CHAPTER ONE
Kirk’s phone was on silent and it’d been vibrating for the last few minutes. He didn’t want to walk away just yet.
Mary MacKenzie was being laid to rest on a rainy day. There were so many Navy SEALs and military personnel gathered, one would think a very important warrior had passed. But this was Mary MacKenzie, mother to the MacKenzie brothers, a sweet woman who had managed to get so many warriors who came to visit the MacKenzie compound to love her as they would their own mother. And under the cloudy sky, rain coming down, these brave men had tears in their eyes.
Kirk Ryan had attended more funerals than he’d like. He came from a military background, with an extended family of friends, relatives, and associates who interconnected in various government branches or, like him, in independent contract service, as his kind sometimes referred to itself when talking to strangers. Attending funerals was important to an NSA fixer like him. People who were hard to get ahold of, whose security was so tight one would have to go through layers of red tape to reach, were suddenly standing within talking distance. He usually could get an introduction or a chance to get someone’s attention.
He was a troubleshooter, one who could find a solution to a difficult situation, but today, he could not fix this. He could not be objective when two dozen SEALs, some of whom were his good friends, men with lethal eyes and steady hands when it came to warfare, openly cried in the rain at the words softly spoken. A beautiful celebration of a life. His cousin, Archer, standing beside him, was all choked up for a few moments.
He touched Archer’s elbow and signaled he had to go. Depending on his contact, he was going to miss his turn to offer the MacKenzies his condolences. His cousin nodded back at him.
Kirk hung back as the people moved forward to file past the grieving family, looking for the right opening to melt away from the crowd. He was good at disappearing without people noticing. As he took a few steps backward, his gaze caught Declan MacKenzie’s.
Declan wasn’t most people, though. He ran MacKenzie Securities and before that, black ops for the government. A few friends had joked with him that Declan had eyes on the back of his head because he always seemed to know everything happening around him. Just a glance and the message was conveyed.
Kirk paused for a moment, wondering why he was being told to stay put. It had to be something important for Declan to single him out. He nodded back before sidling off to find a private spot to make his phone call.
“Indonesia,” the voice on the other end said. “Takeoff at 0600 DC Wednesday.”
His next stop. Instructions arrived via an encrypted message. Usually, he was given three days to prepare but this time, it was less than forty-eight hours. Something urgent. He resisted the urge to leave.
Usually, he would excuse himself as soon as possible to find out more information about his next assignment. Prep work was important in his job. However, paying his final respects was important too and although he was a loner by nature, this was family. His heart ached with the loss of Mary MacKenzie. Even though he hadn’t hung around her as much as some of his friends and cousins, she had always remembered to send him cards and invitations to family get-togethers and always was so sweet and kind when he did manage to show up. No one could resist her gentle charm. It was going to be so hard to come visit and not see her familiar figure. It’d be a hundred times more so for the MacKenzie brothers, who had adored their beloved mother.
He sighed and bowed his head, wishing he could do more than give his friends words of comfort.
Later in the evening
“Thank you for staying,” Declan said, looking around the room. “I know some of you are keeping a tight schedule. I appreciate that you’ve made time to be here.”
Kirk studied the group sitting in the private room—mostly SEALs, the MacKenzie brothers, and several of the operatives working for Declan. He was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected to be included in such an exclusive group meeting.
It’d been a very long day emotionally and the mood in the room was subdued. Some of the men had changed out of their suits and ties and some of the SEALs were already back in fatigues, with their gear at their feet. Even so, there was a quiet air of expectancy. Declan had summoned them here for a reason.
“Coffee, anyone?” One of the operatives showed a pot.
“Yeah.”
“Please.”
“Wish there was something stronger,” one of the SEALs said. “Sorry, Dec. Didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I just heard all the details two days ago. About Holland. About what he did. It’s finally sinking in.”
Declan’s expression hardened. He nodded. “I know, Lucas. Holland’s betrayal has really shaken the Teams. Those who couldn’t make it here, who knew Mom, called or sent messages. But mostly, I’m getting asked whether it’s true, that one of our own would be responsible for her…” He paused, swallowed, and continued, “death. But this is why I’ve asked the STAR Team to be present at this meeting.”
“What can we do to help?” Another of the team spoke up.
“I’ve talked to Admiral Madison, Hawk, and hope to borrow a few of you for a mission,” Declan said.
Kirk looked closely at the team of SEALs sitting next to Lucas, mentally recalling their names from earlier introductions. Hawk was obviously the leader and next to him were Jazz, Mink, and Milos. The other three were scattered around the room. He’d heard about this team. STAR—Standing and Ready—SEALs, a special team under the command of Admiral Madison. Off the books, all black ops, connected to certain joint ventures to look for CIA moles abroad.
Lucas was a big guy. His tight grip on his soda can betrayed his anger. Kirk understood. The SEAL teams were very close knit, sort of a “one-for-all-and-all-for-one” mentality. When one of their own was the traitor, everyone was affected. Kirk’s job as a fixer gave him a greyer world view. His was a shadowy existence, filled with double agents and non-aligned contractors, people who gave allegiance to different factions for personal gain. Life wasn’t a solid brotherhood.
“Why isn’t my old team here too? Only Brady is present,” Shane MacKenzie demanded, his voice hoarser than usual. “Why is Kirk here and none of our top operatives?”
Kirk had wondered about that too. These men weren’t the usual MacKenzie contractors. Also, getting Admiral Madison’s team for any operation was a big deal.
Shane was the commander of the Silver Team at NEVGRU but had recently been forced to retire because of a missile hit that had cost him a leg. Kirk knew, from his cousin, how difficult a time he’d had with adjusting to life, that it was almost touch-and-go for a while. Looking at him right now, one would never know, though. Shane was wearing a prosthetic leg and had been standing at attention all day. Handsome devil. Still fit as an active SEAL, apparently, since he was the one who had taken down Holland. All day, Kirk had studied him, wondering at a quiet side of Shane he’d never seen before and at the woman—he’d heard that was his current love interest—at his side. Right now, because of the subject matter, he had the look of a military man about to draw blood.
“We only need one team,” Dec replied. “Brady and his team have to return to base and take care of their other assignments. Admiral Madison has generously offered to help out with this operation. Kirk’s here because his next assignment is tied to what I want—finding the bastards behind Holland.”
