me, I've looked," Kaisall replied. "But watch yourself if she gets her hands on a knife."
"The only reason we got off that tanker was my knife skills," she argued.
"Ohhh, that's interesting," I cooed. "Someday I want to hear how you managed that bit." I tried tipping my chin in her direction but it only sent pain screaming through my torso. "But not today. I want you to take me to Jamaica today. All I need to recover is my toes in the warm sand and a dick in my hand."
Kaisall stifled a laugh, saying, "I'm on orders to deliver you to Halsted's house."
"Don't listen to my brother—"
"Not your brother," Kaisall interrupted. "This order came from the Commodore."
My father.Of course my father, the one who loved the Navy and everything about it so damn much he only answered to "the Commodore," was calling me home. It was a matter of days ago that I'd wanted nothing more than my father and his endless critique but now, without death crawling up my spine, I wanted nothing more than an island, a beach, some anonymity.
That was the best and worst part of my life—the anonymity. The ability to exist without anyone noticing, anyone caring. I wasn't sure when I chose a life made remarkable by being forgettable. I didn't think I'd started out with this goal. If anything, I'd joined the Navy, the SEALs, and then the CIA with the goal of being remembered. Revered, even.
I'd intended to be legendary.
But that wasn't the way of it for spies and SEALs. I'd learned to accept that, and most of the time I loved it. I could be anyone, go anywhere. I could live hundreds of lives and make myself at home in just as many cities and want for nothing. Nothing at all.
"We go to Will's house. Swing by, say hello," I conceded, "then Jamaica."
April and Kaisall shared a knowing glance, one that said,Unlikely.
"We'll stop there, prove to my parents that I'm alive and mostly intact, and then head for the islands," I continued.
Another dubious glance.
"If there's video, the Agency won't want anything to do with me until they can bury the shit out of it and hang something more incriminating on the Russians' heads," I continued.
