Page 41 of Killer Sins

Kate blew out a breath. “No wonder you’re always un-armed.”

Amused by their antics, Bridger set aside his empty plate. Crazy as they could drive him, he wouldn’t trade this crew for anything. Well, almost anything, he amended, mind straying homeward again.

Paige looked up from her bank of computers, blowing a stray wisp of blonde hair off her forehead. “I’m set to flood social media again first thing tomorrow announcing Tenaya and her hot new husband will be attending that big charity dinner.”

She grinned wickedly. “I made extra certain all employees of the Russian embassy and the Russian-heavy country clubs see it. Zhezhnov’ll know where Tai and Tenaya will be tomorrow evening.”

Bridger sat forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Let’s go over the positioning one more time.”

They hashed out logistics, designating sniper positions and tactical roles. Bridger’s adrenaline rose with each detail ironed out. Working through a coming op always cranked his pulse whether he was leading an assault or running solo recon. This time it was even sweeter. Bringing down a psych-job like Zhezhnov would make the world safer.

The team’s comfortable camaraderie filled him with satisfaction. Hand-picked by Graham and Bridger’s mentor, Pegasus, before she retired, BlackOut Squadron had gelled into an unstoppable crew over the years.

He trusted each of them with his life. Except maybe Fenn in the kitchen, he amended silently, grinning at the thought.

“I wish Jason would resurface,” Mason rumbled. “We could use his skills tomorrow night.”

Bridger’s amusement faded. Their missing teammate’s conspicuous absence gnawed at them all. But he knew in his heart they’d get their friend back. Not just his friend, his soon-to-be brother-in-law. The man Jane wanted walking her down the aisle.

Mason made a face. “You really think some Consortium flunky could take Jason out permanently? Not a chance.”

The statement was met with knowing looks. None of them believed their resourceful teammate was gone for good.

“The Jay-man’s got more lives than a cat,” Kate said wryly. “He’ll turn up when he’s done making somebody sorry they crossed him.”

“He should let us help,” Mason grumbled. “We’re better together.”

Bridger blew out a breath. No argument there. “You know how he is. Thinks he can take down an entire cabal solo.”

“The man has an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.” Graham shook his head, a hint of pride beneath the gruff words. “Remind you of anyone?” He pinned Bridger with a pointed look.

Bridger suppressed a wince. Okay, fine. He and Jason were more alike than he wanted to admit.

“Jay-man’s just trying to draw their fire,” Fenn argued. “Keep the target off our backs.”

“Which is idiotic,” Kate fired back. “The Consortium paid us sixty million dollars to walk away. Why come after us now?”

Bridger shrugged, playing with a stray thread on his fatigues. “Maybe trying to cover their tracks permanently.”

“They should’ve killed Jason first in that case,” Graham pointed out. “He’s the biggest threat with what he knows.”

Unease twisted Bridger’s gut. As team leader, any risk to his people felt like a personal failure.

“Jason needs us. We gotta nail this crazy Russian and get back to bringing him home,” Mason said gruffly.

A round of emphatic agreement answered him.

“Soon as we wrap this stalker case, I’ll put all our resources on finding Jason,” Bridger promised. “Whatever hole he’s gone to ground in, we’ll dig him out, ready or not.”

That earned him fierce grins all around. When this crew put their minds to something, nothing stood in their way for long.

Graham nodded approvingly. “Wouldn’t expect anything less. We don’t abandon our own.”

“Alright team, settle in and grab some rest.” Bridger stood, rolling his shoulders to ease the ever-present tension knotting his muscles. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

He silently ticked off the remaining items on his to-do list: stop Zhezhnov, drag Jason’s sorry rear end back to Redemption Creek, and then marry the woman of his dreams. Less than four weeks to make it all happen.

Time to kick it into overdrive. Starting with watching Tai play the spoiled playboy. Despite the urgency of their mission, that was gonna be fun.

---