Boone takes my hand as he crosses the street, joining Dad as Whitaker takes his last breath.
Dad’s eyes fall to our joined hands, but he doesn’t say anything. He sneaks a peek over at Hedy. “How mad is she?”
“I think she’s more scared than mad.” I raise my brows. “Do you know why?”
“I do.” He sends me an apologetic look and points to a small group of dangerous-looking men in military gear that are trying to swarm us. “Later.”
I nod, and we move together.
I grapple the closest one to me to the ground, then cut off his airway with my forearm while kicking out, punching another guy’s knee in the wrong direction. Boone, who now has his own pulse rifle, ashes the guy before a third operative rushes him from the side.
I pull up my gun, track him for a second or two, and pull the trigger.
His head disappears in a spray of chalky bits.
Boone sends me a sharp nod. “Nice shot.”
Dad reaches down and grabs the wicked-looking knife from the guy’s waist, then turns and takes out the carotid of the guy trying to wrestle with Hopper.
Dad stares at me as I ash the headless guy.
“What was that technique you used?”
“Brazilian jiu-jitsu.”
“He just got his purple belt,” Boone says proudly as my father and brother join us, putting away their weapons.
I look around. The Whitaker family has been wiped from the face of the earth.
Father, who no one would suspect is rocking a state-of-the-art knee replacement, shakes his head. “BJJ professors don’t just give those away.”
I shake my head. “I never wanted a vanity belt.”
For a second, none of us speak. The neighborhood smells like bone dust and ozone; my hands are still buzzing from the adrenaline. Boone kisses my cheek.
My fathers and Holmes exchange a look, and Dad pulls me into a big bear hug.
“We should have always given you the option of joining us. At the very least, we should’ve kept you in the loop.”
“Yes,” I say. “You should have.”
31
ODD AND DB
Odd takeshis first deep breath as the helicopter ascends, Hedy at the helm. He’s gone quiet, but his heart hasn’t stopped racing since he heard Whitaker went after his son.
He’s pretty certain he’s hiding it well. Then he catches Anders' eyes.
“You okay, brother?” Anders asks, his voice crackling over the intercom.
Odd hesitates. They’re in a state-of-the-art helicopter but still require the ICS to communicate. Everyone in a headset can hear what they’re saying. Hedy, focused on the flying, tilts her head.
“I’m fine.”
“Then why are your hands shaking?”
Odd sends his twin a glare. He then looks down, surprised to find that Anders is right. His handsareshaking.
