“I know you don’t have any reason to believe me, and I know you don’t like my background, but I’m an MDF agent.I’m not going to betray the agency, and I’m not going to betray your team’s confidences.I don’t know how to make you believe me, but I’m not going to beg you to,” Sean said.
Alexei took a sip of water, looking away from Sean as the news stream switched to a replay of the statement.Sean didn’t try to keep up his argument, merely waited Alexei out.
“You think that hold up?”Alexei asked once the replay was done and the newscast had switched back to the anchors.
“I think they chose the excuse they did because it can be twisted in a number of ways they can at least try to control,” Sean replied slowly.
“Thought I leave propaganda behind when I come here as kid.”
Sean snorted.“All news is propaganda to some extent in this day and age.People choose what bubble they want to live in, and that’s the world they’ll fight for.There is a big gap between what the public has the right to know and what actually comes out.The truth will always get twisted in some way.”
“And you think that’s good?”
Sean’s gaze was measured and even as he stared at Alexei.“I think what we’re trying to stop is more important than giving in to a media feeding frenzy.I’ve learned over the years that if you want to control the narrative, you need to get your own story out there first, whatever that may be.That’s what we’re doing here.”
It made more sense when Sean explained it rather than Kyle.His little brother’s explanation had consisted mainly of swear words as Kyle slammed around the apartment last night.With Jamie beholden to the brass and his family for the next week or so, at minimum, Kyle had gone home with Alexei Sunday night once they’d arrived back in the States.Too many eyes were looking their way for Kyle to stay at his and Jamie’s place right now, especially alone.That was the main reason Alexei had come here tonight.
Things had been too hectic in London for Alexei to corner Sean at the time and extract a promise from the other man not to jeopardize the team and his brother’s happiness by reporting Kyle and Jamie’s fraternization to their superiors.Alexei could grudgingly admit that if Jamie was going to trust a spy, then he would have to as well.
Just this once.
Alexei handed the glass of water back to Sean.“Thank you for keeping secret.”
Sean shrugged, a wry smile twitching at his mouth.“Keeping secrets and telling lies is what I do.No need to thank me for it.”
“Then I take back.”
Sean jerked his thumb over his shoulder.“Door’s that way.”
Alexei barked out a laugh as he walked past the other man, heading for the door in question.“Like Kilyusha.Asshole.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.Good night, Alexei,” Sean pointedly said.
“Dobroy nochi,” Alexei said as he left, satisfied for now with the answers he’d received.
NOW
2285
EPILOGUE
OFFER ME NO ABSOLUTES
Jamie didn’t know what time it was, only that he was in his third bar of the evening.It had the biggest crowd, and the bartender hadn’t batted an eye at Jamie’s request to keep the drinks coming.Even better, the woman had eyed him with a look that said she knew exactly who he was and then did her damnedest to keep the seat next to him clear of all comers.
Jamie had already tipped her several thousand dollars as a thank-you on the first drink, which might also be why she was keen to help keep the curious at bay.
Sipping his whiskey, Jamie glanced around the room for the dozenth time.The Prohibition was a popular two-level Manhattan retro craft cocktail bar, less a club scene and more a place to be seen, but the music could be just as loud as it was on a dance floor.Right now, the music in the lower level was one decibel below needing to yell to be heard over it.The noise was almost enough to drown out his thoughts.
Almost, but not quite.
Two weeks since the mission in London had ended, and the story still wasn’t dead yet, but it was fading from the public’s immediate focus in favor of other, more newsworthy stories.Jamie had spent most of his time since then taking meetings with the brass, overseeing Katie’s work on the Saunders & Associates project, and making sure to be seen with his father for the campaign.Having his picture splashed over the media sphere was aggravating, if only because it necessitated a change in how he conducted his private life.
Jamie hadn’t seen Kyle outside of work since they’d returned to the States.The scrutiny Jamie found himself under was still too hot for them to be together how they were before the start of the last mission.Falling asleep and waking up in a cold bed had gotten old by the third night.Jamie hadn’t realized just how much he’d come to appreciate not being alone until Kyle’s absence became a void he couldn’t ignore.
Jamie knew the mission had to come first, especially after they’d successfully hooked Stanislav’s attention.The call Jamie had received a few days ago confirmed the tentative business relationship Root Source, Inc.now had with the Pavluhkins.When the next project request would come down was anyone’s guess, but Stanislav seemed to believe Jamie’s explanations for the political maneuverings of his family.It wasvery Russianof him, according to Stanislav.
Still, with needing to shore up his background to fit the story they were building, it meant Jamie had spent more consecutive time with his family over the past two weeks than he had in the last few years.While his mother was happy to see him, no matter the circumstances, he and his father were still working on overcoming their simmering animosity while struggling to find some common ground.
