“This isn’t a meeting,” Gabriel said. “This is a national emergency.”
“You ate,” Bulgrov grunted.
“We didn’t plunge the US into darkness,” Gabriel bit out.
Greystone strode over. “What’s wrong?”
“Bulgrov wants water,” Sydney said. “Gabriel says no.”
“Bring a bottle of water into the conference room,” Greystone said.
I wouldn’t give that son of a bitch one damn thing.
Moving as a unit, the team made their way down the hallway. Greystone leading the way while Sydney pushed Bulgrov, followed by Sonya and Dustin. Caroline stayed in the kitchenwith Nurse Baker. Teddy hadn’t finished and remained glued to his seat at the table.
Gabriel glanced over to find Halston by his side. In the midst of this shitstorm, he needed her there. She wasn’t just comforting, she was a necessity.
“You’re like breathing to me,” he murmured.
Her loving smile reminded him that there was still good in the world. “I’m sticking next to the man with the gun.”
“Smart woman.”
“Yes. I. Am.”
Sydney rolled Bulgrov around the corner and into the conference room, setting him up at the head of the table. The team filed in, pulled up chairs.
Rather than sit, Gabriel stood with his back against the wall, his 9mm pointed at the floor.
“G, is that necessary?” Sydney asked. “I mean, the man just had surgery.”
Gabriel arched an eyebrow. He wasn’t dignifying that question with an answer. Of course, it was necessary.
“Bulgrov, what are the details surrounding these blackouts?” Greystone began.
“If I speak, you must let me stay in America,” Bulgrov said. “I go back, I’m a dead man.”
“We already negotiated with you,” Greystone said. “You got surgery. Now, you talk.”
Oh a sigh, Bulgrov glanced around the table. “I tell you. There is secret group in Moscow focused on destroying America. Dangerous people with all the power. They set up sequence of blackouts starting months ago. In small towns, then bigger and bigger. Now, it should be across most of country.”
He paused, eyed Halston across the room. “Minka, we had a good relationship. We work together for long time. Tell them I’m not bad guy. I work hard to improve diplomatic relations.”
Halston said nothing.
“What’s the ultimate goal of the blackouts?” Greystone asked.
“When entire country becomes dark, everything falls apart. America will not function. People become scared. Violent. That is the time when this group will take over.”
“They can’t just take over,” Greystone pushed back. “We’ve got a massive military force.”
“I tell you what I know,” Bulgrov said. “I am told January 15, then January 8. People are kidnapped. I am shot. There is darkness. Group comes and takes over. That is all I know. I call Russian contact. He will tell you.”
“Who is that?” Greystone asked.
“It was Dmitri Petrov, but I know his contact is at Burushgrad, outside Moscow. I get into system. Stop this.”
“Yes,” Greystone said. “How do we do this?”
