“Not definitively,” Liam said slowly.
“We flagged an individual that could possibly be Bennett upon the suspect’s arrival to the island, but confirming facial recognition has been difficult. The identity that person landed with isn’t showing up in the resort’s database. We’ve managed to identify the other parties involved, and they’re still present on the island. They wouldn’t be here if Bennett had rescinded his offer,” Oliver said.
“What’s on the table?”
Oliver set his fork down and ran a hand through his short hair. “Chatter indicates the use and location of an off-the-grid Splice lab.”
That wasn’t unsurprising, considering the long-running Pavluhkin mission Alpha Team had worked. “Who are the buyers?”
“Representatives from the Irish mob and theKuntsevkayaBratva. There’s chatter the Reborn IRA is interested as well, but we don’t believe they’ve sent anyone to this meeting.”
Sean fought back a wince at the mention of the Irish mob. One of his past missions for the CIA had seen him infiltrate an arm of the Irish mob while in Ireland. He was supposed to have died in the Belfast Market Blast, but walked away from it as a metahuman. Only years later did he learn Bennett had been behind it all.
Alexei’s lip curled. “Should shoot them.”
“Wish we could, but we need to follow the money,” Liam said.
“Fuck the money.”
“The money is what will lead us to the Splice lab, and to Bennett. As much as you want Bennett dead, your government wants him alive for a telepathic deep scan and to stand trial.”
Alexei scowled, and Sean watched as he stabbed a piece of steak, dragging it through the melted garlic butter on the plate. “Could say finger slipped.”
“It’s not our mission,” Sean reminded him. The glance Liam and Oliver shared made him tense up. “Liam?”
Liam sighed, offering him an apologetic smile that looked more like a grimace. “Bennett has to know you’re here by now, which makes both of you targets if he doesn’t try to immediately flee the island.”
“He’ll try to leave,” Oliver said with hard certainty.
“That I agree with. You two—” Liam pointed at Sean and Alexei. “Your wedding made the news, so he might believe your arrival here is coincidence, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“What about your presence?” Sean asked.
Oliver glanced at Liam. “Liam is unofficially not on the island.”
“But I will be. It was my name that secured us a spot on such short notice. These rooms are hard to get without social clout,” Liam retorted.
Oliver seemed unimpressed by that statement. “MI6 would’ve been happy to handle the mission alone without UMG interference.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Sean shared a look with Alexei at the mildly annoyed tone in Liam’s voice. Sean had a feeling the other man was more pissed off than he was letting on, but it was never good form to showcase division in front of foreign parties.
“Is the UMG involved at all?” Sean asked.
Liam shrugged and leaned back on the couch, a glass of red wine in hand and his plate momentarily ignored. “My team got called up for a different mission. I would’ve gone with them, but I was needed here for some oversight.”
The mild dig at MI6 made Oliver’s eyes narrow. The agent refused to rise to the bait though, and simply chewed on a bite of steak while staring down Liam, who pretended to ignore him.
“So no one knows you’re here?”
“At the moment, no. The cover story is I gifted a trip to a best mate of mine who needed to get away and I’d join him later.” Liam tipped his head in Oliver’s direction. “We thought it prudent the agents running this mission had some metahuman backup. I’m supposed to be a surprise if things go pear-shaped, but now there’s you.”
“On honeymoon,” Alexei reminded him flatly.
Liam sighed. “Yes, but you do provide a better excuse for my presence, and it will get me out of this bloody room.”
“Didn’t marry you.”
