Alexei rolled his eyes. “Not stop me before. Is just bullet wound. Isnothing.”
He ignored the disbelieving look Sean senthisway.
“You’re ridiculous. You’re not going into the field wounded,” Seanargued.
“I’d like to believe the CIA deputy director isn’t a double-agent, but considering the problems we’ve had with that agency lately, I’m not inclined to dismiss the idea out of hand. Even if Stableford was acting on his own, there’s no telling what intelligence he’s been privy to,”Nazarisaid.
“No telling what a man like Bennett would do if he thought he was cornered, sir. We also can’t ignore the fact that the CIA deputy director may be operating with the full executive authority of Langleybehindhim.”
“That’s enough to give me nightmares,” Katiemuttered.
“I’m requesting the green light to meet my team in New Seattle and extract Wraith’s family, sir,” Jamie said. “Do we have any agents working in New Seattlerightnow?”
“We have operatives in the field monitoring the recent Sons of Adam activity in the Pacific Northwest, but no one we can pull without risking current assignments,” Nazarireplied.
“What about my family?” Sean askedtensely.
“We’ll get eyes on them through the security grid. I understand your family still doesn’t know what you do, Wraith. This will come as a shock to them, and they’ll have to be sequestered at base until we get things sorted. I’ll authorize a retrieval mission, but try to keep the city damage to a minimum. New Seattle has already been relocated from its original location once before. Let’s not add asecondtime.”
Sean grimaced, a bleakness in his gaze that Alexei didn’t like. “Understood,sir.”
“And our family, sir?” Kyleasked.
“We’ll deploy a security detail to Reaper and Inferno’s family for the foreseeable future as well. It’s the best we can do on shortnotice.”
Alexei would breathe a sigh of relief if he didn’t think itwouldhurt.
“It’ll take us a couple of hours to rendezvous with the rest of the team in New Seattle. I can fly us there, sir,”Donovansaid.
Alexei tuned out what was being said around him for a few seconds, because it was easier on his head. Instead, he focused on Sean, because that was far more pleasant than focusing on Trevor doing what needed to be done to stop the bleeding in his wound. Extraction of the shrapnel pieces and closing the wound would have to wait until they got backtobase.
“Is good to have team,kotyonok,” Alexeimuttered.
“Never said it wasn’t,” Sean said, looking a little less frantic aroundtheeyes.
Alexei lightly stroked his thumb over Sean’s hand. “Willbeokay.”
“I’m uploading your flight plan to the private civilian airport north of Las Vegas that accommodates Coyote Springs Golf and Air Club. We’ve requested the use of a private plane under the Callahan name and listed you with a bioware allergy, so they’ll ask for a scanprint when you arrive. Go through the motions and we’ll delete it from their systems afterward,”Katiesaid.
“How long to get there?” Sean asked, still holding ontoAlexei’shand.
“Once we get outta Las Vegas, about thirty minutes. I’ve already switched out our vehicle’s plate code. If they’re lookin’ for us through cameras, it’ll take longer to find us,”Annabellesaid.
“How are we on Olympus’ securitycameras?”
“Can’t wipe all of it,” Katie replied, sounding apologetic. “We’re focusing only on the public areas where any of you show up using yourpowers.”
“The director is putting through the paperwork necessary to authorize the mission. We’ll be wheels up within the hour and meet you in New Seattle. You’ll most likely reach the city before us,”Jamiesaid.
“I can’t wait for you guys. I need to get to my family,”Seansaid.
“I understand. Annabelle and Alexei can wait for a pickup at the airport. Depending on what happens, we’ll wait for your arrival, or we’ll gotoyou.”
Alexei blinked a couple of times, Sean’s face blurring in his eyesight, before closing them completely against the pounding in his head. He’d rest, just for a fewseconds.
When he opened his eyes again, the vehicle was stopped, engine off, and Sean was crouched down in the small space between the middle and rear seats. The ache in his side was dulled but still present. Local anesthesia, but his body’s reaction to the neuro-jammer hit meant the area hadn’t been numbed completely. The heat had tripled to a scorching blanket that filled the SUV he was sprawled in. It reminded Alexei of the deserts in Africa and the Middle East, the backdrop to refugee camps on contested borders filled to capacity with people whose homes were no longerlivable.
Sean’s hand was warm on his face, fingers gentle as he quietly urged him into wakefulness. “Lyosha. Lyosha, I need you to wake up. Can you do thatforme?”
