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He turned back towards her, expectantly before she added. "You'll sleep on the couch out there, won't you? I mean... I... I don't want to bealone."
"I'm not gonna leave your side again until we catch thebastard."
After he'd left, she let the tears she'd been holding back fall. Khloe rolled to bury her face into the pillow, hoping to muffle the sound of hersobs.
Even knowing her guard was outside the bedroom door, she'd never felt as lonely as she did as she cried herself into an exhaustedsleep.
Chapter 5
"You look likeshit."
He hadn't even sat down yet and his boss was starting in onhim.
"Thanks. That's what happens when you have to beat it back to Langley at the butt-crack of dawn." Ryder gladly took the tall cup of coffee offered by Brandon Webster's personal assistant before she quietly left, closing the door on the top-secret meeting about tobegin.
They'd landed at the U.S. Military base in Germany just after the sun came up last Friday. He'd spent less than twenty-four hours on the ground being debriefed before being summoned back to Langley for this early Sunday morning emergencymeeting.
He'd been in this office dozens of times over the years, but this was the first time every chair around the long conference table was full. The fact that this many bigwigs had come in on the weekend gave him a hint of what to expect. There wasn't enough coffee in the world to fortify him for the shit-stormcoming.
Fuck me. This is gonna be a long assday.
He didn't recognize most people in the room, but it was his boss's boss, George Fortin, who asked the first question before Ryder had even taken his first sip ofcaffeine.
"I don't need to remind everyone that this meeting is classified. Nothing said here leaves without my authorization." All heads nodded before he added, "Who the hell authorized you to terminate Viktor Volkov, Helms? Do you realize the trouble you've brought down on the agency with this stunt, not to mention the years of deep cover you've burned in the space of onenight?"
He'd expected the question, but he hadn't planned on having an audience for his debrief. The sound of the agency stenographer typing away in the corner of the room reminded him he was on record, but he wasn't really worried. He'd had enough time to evaluate his actions on his last night in Russia, and he'd decided he wouldn't change anything that had happened other than possibly wishing he'd taken a shot at Artel Volkov before leaving. The world would be a much better place with that asshole six-feetunder.
"As you know, sir, I'm authorized to use all tools at my disposal when faced with life and death situations. I made the best decision I could in the moment and I stand behind every action Itook."
"That's easy for you to say, Helms. You don't have to deal with the fallout. Do you know I got a call from Director Ryan last night wanting to know what the fuck happened with theVolkovs?"
"Did you give him my regards?" Ryder deadpanned, taking his first sip of coffee, unwilling to let these assholes who pushed paper for a living second guess his decision from the safety of their cushy D.C.offices.
"Do you think this is funny, AgentHelms?"
"No, sir. I was there, and I can safely tell you there is nothing funny about thissituation."
"So why don't you start by telling me how Viktor Volkov gotdead?"
"Well it starts with pointing out that Maggie Marshall and her two youngchildrenarealive."
"Surely there was some way to accomplish their rescue without burning years of work and starting World War three by offing one of the most powerful men in a country that is not exactly on friendly terms with us rightnow."
Ryder fought to keep his voice steady through his growing anger. "First, it insults me to insinuate I wouldn't have thought of the consequences, particularly since I've had a front row seat to the power of the Volkov Bratva. More importantly, I've more than proven I'm able to evaluate risks and balance them with the desired outcome of my mission. If I hadn't taken action when I did, an innocent American woman and her two young daughters would be dead. Call me old-fashioned, but I thought we were going to the trouble of infiltrating one of the most powerful crime families on the globe to protect Americanlives."
The only man in a three-piece suit who'd sat silently at the other end of the table broke in, saying, "No one is denying you did a brave thing saving the Marshall family. We need to understand why you killed Viktor Volkov in theprocess."
Ryder chuckled. "I think you have been out of the field a little too long, sir." He was giving the men around the table the benefit of the doubt. He didn't have a clue if any of them other than Webster had served a day undercover or not. "We aren't factory workers. We have to make things up as we go. Gauge risks and weigh potential outcomes; making snap decisions with the information we have in the moment. I've reviewed the mission from every angle and I stand behind myactions."
Brandon Webster, the lowest ranking man in the room other than Ryder jumped into the interrogation with the first sensible question. "Helms, why don't you lay it out for us. We read the report you filed in Germany, but I'd like to hear you walk us through what happened once you entered the Volkovcompound."
Ryder nodded a thanks to his boss for helping reset the room and then launched into a detailed verbal report of everything that happened last Thursday night, beginning with getting into the car with Alexi. He left no details out, talking through his actions as well as his decision making process along the way. It took him two hours of non-stop talking. He was grateful the men around the table didn't interrupt him with stupid questions, only asking for clarification a time or two. By the time he was done, he felt drained and wished he could go home and sleep for aweek.
The men in the room had otherideas.
"Thank you for your detailed report, Agent Helms." It was George Fortin speaking. "While it's unfortunate to lose your connection with the Bratva, you won't be held personally responsible for Viktor Volkov'sdeath."
He chuckled before he could stop himself. When every face was like stone, no one understanding why he was laughing, Ryder added. "Maybe the company isn't holding me responsible, but you can bet your ass that Artel Volkov and his brothers disagree." He sobered before adding, "I'll never be able to turn my car on again without wondering if today is the day I go boom. I'll be watching over my shoulder waiting for them to show up to collect their revenge. They aren't the kind of men to let a betrayal like this go unchecked. Worse, I know I put every agent on the ground in Russia in danger as the family turns over every rock looking forme."
