“I was coming to relieve you so you and Viper could get some. Didn’t know Inferno and Wraith had alreadyshownup.”
Sean turned to look at Katie. “We’ll keep watch while you two take a break. Transport probably won’t be approved before you finish your synthcafanyway.”
Kyle knocked a fist against Sean’s shoulder as he walked on by. “Glad you pulled through and came back. Would’ve never heard the end of it from Inferno if youhadn’t.”
“Walk faster,” Alexeitoldhim.
Kyle laughed, flipping Alexei off over his shoulder. “If they move,shootthem.”
“He hasn’t changed a bit, has he?” Matthew asked, watching as Kyle walked away at a fast clip, lured by the promise of a hotdrink.
“If you’re asking if he’s still a sarcastic little shit who can shoot the wings off a fly at two klicks, then yeah, he hasn’t changed,” Katie agreed. She readjusted her grip on her weapon before heading after Kyle. “But really, shoot them iftheymove.”
Matthew didn’t stop laughing for a good minute after Katie andKyleleft.
“I like her,” Matthew finally said when he caught hisbreath.
“She eat you alive,” Alexeiwarned.
“Probably, but what a waytogo.”
* * *
“For what it’s worth,you only ruined two major cities over the course of this mission. I’d say I was impressed, except we have pretty much every news stream calling for our collective heads over how we handled containing North Star International,”Nazarisaid.
“Should we be worried?” Jamieasked.
“If I cared what the media thought, I’d be a politician, not a general. Our image might take a beating, but the mission was the right call. Even the presidentthinksso.”
Alexei shifted in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. Two days since the fight in Montana ended and twenty-four hours since Alpha Team was recalled off the field, and Alexei had spent what felt like every waking hour in a meeting. His ass was going numb and they still had at least another hour left of discussion before anyone could even think about asking for a dinnerbreak.
He glanced around the long conference table at the other members of his team, glad to see he wasn’t the only one who was tired. Everyone’s synthcaf was running low, but the director’s aide had yet to bring in a new pot. Alexei desperately wished she would hurry up so he’d have an excuse to stand up and stretch until his spinecracked.
Someone kicked him in the shin, hard, and Alexei glared across the table at Kyle. His brother wasn’t looking at him, but Alexei took the hint for what it was. Stifling a yawn, Alexei tried to pay attention, but the English was starting to make hisheadhurt.
Jamie was fielding most of the debrief questions, absorbing all the answers for later review, when he’d have the time to process everything more. Everyone knew Jamie was flying out tonight after the debrief finished for a weekend of fundraising with his father. He wouldn’t be able to take any files with him, which was why this part of the debrief was moving at such a quick pace. Alexei would review it all later, on his tablet, after getting Ceres to translate everything into Russianforhim.
“They were married?” Sean asked from his spot next toAlexei.
Alexei refocused on the drone of conversation happening around him, staring at the new document that popped up on histerminal.
“Three years,” Nazari said. “They knew each other longerthanthat.”
Alexei dragged the holographic marriage certificate closer, studying the names on it. “We kill his wife. Not think he forgiveforthat.”
“Considering what his wife did to innocent people, I’m not inclined to lose sleep over it,” Jamiereplied.
“Not what I say. He won’t forgive, so willcomeback.”
“Revenge,” Kyle agreed with a nod. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Declan tries to get in contact with Pavluhkin. Our mission on that front mightbeover.”
“We’ll keep a close watch on chatter coming from that area,” Nazari said. “Declan Wolcott most likely fled the country through Canada. With his background, locating him will bedifficult.”
“What about Adrian?” Madison asked. “Are he and his wife still in LasVegas?”
“They’re currently being investigated by the FBI. Their nights of boozing and partying will be severely curtailed in the comingmonths.”
“Aw, bless their hearts,” Annabelledrawled.
