Page 12 of Rafe’s Future

The young man’s apology was a mumble that came with a look of complete chagrin.

“Don’t be sorry, Diaz. Do better. Not only for your teammates, but for yourself.”

“It was a mistake I won’t make again.” A rumbled promise.

“Good. These training exercises are designed so we can learn from our mistakes in a safe place, rather than in the middle of a mission.” Because by then, it would be too late. “Set it back up, boys!” Lena hollered out to make sure those participating had heard her previous order.

She spun around with the intention of heading back in the direction she’d come from when someone called out her name from somewhere up above.

“Director Price!”

“Yeah?” Lena stopped mid-stride and looked up. She used a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding lights.

The agent in charge of the upcoming mission stared down at her from over the upper level’s metal railing. “Phone call. You can take it in my office.”

“Can you take a message?”

His expression was unreadable as he gave a slow shake of his head. “Pretty sure you’re going to want to take this one.”

Okaaaay . . .

Lena blew out a breath, turning to the agent she’d “killed” a moment ago. “Tell your team to take five.”

“Copy that.” Diaz dipped his chin before heading out to round up the rest of his assigned team.

Lena followed him before taking a short-cut through another section of the closed course, walking swiftly toward the nearest exit. Minutes later, she was inside her colleague’s upstairs office. She went straight to the man’s desk and picked up the black receiver, which had been left off its cradle.

“This is Director Price.”

“Hey, Lena.”

Her brows dipped as recognition of the man’s voice sank in. “Roger? Is that you?”

Roger Wilcox, her former boss and mentor, had taught her everything she knew about being Director of Operations within the CIA.

“Long time no chat,” her former boss quipped. “What’s it been, two . . . three years?”

“Almost four.” Four years next month, to be exact. “How’s retirement treating you?”

The man on the phone let out a deep chuckle. “Don’t tell my wife, but I’m bored out of my fucking mind.”

Lena smiled. “You could always come back, you know?”

“Are you kidding?” He chuckled. “My wife would kill me if I even considered it.”

A short pause ensued, persuading her to get to the point of her old friend’s call.

“What’s up, Rog? Must be pretty important for you to track me down here.”

After a quick clearing of his throat, Roger shared, “There’s been a development. One that, I’m sorry to say, involves us both.”

“What kind of development?” Lena helped herself to the high-back, leather-bound chair. A bad feeling began to settle deep within her gut.

“Alexei Kozlova has resurfaced.”

The breath in her lungs escaped past her lips in a hard, dizzying rush. Kozlova was an unwelcome blast from her past. The only target of hers to have ever successfully escaped.

“It’s been almost thirty years.” Lena swallowed.