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Chapter 201
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Aegis Group Chapter 202
LUKE'S PALMS WERE SWEATY as he held the apartment door for Abigail. He couldn't remember the state in which he'd left it before heading out for the craziest gig of his life. It felt as though he hadn't been home for months. She stepped inside the darkened two-bedroom and he followed her in, glancing around.No boxes. He hadn't left a pile of gym clothes lying around, no stray shoes or socks. All in all it wasn't too bad. He could have vacuumed, and his clean laundry was piled on the coffee table, but otherwise it was decent. It only got better right before his mother arrived on one of her unannounced visits."It's not fancy or anything-""It's nice." Abigail walked to the overstuffed sofa and slowly sat down. Her face didn't betray any pain she might be feeling, but he could see it. Two weeks ago he wouldn't have, but he'd begun to read her non-expressions for what they really meant."You want anything? A drink? Something to eat? I could order food.""No, everything's fine. T
Aegis Group Chapter 203
ZACHARIAS PACED THE EMPTY office suite.Fifteen minutes.Where the hell were they?He adjusted the cuffs on his shirt. The suit didn't fit quite right, but he didn't have time to see a tailor. An off-the-rack suit would have to do. For now.But punctuality was clearly more than his new clients could manage.He took another back and forth tour of the meeting spot.Night swaddled the city in darkness, broken only by the street lights. This part of DC was quiet at night. All the better for a meet. If his customers would just hurry the fuck up.He glanced again at his phone.No messages.No signal.The damn Koreans were grinding his patience down to nothing.A car turned down the street. The streetlights gleamed off its dark exterior. The car slowed and turned into the lot next door."Is that them?" Zacharias asked over his shoulder."Yes, sir. Perimeter has verified their identity."Money could buy a lot of things. Decent help was one of them."Finally," Zach
Aegis Group Chapter 204
LUKE STARED AT THE bastard's smug mug on the screen and wished he could rip it off the fucking wall. If only Baron had the nerve to step into a room with him. Luke would tear the man limb from limb, if only for the hell he'd put Abigail through.She-was amazing.In a room crowded with the heads of Aegis, Admiral Crawford, Mr. Stevens, Zain and a few others, a handful of FBI agents and two state-side Mossad liaisons, Abigail stood out. She was a beacon of calm amid what was becoming a fucking three ring circus."Gentlemen. Ladies." Baron's voice crackled over the speakers. "What we know is that a rogue Mossad operative is on American soil. What next? That's what we're trying to find out. Not whose fault it is."The way the admiral was staring at Baron's face said it all-bullshit.Baron was trying to deflect the blame sitting squarely in his lap. And succeeding."What were his last known coordinates?" FBI Supervisory Special Agent Ryan Brooks aimed a tempered version of Admir
Aegis Group Chapter 205
LUKE OPERATED IN A kind of heightened-state-trance. The binoculars might as well be glued to his face, probably because he'd stared through them for almost two days straight. He was constantly aware of every fluttering leaf, bending branch and breath Abigail breathed. He'd drank so much coffee he could smell colors.Working with her, like this, it felt natural. As if they'd been a functioning team forever, instead of forty-eight hours."Any movement?" she whispered."Not yet."The scrape of her pencil on paper had become a comforting sound.It signaled progress. Or something.She jotted down more notes. Always writing. There was a complete log of their movements, who Zach spoke with, where he'd transported the bomb, everything. If they hadn't moved when they had, striking off on their own, they'd have missed Zach's team extracting the bomb from Arlington entirely. In the last forty-eight hours they'd remained stuck to Zach and his team, always out of sight."They've got t
Aegis Group Chapter 206
ABIGAIL SLITHERED THROUGH THE bushes, turning her body this way and that to leave as little of a trail as possible.This was crazy. This whole plan could go so terribly wrong if one thing didn't go the right way. But wasn't that the way most things happened?She wiggled under the hedges until she could see the open field.The four men had stopped the cart and placed what appeared to be a cooler next to an empty picnic table. It was one of the large, white ones that could hold a metric shit-ton of ice and drinks. The bomb would be packed in pretty tight. If it was her, she'd have carved the inside out, removing the insulation and only leaving the outer shell.Great, now she was brainstorming how she'd set off a bomb.But wasn't that the point all along?Zach had taught her most of what she knew about setting explosives. What she'd learned in her Taliban crash-courses was crude, rudimentary. Nothing like the sophisticated devices Mossad favored.And she'd had one hell of a
Aegis Group Chapter 207
LUKE STARED THROUGH THE scope and fired off another round.Of the ten men, five were down. He knew where two were. Zach had disappeared and two more had to be in the shed.He rose, keeping the gun up, and crept down the hill. The blaze of the burned out car was starting to die down. The sound of the flames made the back of his neck prickle with memories of Libya and pulling Abigail out of the burning building, halfway dead already.His knee-jerk urge was to go to her. Protect her. But he couldn't.He had to find the gas.She took care of the bomb.He got the gas.Something moved at the corner of the utility shed.He swung to his left and fired. An answering blast of muzzle fire blossomed, but the shot went wide by maybe thirty feet.Luke quickstepped forward toward the injured man and the shed, skirting the building by a wide berth.The injured man rolled over on his back, hands grasping his chest.If this were a war zone, he'd let the man bleed out or kill him as
