Page 87 of The Fallen One

The former CIA black site wasn’t on any maps, but it was still owned by the American government. And while it hadn’t been operational in over a year, its age and the elements catching up to it, it’d make do for the meeting with Bravo Team to hand over Diana.

Standing by my co-team leader’s Suburban, I asked Gray, “You’re certain only your father and POTUS know we’re here?”

“Aside from Bravo, of course, yeah,” Gray confirmed, eyes on the rest of Falcon as they unloaded equipment from the other two vehicles.

Sydney was already inside the building powering on the lights, and when the overhead ones outside blasted on, I had to squint with how damn bright they were in the dark of night.

“Don’t trust her mother?” Gray asked, drawing my attention.

To be fair, I didn’t trust anyone outside my team. “More so the people Susan Mackenzie associates with. Not sure who’s really on our side or not.”

“We’re not on the same one?” Gray locked his arms over his chest. I’d once thought of him as a schoolboy West Point grad who’d never cross the lines. Now I knew better. Gray was like me, and he’d do whatever necessary to protect those he cared about.

“I’m not so certain.” I wouldn’t count anyone out as a threat until this case was locked up and closed.

I caught sight of Griffin offering Diana his hand to help her out of the SUV. She’d either fake slept en route there with her headphones on, or she’d truly passed out.

I’d been parked in the front passenger seat, quietly looking back at her every other minute the whole ride. It was possible I was on edge because of her, and misplaced my concerns on the President’s “trusted” people because of it. Better to be on guard than regret something later, though.

Diana peeked around Griffin while he escorted her toward the building, and I could easily make out the frown marring her lips. She’d given me the cold shoulder the last few hours. Well-deserved and then some.

Griffin nodded, letting me know he’d continue watching over her while I was outside. I’d opted to bring Griffin back with us, right where he belonged, with Falcon. Easton and the others could handle Alyona and her men at the temporary location I’d secured for them twenty klicks away from our current spot.

“She going to be a problem for you?” Gray asked, and I stole my focus from that problem back his way.

“Yeah.” No use in lying now. “She knew my wife, and it’s complicated.”

“I’m aware. My father read me in on the situation.”

“Based on the fact you can barely look me in the eyes right now, I’m guessing he told you a little more than that.” Something I won’t want to hear.

“I’ll fill you in with everyone inside.”

Fucking perfect. At the sound of the door thudding shut, and with Diana safely inside, my hand went to my chest as the pressure there returned. “Once she’s tucked away somewhere with Bravo, I’ll feel better.” Now I’m lying. Turning her over was what needed to happen, but it was the last thing I wanted to do. “I assume your sister has been pulled into this?”

“Yeah, Natasha’s doing what she can legally at the Agency to find the source of that email to Alyona. Check its credibility, too. Make sure she’s not playing us. And Gwen’s working on things from . . . other angles.”

Illegal hacking, and I was good with that. Whatever it took to complete the mission was fine by me.

“They’ll reach out when they have something.”

We started for the main building; aside from Mason Matthews, who was doing a perimeter check, everyone had already gone inside. I owed Mason a favor for joining us at the last second, considering only that summer he’d decided it’d be best to part ways with Falcon. First him, then Gwen. We were losing people. At least it wasn’t only because of me. “Where are Mya and Sydney at on running through the lists of names connected to the project in Amsterdam and the American-based one in Montana?”

Gray stopped outside the door and faced me. “They still have a lot of intel to weed through, but they had to put a pin in that research for the time being when you requested us here to assist you.”

Right. “I didn’t want to pull you in on the ground. Sorry about that.”

“You should’ve from the start. We may not have been part of your old life, but we’re part of your new one.” That was almost too sentimental for Gray. “Our covers won’t get blown. Mya’s an expert at giving us new identities. We’ll be fine.”

Fine? Fuck that word, because Diana was anything but fine, and I was now part of that reason.

“Things worked out when we had to go with you to The Sapphire, and that was your old stomping ground. Our covers were solid there, and they’ll be here, too,” he reminded me.

About that. “Alyona knows what happened at the hotel.” Another reason she’s twenty klicks away right now. “I’d rather her never cross paths with the team in case she ever saw any images of y’all, too.” That hotel, a sanctuary for criminals, was connected to an op that brought Gray to the love of his life.

It felt like yesterday they’d announced they were having a baby—the same day I’d learned Diana’s mom was the new Secretary of State.

Gray set a hand on my shoulder, and I focused on his palm resting there, confused at the gesture. That was a Griffin thing to do. “You going soft on me now that you’re going to be a dad?”

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