“They are calledThe Hunters, and they are all decorated Marines. They are damn good at what they do, mostly special forces things. Right now, they are working on taking down Von Donore andThe BlackStone Group.”
That she knew about.
Gabe had vetted her in earlier today.
“The dudes that betrayed our military and got soldiers killed?” she asked.
He nodded.
“They are a weapon, and she is the handler. In fact, she’s the head of them. They are her people, and they answer to her. Without them, we would have been infiltrated a few times. You’re going to learn that her job is not cut-and-dry. Nothing in her life is, but she’s vital to America’s safety.”
“Okay. What do you want? Because I can still feel the lead up to it.”
He went there.
“She won’t be wrangled. I’m telling you right now that if she needs something, let her have it. If she makes a decision, give her the leeway to do it. She is my most trusted ally in DC, and she is an asset. Let the dog off the leash and let her do her job.”
And there it was.
Kate was to the point.
“For the record, Gabe, I understand. She’s a good egg, and a damn good agent. Again, like I said, most of us all came up wanting to be just like her. If you think I’m hassling my idol, I won’t, but you have to tell me what the boundaries are. I’ll stay in them. I’m a color inside the lines kind of girl.”
He didn’t mince words.
“You were hired because you are her opposite. Axelle was hired for the same reason, but it failed. You never know when a team will work or fail, but I need you two to work. You don’t have to be her best friend, and you don’t have to understand her motives, but you need to know they are sanctioned by me.”
She shrugged.
“Okay. I get it.”
He wasn’t done.
“You will run the FBI, and she will continue to run her division, and handle the military, as she does. You two have the chance to change DC as a power couple. Two women working side-by-side to break through that glass ceiling is something not seen often here.”
She was confused.
“Axelle is a woman.”
He stopped her.
“Axelle was a CIA agent who never stopped being a CIA agent. They play by different rules. You’re an FBI Fed to your core. Your father was an agent. You and Elizabeth have bled for this badge. Axelle was more loyal to the CIA than the FBI.”
That hung there.
“Did she go back to the CIA?” she asked. “There are rumors about that.”
He nodded.
“She did. That is also off the record. As for you, you were picked because of your loyalty, and because Elizabeth told me you were going to do the job the best, even better than her. You’re the one who will handle the media, and she’s going to handle the dirty things most people don’t want to handle.”
She was honest.
“We all know she’s your pitbull, Gabe. There is no mincing of words when her name comes up. She’s your golden child and always has been.”
He said nothing.
Because it was the truth.
