“Don’t you mean, somemoreterrorists,” Sydney asked with a smirk.
“Exactly,” Slash agreed.
“Before I make that happen, I need to know if you’re interested,” Greystone said.
“One hundred percent,” Sydney replied. “But I have one condition.”
“Ah, there it is,” Sin said, as the team released a collective groan.
“I’ve been searching for a misogynist and international sex trafficker named King A,” Sydney said. “His second took out a fellow Operative, my friend Naomi. I’ll help you with your plan, if you get me that case.”
She explained to the team that she’d been on lockdown and she hadn’t heard anything from her supervisor.
“I’ve been working it from here,” Sydney confessed, “and I finally got a solid lead. If Tank will partner with me, I’ll be your sharpshooter.”
Teddy needed this gig to happen. BLACK OPS were beingtargeted for elimination, one by one. The next time, they might not be so lucky.
A shudder flew down his spine.
C’mon Greystone, say yes.
His dogged determination to annihilate this terror group before Inauguration Day had him gritting his teeth while his fingers curled into tight fists. If Greystone wouldn’t allow this, his mission would come to a grinding halt.
“Devi farcela, Greystone,” Teddy said. “È una cosa più grande di te, più grande di me. Questa missione è il motivo per cui BLACK OPS esiste. Se non li eliminiamo, non meritiamo di far parte delle forze speciali. Non è solo una lotta tra noi e loro, è la lotta della nostra vita per preservare la democrazia nel suo nucleo.”
Silence.
“Slash, translate,” Hawk said.
“Geez, are you kidding me?” Slash blurted.
“I can give it a try,” Sydney said.
“Please,” Slash replied.
“Here goes,” Sydney began. “Tank said, ‘you gotta do this, Greystone. It's bigger than you, bigger than me. This mission is the reason BLACK OPS lives—” She paused. “No, sorry. Tank said, ‘it’s the reason BLACK OPSexists. If we don't take them down, we don't deserve to be Special Forces. It's not just us versus them, it's the fight of our lives to preserve democracy at its core.” She glanced at him and Greystone. “How’d I do?”
“Perfetto,” Teddy replied, before eyeing the team. “What’s the verdict? Are we doing this?”
In response, he received a chorus of “Hell, yeahs.”
Excitement coursed through Teddy.
“Congratulations, Teddy, we’ll do it,” Greystone said. “Sydney, I’ll make the temporary move happen. You and Teddy work out the deets and keep us in the loop.”
And just like that, Teddy was paired with the love of his life.A badass Special Op he’d just learned was an Olympic markswoman. In that moment, his world clicked into place. He always believed he would take out the terror cell. But now? He had a partner by his side with more smarts, more cunning, and more determination that he could have ever imagined.
He was ready to burn down the house… and he couldnotwait.
“Let’s figure out when we’re gonna set up this gig,” Sin said, “and move the players into place.”
“Monday,” Teddy said. “We’ll close the restaurant for a private event and get the word out.”
“ThisMonday?” Greystone asked. “In three days?”
“Yes,” Teddy said.
“We got this,” Slash said. “I’m in for whatever you need.”