Aegis Group Chapter 208
THE NEWS PLAYED THE same damn thing over, and over, and over again.Luke swigged more beer. His mother sighed and said something to...was it Marco who'd come over? He'd stopped paying attention to the parade of people in and out of his apartment after the admiral had checked on him. No one else mattered.Abigail was gone."We take you now to the FBI for new developments on this botched terrorist attack." The news anchor stared out of the TV, straight at him, her gaze condemning him for not saving Abigail. As if she knew he'd failed her.SSR Ryan Brooks stood on the steps of some federal building, a few sheets of paper in his hands. Microphones from every station pointed up at him, flashes of light going off in his face.The man looked grim but otherwise composed. It was a hell of a change from the guy who'd hauled Luke out of a police cruiser and nearly decked him a few days ago. But that was then, and this was now."We have positively identified the last of the remains at
Aegis Group Chapter 209
LUKE DIDN'T WANT TO BE AWAKE.He didn't want to be alive.His bladder had needs.He cracked one eye open.Light streamed in around the blackout curtains, which meant it was probably early afternoon or later.Fuck, when had he come home?Drinking at Marco's had turned rowdy. He was pretty sure they'd broken at least one piece of furniture before Luke had passed out.Christ, he shouldn't drink.He pushed the comforter down. Paper crinkled. He frowned and felt around until he touched a piece of crumpled paper.A note from his mom.God, he was an awful son.He squinted at the words, his still-fuzzy brain puzzling their meaning out. All that really mattered was one: groceries.Luke tossed it onto the nightstand and stared at the ceiling.He'd thrown a pretty epic one-man pity party for the better part of a week. He'd been more drunk than sober for most of it. All the booze did was make him angry-at Mossad, at Baron, at the media, at himself. Nothing could dull the
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Aegis Group Chapter 490: Epilogue.
Two months later. Ekko's Apartment, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.EKKO STARED AT THE table with the spread of food laid out.Was there enough? Did she need more? Would Coco and Paxton like it?She reached out and adjusted the tray of cheese so it was at more of an angle instead of perfectly aligned to everything else.It looked too neat."Stop." Silas took her hand and spun her toward him, capturing her against his chest with strong arms around her waist."It looks like I'm trying too hard." She smoothed her hands up and over his shoulders."Stop. It's just Paxton and Coco.""Your best friend and his fiancé, who I haven't met yet.""What?" Silas' face scrunched up. "You've talked to her dozens of times.""In the background of you and Paxton talking. That doesn't count." She pulled away from him and proceeded to turn dishes a little this way and that."You do realize Coco spends most days digging in elephant shit and stuff, right?""Silas." She scowled at him."What?" He gr
Aegis Group Chapter 489: Thursday. New York Hospital, New York.
IT FELT LIKE THE weight Silas had been carrying around in his gut had now attached itself to his eyelids. He floated in darkness, no longer asleep but not yet awake. Someone had called this twilight once, though he couldn't recall who. Something wouldn't let him go back to sleep. There was something he needed to do. It was urgent.What the hell was it?That nagging question hounded him as he ever so slowly gathered his strength.He wasn't aware of time or how long it took to wrestle one eyelid open, but at long last he peered out of his darkness into...more darkness.Well that was just dandy. What the fuck?He blinked that one eye again, letting his vision adjust. He was in a room and there was a light on, it just didn't do much.Machines beeped and whirled around him.That was a sound he could never mistake and it told him the first piece of his puzzle. From there the others fell into place, one after another.He was still in the hospital.He'd been hurt.There was a fight.
Aegis Group Chapter 488: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO CLUNG TO THE stretcher bearing Silas out to the parking lot.She hadn't realized how bad his injuries were. He was barely keeping his eyes open. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she kept pace with the two paramedics. Silas covered her hand with his as they came to a stop at the bumper of an ambulance.Paxton, Brett and Vito were sitting inside. They were worse for wear and grim, but seemed okay.All around them police were marching uninjured people they'd arrested to sit in a line next to a chain-link fence blocking the sidewalk. The night was lit up with swirling lights that made her head spin."Where's Chayan?" she asked. Her heart was tearing in two, aching for both men.A little distance away an ambulance took off, sirens blaring. She hoped it was the one with Pasley in it."Ma'am, I need to look at that wound," a paramedic said to her.She held tight to Silas' hand. "What about Chayan? Older man, little taller than me? Salt and pepper hair?"Silas had said he was fine.
Aegis Group Chapter 487: Wednesday. New York City, New York.
