“Quite sure.” He cleared his throat. “Capitoline wants him gone at all costs and will not stand in your way. They are ready to provide all the necessary funding as well since all of you are, well, underfunded at the moment.”
“Son of a bitch,” Atlantis said. “Are you trying to say Capitoline is benevolent?”
“Oh, God no. They're terrible, like any tyrant calling the shots. But they’ve been at this for a long, long time. No one in this room has the power to go up against them. Luckily, they’re looking around right now at the world they’re living in with a critical eye. They want to live in peace, in a clean environment. They just have no qualms doing whatever it takes to stay in power and to stay hidden. This mission is doing them a solid, with your help."
"And they're going to reward you, aren't they?"
Bennett nodded.
“Such confidence,Senator,” Atlantis said. Gina watched everyone on her side of the table sit up straighter.
Roger didn’t even flinch.
"So, should we start calling you Mr. President now, or wait until the formalities?" Atlantis asked.
Bennett smiled bitterly. "Well, that's the thing. All the polls say I'll win in a landslide anyway, and there's no reason to believe they need to fix the election to get me in. Their so-called reward is simply the promise that they won't get in the way of what will happen anyway."
"The will of the people," Lachlan said, not without sarcasm.
"The will of the people," Bennett confirmed. "For now.” It was the only time he looked away. “So, you’re allowed to go after Marcus Porter using any means necessary with impunity.” He shrugged. “And if not, I’ll grant you all presidential pardons in January.”
He pushed his chair back and stood up. “Now, I suggest you all go home and get a good night’s sleep. Wheels up early tomorrow.”
* * *
“Ihate this,” Gina said later that night as she lay in Lach's arms.
“Really? You didn't sound like you hated anything just now.” He nuzzled her throat.
She glared at him before kissing his nose. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, lass, I do.” He pulled her in tighter. “It’s more manipulation.”
“I thought I was clear of it.”
“You will be after this.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
* * *
It was night but the shallow ocean water was just as warm around Little Edward Cay as she’d remembered from the night they rescued Jordan. The night she’d failed the other?—
No. Lach’s right. I didn’t fail them. I’m here now. I swear, we’ll save everyone tonight and track down the ones who we sold in the meantime.
She felt Lach’s hand on her shoulder, reassuring her. He always did see her, no matter what disguise she wore or how well she hid herself. He saw straight into her heart and soul, every time.
She covered his hand, just a brief touch that acknowledged him.
“Ready,” she heard him say, both beside her and in the comm. Lachlan was leading the mission with Atlantis as second. The two men managed to put aside anything resembling a pissing contest in order to work together. They’d all seen the photos Gina had taken and everyone had been sickened by them.
“Ready,” Atlantis acknowledged.
The teams moved as one through the dark waters toward the island. This would be a very different mission from the last one. The last time, Porter had known they were coming thanks to Jeremy. This time, Porter was cut off from any intel but he knew it was a matter of time before they came for him. His island had made him feel safe—a fortress against the world. But now it was his prison, the place he’d retreated to ever since Capitoline discovered he was behind The Repair Shop. He’d have double the security detail, all of them trusted--his personal bodyguards.
Too bad for him, one of them was a mole, and an old friend of Atlantis. He updated them on the new patrol patterns and assured them he could provide a window. So far, he’d proven true to his word.
