Page 304 of Scars of Fate

“I was resting.”

“You said that already.”

“It remains true.”

Ghost studied the photograph.

“Kane isn’t underestimating you. He’s counting on your loyalty.”

“What does that mean?” Russ asked.

“He knows you won’t leave the civilians. The hospital threat may be designed to hold you there.”

“To keep them away from Geneva,” Wynn said.

“Why?” I asked.

Ghost looked toward the radar screen tracking Kane’s aircraft.

“Because his men are carrying the metal tag and the evidence drive to Geneva. He doesn’t want the entire Brave waiting when they arrive.”

I stared at the aircraft’s flight path.

“If Kane wanted the encryption key destroyed, he could have ordered his men to destroy the tag.”

“No,” Ghost said. “He needs the drive decrypted first.”

“Then?”

“Then he’ll destroy the drive, the tag, and everyone who knows what they contained.”

Including Wynn.

Including me.

Adam looked toward the medical jet.

“We proceed with both missions. No contact over military channels. Hawk establishes a private frequency between the aircraft.”

“If either team loses communication?” Boone asked.

“We continue.”

Boone’s humor disappeared completely.

“No one turns back.”

Adam nodded.

“No one.”

The words hung between us.

We had spent the entire night refusing to divide.

Now we had no choice.

The Brave gathered in the center of the control tower.