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I whirl and bring my gun up, firing again and again. Parks drops like a weight, the pistol in his hand clattering to the ground as he falls in a bloody, dead heap.
EPILOGUE
MAGGIE
“It’s only a decoy,” I tell Ocean again. We keep going around about this. I’m not sure she is going to let this go.
“That’s okay. I still want it.” Ocean pouts.
She hates the idea of anyone having their hands on advanced technology that she hasn’t gotten to see. It’s funny because once she sees it, she’ll know a few of the patents she sold to Duffy have been used for projects. That woman is on thin ice with all the Parks bullshit, and she knows it.
“It doesn’t do anything. It’s all a show. It’s not equipped with anything. It’s Maverick’s new wingman.” Ocean lets out a gasp.
“I’m not saying I’d replace you with a fake machine!” I rush to add before she loses her mind. “I can steal the stupid decoy plane, but it’s useless. Give it a few more years. There won’t even be a Maverick. Well, not inside, anyway. Soon they’ll all be pilotless with a new F something name. Now that’s one you’ll want to get your hands on.” It will be fully loaded.
I’m not sure what she’ll do with it, but maybe she looks at it like a fancy Ferrari that some men keep in their garages. I actually think she just wants to dismantle it and put it back together. Ocean wants to know the inner workings of it. I would never tell her this, but I think her and Duffy being a team would be good for both of them. It’s easy for me to hack things. It’s not so easy to get your hands on tangible things.
Right now, the decoy fighter jets are just that. They look like all the rest, but they have none of the capabilities of a real one. They’re only a distraction that has a high chance of being shot down. That's the whole point of it.
“A few years?” Ocean asks with intrigue in her tone, knowing that I must have some kind of information.
“Okay, maybe a year,” I admit.
I’m not the one building the damn things. However, I have been helping with some of the technology behind part of it. Some of Ocean’s own mechanics are being used as well. We’ve played together for so long I know how to weave our work together.
This is probably going to come as a shock, but I’ve become a little obsessed with evading and stealth technology. Also with scanning and picking up someone trying to use it.
To this day, I’m still annoyed that I never found my husband's planted surveillance in my own home. It made me realize that sometimes using a bit of basic technology can help you go undetected at times.
It also made Duffy and me come to a new agreement. I was kidnapped by one of her agents, who tried to kill my husband. I only agreed to work withher, no one else. I know it puts her at ease that when we do meet up, my security detail is Owen, my father, and always my eyes in the sky, Ocean.
“Fine, but I’m getting one.” I fight back a laugh. She has no reason to own one, but if that’s what she wants, then who am I to stop her from having it?
“Obviously,” I agree. It could come in handy one day, I’m sure.
“How’s my little munchkin?” I lean over and pull the curtain away from the window. I see my father out in the field behind our new farmhouse taking large steps which I know he’s counting. Matilda mimics him the best she can with her little legs as Alfie perches on the fence and keeps an eye on everything. I love watching them together.
I hadn’t been wrong about knowing Owen and my father would get along. Owen knew my dad and I were kind of a package deal. In fact, when we looked at this place, he asked if my dad would like it too.
“Busy. I think a new bomb shelter is in the works.”
“Really? I’ve come up with a new locking mechanism. I bet your dad would love it.” I let out a small laugh.
“I’m sure he would. Bring it or the plans over for dinner on Sunday.”
We have dinner together once a week. Ocean is Matilda’s godmother even though she can be a bit crazy at times. Not that I have a ton of room to talk, but I know she’d never let anything happen to our baby girl. She’s just as protective and fierce as we are.
I rub my hand against the small bump already forming for our second baby. A boy this time. I wonder what he’ll be like. I love that Matilda has a little bit of both Owen and me in her. It’s so fascinating to me to watch her bloom.
I’ve spent my life reading computer programs in order to predict someone’s next move. It’s not that way with children. They surprise you at every turn. It’s refreshing and makes me think this is what I missed with my own mother.
“Owen going to make apple pie?” Ocean asks. I’m married to one of the world's most deadly men, but all my family and friends can think about is his fresh apple pie.
“I’m sure I can make that happen,” I agree before we end the call.
“Ace.” Owen kisses the freckle behind my ear. “Did you miss me?”
“Kinda,” I tease. I always miss him, but I also know where he is at all times. He doesn’t let me get far, either.
