Page 140 of False Flag

“Sorry to disappoint you. I save the condescension for when we’re alone. Now, leave. I’ve got work to do.”

She turned for the door.

“Oh, and Staci, don’t think I don’t know about the recording you uploaded yesterday. Pull a stunt like that again, and my attorneys will bury you.”

Chapter Fifty

The vacation rental had six bedrooms, enough for the four-man Fire Team plus Jake, Xavier Rivera, Bastian Ford, and Luke Sevick, as long as four of them shared the two rooms with bunk beds.

It was far better than a lot of places Teague had stayed in his military career, and he didn’t mind sharing, but it might mess with his head to see Xavier and Luke again.

He hadn’t met either man during the training exercise that nearly killed him, but Xavier and his then-pregnant wife had been frequent visitors when he was in the hospital. Later, he spent time with Xavier, Luke, and others involved in the final rescue when he returned to the lodge as part of his mental recovery.

He was certain Vicki would say he hadn’t recovered mentally—and she might be right—but there was only one thing that would finish that journey for him, and he had a real shot at making progress toward that goal here.

Osborne and his tech team had been in Malta several times in the last year. Osborne had extensive business dealings with Grigory Laskin, and thanks to FMV and Vicki, Teague was about to get unfettered access to Osborne’s extremely secure data.

He dropped his duffel on the bottom bunk in the larger of the two rooms that were to be shared. He was the first to arrive and could claim a private room, but instead, he’d chosen to take the best bed in a shared room. As far as he was concerned, one of the old guys—like Xavier—could have the primary bedroom.

He pulled out his cell phone and hesitated for just a moment before texting Vicki.

Teague

How long until the signal blockers are down?

Vicki

New phone. Who dis?

He smiled. She would never give him an inch.

The extremely hot SEAL who spent two days in your apartment.

You’re going to need to be more specific.

He laughed.

Yesterday. I was there *yesterday*

Oh. The guy who ate all my yogurt, left the seat up, and never bought me the dinner he promised.

Falsely accused. There was yogurt in the container when I put it back in the fridge.

The next text was a photo of a yogurt container with a scant spoonful at the bottom, which, admittedly, was exactly how it had looked when he returned it to her fridge.

Vicki

This doesn’t count. Yogurt thief. Tried. Convicted. Sentence: Banned for life.

Teague

That seems harsh. No yogurt for life?

Welcome to the find-out phase of FAFO.

But Vicki, we didn’t even get to fuck around.

Much to his regret. Victoria Graves was enticing.