IGNEY PACED IN A circle, looking down each hall in turn.Where were they? Had he miscalculated? Were they willing to lose the woman so long as they got the man?His orders were clear. Get both the man and the woman.The woman was a symbol. Too many young people had taken to the streets because they listened to others like her.The man though, he knew things.Killing the woman was personal. Chasing her had cast him in a bad light. But the man was more important in the grand scheme of things."Fuck," Igney muttered. He glanced at a pair of men striding for the doors. "You. Come here."The men never glanced at him. Because they didn't understand him?He whirled to face Alban. "Where are the others?""I don't know where Delem and Michil are." He grimaced. "I haven't heard from them since we split up to search the building."That wasn't good.Igney had heard a lot of gunfire. Was it possible the other men he'd brought with him were dead?If both Chayan and Pasley escaped, leavin
Aegis Group Chapter 486: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO'S ONE OFFENSIVE ATTEMPT was an utter failure. Her head spun and she was going to be sick.This wasn't good.She felt like a ragdoll being drug around, first by Igney then another man she didn't recognize. He spoke Daurian though which could only mean one thing.He was London DSS.Her body chilled. Was that from fear or the blows to the head? She didn't know anymore."Come find me, Pasley, or your little bird dies," Igney cackled into the radio.She tasted bile.Pasley had called her little bird back in the park.Igney cackled like a bad movie villain. The man was enjoying this. He was getting off on torturing them all.What about Silas?Pasley was with him.If Pasley told Silas, if he knew, they would come for her. Silas was determined to bring them all home and to keep her safe. But if he did, if he came to her rescue, Igney would kill them. Igney needed her and Chayan. Which meant he couldn't kill her here and now. It was an empty threat. Wasn't it? Did she dare belie
Aegis Group Chapter 485: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS PUSHED HIS GROUP hard as they traversed the second floor. The sun had fully set, plunging them into complete darkness where there weren't windows or other lights.This building was a damn maze, and every turn they needed was blocked by too many people to fight their way through.There had to be more than the fifteen or so they'd estimated. More like thirty.This wasn't good.What about Ekko? Where had the others gone to?He'd hoped getting down here meant they would find her and Paxton, but so far all they'd found were a few bodies. At least they knew Paxton and Brett were eliminating the other side. But no one had taken the ammo or guns. Why? When resources were this precious, why not take them?Could they have gotten free? Did he dare hope?Something thumped in the darkness. Like a heavy footfall.Silas cursed himself as he skidded to a stop. He didn't see anything, but his gut screamed at him. He pivoted and threw himself at Chayan, shoving the other man aside. Silas w
Aegis Group Chapter 484: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
THE DARKNESS FELT AS if it were swallowing her.Ekko clung to the back of Paxton's shirt like he'd directed. She couldn't shake the sensation that there were hands out there reaching for her. That Igney or one of the others were biding their time and waiting for the chance to kill her.Where was Silas? What about Chayan and the others?They'd been separated before she realized what was going on.Behind them a burst of gunfire spurred her on, shattering the silence.She knew it was Brett. Was he trading gunfire with someone? Those shots all sounded the same to her. She hoped he was safe. He was only one man and they had no idea how many were behind them."Stay close." Paxton reached back and pressed her hand to his back.Her head pounded with each and every step. It hurt so bad, but she didn't want to say anything. Her pain was minimal compared to what could happen."Will you cut that out?" Paxton yelled behind them.He side stepped and sort of skipped through a narrow gap betw
Aegis Group Chapter 483: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS GRIT HIS TEETH to keep from telling Paxton to hurry the fuck up. It wasn't like Paxton was slow. The knife on his belt tool was small and no doubt dulled after cutting through several sets of thick, plastic restraints.Sitting like this it felt as though there was a ten pound weight sitting on his guts. He didn't know what the knife had cut, but Silas knew from the woozy feeling and blood making his jeans sticky it wasn't good. He had to get the others out of here before his clock ran out."Which way did they bring you up?" Silas asked Brett instead of chafing at how long getting free was taking.Brett stood by the door, a discarded piece of wood held as a weapon. "We came in some doors, up a stair to our right then a long walk down here. You?""Different way." Silas grimaced. "Do we retrace our path, or avoid it? How many people were with you?"Brett grimaced. They'd been hooded when they arrived. "Hard to say.""Let's assume at least the three that came in here plus one o
Aegis Group Chapter 482: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO STARED IN SHOCK, her head spinning as the men left the room again."S-Silas?" she whispered so softly she barely heard herself.He slumped sideways groaning.Had that man-that monster-just stabbed Silas?"Man, Silas, dude, talk to us." Paxton had scooted forward, his arms extended behind him, attention on Silas."I'm fine." Silas' voice was strained. "Brett, Vito, how are you two?""Alive," Brett groaned."Vito? Man?" Silas shook his head and sat up straighter."Fine."This was it.Ekko swallowed.They'd done everything and in the end, they were outplayed.The DSS would kill them. She wasn't sure why they hadn't already, but she didn't doubt that death was the final move. All of these people, they were going to die because she'd been arrogant. She'd thought she knew what she was doing, when in fact she hadn't a clue.A sob tore out of Ekko making her already aching head pound harder."Ekko?" Silas called out. "Ekko, listen to me, this is going to be okay. Pax?"A ch
