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“Don’t forget Frank Sykes,” Ryker said. “He was the original leader of the Kraken.”

“Good point.” Kostya nodded. He turned to Lark. “So, you’re off making up the alerts. Who wants to take that over?”

“I do. I want to make sure Grandma will wear it,” Landon said with his hand raised.

Kostya nodded. “I’ll put you in touch with the woman who will make these up.”

“Linc, you, Braxton and Nolan do demolitions. Track down where that C-4 came from.”

“The rest of you are going to be with me at the base. We’re going to make a big show of being everywhere the Commander can see us, so it doesn’t look like we’re short men.”

“And when we hear something?” Jase asked.

“Then there will be more assignments, trust me,” Kostya said as he looked him in the eye. “Right now we’re focusing on the right things. We stick with the old leader of the Kraken, Frank Sykes and his two dead lieutenants, Ephram, and Ely, while keeping an eye out for Amanda. That’s more than enough to start on.”

Mateo looked around the room. Every single man had something in common with one another. They had people who were depending on them, people they loved and who loved them back. Everybody but him. If he had one damn word to say about things, he was going to take point on whatever popped up first. He was going to make damn sure all of his brothers got home to their families.

5

“How are you doing?” Mateo asked Jase, after he let him into his condo. He really didn’t have to ask his friend; Jase was clearly wound up tighter than an eight-day clock.

“How do you think I’m doing?” Jase growled.

“Probably—”

Jase held up his hand to halt Mateo’s words as he stalked over to Mateo’s refrigerator, pulled out two beers, and handed one to Mateo before he yanked the cap off his. “Wait a minute, you can have one of these, can’t you?” Jase suddenly thought to ask.

“Or for God’s sake, it’s been a week now. Of course I can. If one more person worries about me and my head, I’m going to punch them in their head.”

“Great, now we’re both going to be out of sorts. Tell you what, let’s both of us agree that your place is a neutral zone? How about it? Anyway, I’m still not over my debt of gratitude.”

Mateo squinted his eyes and glared at his friend. “You know, I had to take all that gratitude shit from your wife, but you and I both know that what I did was the job. It’s exactly what you would have done. So not only will I punch you in the head for worrying about my head, I’ll punch you in the throat for saying thank you…again. What’s more, it’s fucking understood, got it?”

Jase started to laugh. “We’re sure a pair, aren’t we?” He settled down in the chair across from where Mateo was now lounging on his couch in gray sweatpants and a Rush t-shirt.

“You’ve got that right,” Mateo said as he took a pull of his beer. Damn, it tasted good. Almost as good as having someone to talk to. “When is the Lieutenant pulling us together again?”

“Speak for yourself,” Jase muttered. “He’s pulling us sad saps together every day at the base and working us over like new recruits. My muscles haven’t ached this bad since BUD/S.”

Mateo laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“That’s why I came over. Kostya was going to call you, but I said I’d come and pick you up. We’re heading back to his house. Which is a bummer. Liked it better going to Gideon’s. A lot more room.”

Mateo did his best not to shudder. Jase must have caught it, though.

“Sorry, man. I wasn’t thinking. Shouldn’t have brought it up.” He stood up and paced across the room to Mateo’s window and looked out. After a minute he turned back to look at Mateo. “Are you having nightmares?”

“I’ve had one or two. Just imagining I didn’t get Bonnie and Laura down the drive. But none for the last four nights.”

“Bonnie is still having them. She took a room at the Springfield B&B far away from the twins in case she screamed in the night. She finally went to a doctor for sleeping pills.” Jase ran his hand through his hair, then pulled at it. He turned around and gave Mateo a long, considering look. “She needs a counselor.”

Mateo nodded.

“She said now’s not the time.”

Mateo nodded again.

“This is so fucked up. I’m going to kill these motherfuckers!”