“I love tonight too, babe,” Teddy said, “but for a totally different reason. I’m a one-day-at-a time—one-night-at-a-time guy.”
Laughter filled the room, but it was love that filled Halston’s heart. She missed having friends, true friends. Yes, she’d worked with great teams over the years, Caroline had been a phenomenal handler, but she hadn’t been surrounded by people who operated like a pod. Her reality was very different from this late-night celebration. Too soon, she’d be back at work, her defenses up, her radar on full tilt.
She’d been sent to Russia to follow-up on chatter. She’d been positioned to get close to key personnel. Just because she was back didn’t mean the danger or the threat was behind her. She was still hunting for clues as to what the Russians were up to… and when they’d pull the trigger.
“Halston, are you BLACK OPS?” Gabriel asked plucking her from her thoughts.
Silence.
All eyes on him.
“You can’t be talking ‘bout that,” Greystone said, the growl in his voice a warning.
“Back off,” Gabriel scolded. “Let Halston answer.”
“No,” Greystone pushed back.
“We need to take this down,” Sin said.
“Gabriel is doing what he always does,” Greystone said. “He’s poking the bear.”
“Gabriel,” Teddy intervened. “Let it go.”
“Barbianna Bogdanova is Halston Devereux,” Gabriel said. “She knows Caroline, Evangeline too. Either she’s in ALPHA BLACK OPS or she works at Langley. She’s a grown woman who can answer the damn question—or not answer it. I’m not holding a gun to her head.”
“Let’s make some New Year’s resolutions,” Caroline suggested.
Refusing to back down, Gabriel said, “Give Halston a chance to answer my question.”
“Enough!” Greystone snapped.
“I’m happy to answer Gabriel’s question,” Halston said. “I did introduce myself as Barbi.” She shifted toward Gabriel. “I’m an international flight attendant.”
Snickers and muffled laughter filled the room.
She bit back a smile.
He couldn’t hold back his. “You can do better than that, Ms. Devereux.”
“Not a good one?” Halston asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
“I’m a travel writer.”
“That works better with the Russian accent,” Gabriel replied, “but how ‘bout we try therealanswer?”
“I’m lead translator and the Russian Ambassador’s assistant,” Halston replied.
“That’s yourcover,” Gabriel pushed.
“Use your brain, dumbass,” Greystone said to Gabriel.
“You’re a dumbass,” Gabriel bit out.
“I’m thinking you’re both dumbasses,” Sin said, and the group cracked up.
But Halston wasn’t laughing. The power struggle between these two was strong. A combative dynamic that felt like it had history… and legs.
