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“What’s the story with Princess pain-in-the-arse?” Hud asked, leaving no doubt that he and I were on the same page.
We turned to see Kid stepping into the kitchen, the sandwich we’d made for Victoria in his hand, the other half in his mouth.
“Not hungry,” he said, his voice muffled from the huge wad of bread and meat. “I mean, that’s what I assume. She basically told me to screw off.”
I laughed. “Glad you’re the one we sent up there to do it. I about hit my limit with her majesty’s attitude when we crossed the Italian border.”
“You can make it up to me,” he said, coming over to where I was seated and slapping me on the shoulder. “I jump on a metaphorical grenade for you now, and you jump on a real one for me the next time we get into a firefight.”
“Uh, we’ll see about that.”
Hud opened the enormous stainless-steel fridge, poking around.
“We’re light on food,” he said. “Ought to think about stocking up.”
Pyke entered the kitchen right after Hud spoke, printouts in his hands.
“We’ll restock tomorrow,” he said. “Finn’s picking up the tab for whatever we need while we’re here, so I’m fine with eating well.”
“Perfect,” Hud responded. “That means meat, meat, and more meat. And milk. Oh! And if they’ve got the ingredients, I can make me ma’s special haggis recipe again.”
My eyes flashed, remembering the dish when Hud had made it for us back during a mission in Aberdeen, not too far from where he’d grown up. Specifically, I remembered how I wanted to puke my damn guts out when he’d told us what it was.
“Might take a raincheck on that,” Kid said.
“Ah, fine, fine,” Hud said with a shrug. “More boiled stomach for me, then.”
Pyke was at work spreading the papers out on the kitchen bar, putting together a map of the area.
“Alright,” he said, placing his fingertip at a point in the middle of the map. “We’re here. Closest town is all the way down the valley here, a place called Baumtal—population two-hundred-and-thirty. Not the biggest place in the world, but according to the intel Finn’s security agent sent, it should have everything we need to stock up. And whatever they don’t have, we can arrange to be airlifted in.”
“Great,” I said. “We can write a list in the morning when I’ve actually got the brainpower to spare. Right now, I couldn’t think my way out of a wet paper bag.”
“Same here,” Hud agreed. “Might just take a wee snooze on the countertop here.”
“No need for any of that,” Pyke said. “I’ll take the first rotation.”
“Actually,” I said. “Let me do it. I’m feeling a second wind.”
“You sure?” Pyke asked.
“Sure.” The truth of the matter was that the girl had gotten me so damn steamed that I felt the urge to get out in the fresh air and walk it off a bit. Plus, the faster I got my rotation in, the sooner I could conk out.
“You got it,” Pyke said. “We’ll do four-hour shifts, one of us manning the perimeter and one of us on Victoria at all times. The other two can either get some rest or whatever relaxation they can manage. This place isn’t a palace, but we’re going to lock it up nice and tight until we get the all-clear.”
“She’s not going to like that one bit,” Hud said, nodding in the general direction of where Victoria was sleeping.
“Lucky for us,” I said, “that doesn’t matter. Her pops is paying us to watch over his daughter and make sure she stays safe. She doesn’t have to like it.”
Pyke nodded, pulling out a nearby chair and easing himself into it. “Less than a day ago, she was in her palace surrounded by staff ready to do as she pleased whenever she pleased. Now, she’s in a chalet in the middle of nowhere with four ugly roughnecks as her only company. It’s going to take her a little time to adjust.”
“Aw, come now, lad,” Hud said, reaching over and giving Pyke a playful shove. “You’re notthatugly.”
Pyke snorted in amusement. He wasn’t much for screwing around, but I’d been working with the guy for long enough to know that he had a sense of humor buried somewhere in there.
With a grunt, I pushed myself out of my chair and got on my feet.
“Time to get to it.”
