AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have no doubt.” I nod to Mason, who clears his throat as he looks around the table. Teagan sits at the end opposite him. I’m sure he’s already filled her in on everything we’re about to discuss, but there’s no deciphering the look they exchange.
“It’s becoming clear the Russian government is somehow involved in the shit that’s been going down here,” he explains.
“And how have we come to this conclusion?” I ask.
“It’s based first on Nat’s description of the team leader who took that knife to her. Since her return, we’ve run the prints of the prick who blew his own brains out rather than be questioned in the garage, and he was a longtime Russian asset.”
The weight of this settles over all of us, and the room remains silent for several moments before Mason continues. “Along with that, there’s the connection to Jonathan.” His voice cracks a bit on the name, and his brows pull together like he’s in pain. “He died in Russia. It only makes sense that the people who’ve worked their asses off to get back at me were from Russia.”
He leans back in his chair, blowing out a sigh as he stares at the ceiling. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to forget about it,” he admits. “But I can’t. It’s impossible.”
“You can’t do that to yourself.” Dallas’s voice is quiet and firm, but clearly disregarded. Mason only blows out a snort before shaking his head. A glance at Teagan reveals her pain as she witnesses this.
“Beverly was wrong when she accused me of murdering my brother. Murder denotes premeditation, and there was none of that. But it was still my fucking fault. I fucked up and somebody out there knows it. Somebody who was involved. A Russian. Maybe a family member of someone we were ordered to kill. Someone looking for vengeance. They knew they could get it through my family.”
He blows out another sigh and goes silent for a long time. There’s nothing for us to say, nothing that could make it better. Everything he says makes sense—though he doesn’t deserve all this guilt he’s heaping on himself. I know he doesn’t believe that. Considering the lengths somebody is willing to go to get back at him, they don’t believe it, either.
Once he has a hold of himself, Mason continues, sitting up straight again. “That’s not all.” He looks at Dallas. “Over the past few days, I’ve tried to reach out to the other members of the SEAL team.”
“And?” Trent prompts.
Mason’s jaw works while Teagan emits a strangled whimper. “And they’re all dead,” he mutters.
My eyes go wide. “All of them?” It’s unbelievable.
“Everyone. I don’t know if they saved me for last, or if I was the hardest to track down. Maybe I’ve managed to stay alive longer than everyone else because I’m protected by the hotel.”
Another voice rings out from the hall leading into the room. “Whoever is behind this, they’ve been planning it for a long time.”
We all turn at once at the sound of Natalie’s entrance. She isn’t quite as loud or strident as I’m used to, but she sounds more like herself than she has in a long time as she strides into the room. She didn’t take the time to get changed and is still sporting pajamas and a messy bun, the way she was when we left her.
I feel Mason’s furious gaze burning a hole into the side of my head. Turning his way, I shrug. “She was asleep.”
“Yeah, and the baby woke up to find herself alone.” She pops her hip to the side, glaring at Dallas and me. Between the two of them, it’ll be a miracle if I don’t burst into flames.
One thing I notice: she hasn’t looked at Mason yet. He’s made a point not to acknowledge her. It’s enough to make me roll my eyes. What is it going to take to bring them back together? “Well?” she demands, dropping into the chair beside Trent. “Catch me up. What did I miss?”
“You were not invited,” Mason grits out, staring at the table.
“And yet here I am,” she reminds him. “Somebody start talking.”
At first, it seems like they’re going to wait each other out while the rest of us sit here like smacked asses. It’s Dallas who breaks the silence. “It looks like all of this is coming out of Russia.”
She shrugs. “I could’ve told you that.”
Mason snorts, still going out of his way to avoid looking at her. “Careful. I might have to ask what you mean by that.”
“Obviously, I mean exactly what you think. That I’m somehow in on all of this shit.” She catches me looking at her, and I guess my disappointment shows. She looks away, biting her lip.
Mason releases a deep breath before continuing. “Satellite footage places this guy at a mob-run brothel in Russia. This doesn’t stop until we stop him.”
“Do we have any more information?” Dallas asks.
“Not much. We’re not even sure of his name. Only of his movements—we were able to track him from that power plant straight to Moscow and beyond. He didn’t waste any time running home.”
“We sure as hell can’t wait until he’s in the wind again,” I decide, and a handful of grunts of agreement follow my statement. “I say we go now. Finish him. I still have contact in Moscow that can get us into the country unnoticed.”
“Hell yes,” Trent grunts. Dallas nods firmly, then turns to Mason.
