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With lightning-quick skill, Buck cut the man twice, trapping his wrist and slicing through tendons, then reaching down and severing the femoral artery at the groin. Each cut was executed in seconds. The guy’s gun fell from his disabled grip, and Buck kicked it away.
He tightened his grip on the knife as the man bled out in seconds.
He turned back to the fray where most of the fighters had either been killed or neutralized.
There was no mercy for the kind of men who kidnapped women—nuns for fuck’s sake—to subject them to unspeakable acts. Those sisters’ prayers had been answered and he was their avenging angel.
A-fucking-men.
* * *
Blitz gaveGator a confused look as they entered the briefing room, Bree on their heels. It didn’t bode well that he avoided Blitz’s gaze. Inside was Hollywood, their CO, Isabelle, Harley, Kat…and Volkov.
What the ever-loving fuck was he doing here?
They took seats at the conference table. Something big was up. The tension in the room was strong. Isabelle cleared her throat. “We have a situation that has to be resolved now.” She glanced at Volkov, who looked like he was going to come out of his skin. “For those of you who don’t know him, this is Russia’s DC Ambassador Aleksei Volkov.” She set her hands on the conference table and leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you is highly classified and cannot be repeated to anyone outside of this room.”
Gator sighed, still avoiding Blitz’s gaze.
Gator knew what was going on, and he didn’t like it.
“Ambassador Volkov is defecting to the United States.” She let that sink in for a moment. “But that’s not all. He has physical evidence that Leonid Olenska, his daughter, Anya, and his son, Uri conspired with Aleksei’s father Pavel Volkov, the Foreign Minister in the Kremlin to assassinate Ambassador Ogden and his family.”
Blitz wondered what the hell he, Gator, and Bree were doing here. So let the guy defect. What did this have to do with two SEALs and an FBI agent?
“He is willing to trade that information to us, but he wants his mom and sister liberated from Russia.”
“What?” Blitz said, a gnawing, uneasy feeling twisting through his gut. “Is that why we’re here?”
Hollywood gave him a hard stare. “Yes, that’s why you’re here.”
“What is Agent West’s role in this?”
“Harley Quill, who is a CIA Shadowguard, will remain with the ambassador to protect him, therefore, we need someone who speaks fluent Russian,” Hollywood said.
Anger rising in him, Blitz clenched his teeth. “You can’t be serious. She’s not trained for this.”
“Wait one second,” Bree said, glaring at him. “I’d like to speak for myself.” It was clear she was annoyed at his response. “Where exactly in Russia are the Volkovs?”
“Moscow. You will be flown to Finland, pick up a plane, and parachute into the outskirts of Moscow. You will then make your way to the Volkov estate and extract the two women. The CIA will provide transportation and egress from the city.”
“Parachute?” she said, her voice a bit uneven. “I’ve never parachuted.”
“We’re aware. Blitz will buddy jump with you,” Hollywood said it like an order.
“Why the hell can’t you get someone from the CIA to handle this in country?” Blitz said, anger rising in him. He restrained the urge to slam his hand against the table.
“They’re too closely watched,” Kat said.
“Is there a problem, Petty Officer Berenger?” Hollywood pinned him with an unforgiving look, but Blitz couldn’t seem to back down.
Drawing a deep breath to keep the anger out of his voice, he said, his tone flat, “This is dangerous and risky for Agent West.” He made the muscles of his face relax, then inhaled again. “She’s not trained for this kind of an op.”
“So, you’ve said,” Isabelle replied then turned to Bree. “We don’t have an alternative Russian speaker we can get here or to Moscow quickly enough. We want the intel that Ambassador Volkov has. It’s imperative to bring the people responsible for the brutal murders of the Ogdens to justice. Are you willing to take on this mission?”
Bree didn't hesitate. “Yes, ma’am. I’m confident I can be an asset to the team. I know Moscow well.”
The memory of soft skin and warm body, the many hours they had partnered together, the hours they had spent talking, her courage, and her skill set weren’t in question. He hadn’t been the same man since he’d met her. The thought of her in that much danger sent his protective instincts off the chart. “No!” Blitz said and realized it had come out of his mouth. He was standing, his chair had been ejected and hit the wall from the force of his abrupt rising.
