Page 2 of Lesson In Forgiveness

“Christophe’s your best guy,” Grit ground out.

Something flickered in the dark green eyes watching him, a shadow of concern. A whisper of pain. “Christophe’s head isn’t in the game. For the foreseeable future, he’s benched.”

Well, shit. It wasn’t a shock, really; after the original Alpha team had been slaughtered on a mission, Christophe had blamed himself, as though his presence there might have been his team’s saving grace.

Grit had watched the body cam footage several times, and it was obvious that no matter who’d gone into that house, no one was walking out again. His friend simply couldn’t understand that. “He’s getting help?”

“He’s refusing to admit anything’s wrong,” Atticus told him gravely. “Another reason why he isn’t suited to this assignment. This is a protection detail. I need someone who has his wits about him, a keen eye, and won’t hesitate to take down the threat.”

Grit cast his gaze over to the man sitting beside him. “Is she going to kill me?”

Pale, ice-blue eyes regarded him seriously. “I can’t say she won’t. Tabitha has her own moral code, personal and professional. We were taught not to let anything or anyone get in the way of completing a hit, but once she got out from beneath Dominic’s reign, I imagine she restructured some of what she learned simply to spite him.”

Fantastic. “She hasn’t made any contact at all with Archie or Sonic?”

“No. That tells me she’s traveling, likely on her way back to the States. Archie did some hacking, found the alias Tabitha was using in Ireland, and blacklisted her for flying. That was three days ago; I don’t know who her contacts are over there, but I guarantee she’ll have a new ID for coming home by now.” Jasper rubbed his thumb thoughtfully over his lip. “She might be slightly insane, but she isn’t stupid. Far from it. She’ll know who interfered.”

“Does that put Anarchy or Sonic in danger?”

“I doubt it. Tabitha loves them, as near as she can manage. Love isn’t something we were programmed to feel. We were stripped of any emotion that was counterproductive to the goal.”

“How lethal is she?”

Atticus and Jasper exchanged glances that were not reassuring. It was evident he wasn’t going up against some hardass female he’d be able to neutralize with a few bruises to show for it.

“If she’s of a mind to make things difficult, you’ll have the fight of your life on your hands,” Jasper told him honestly. “We weren’t just put through our paces with different fighting methods and styles; we were physically forced into mastering them. Hundreds of hours of practice, with weapons and without. Dominic expected us to be killing machines, and that’s what we became.”

“Well, not you,” Atticus murmured.

“Just because I don’t use that training doesn’t mean it’s not in here.” Thumping his fist against his chest, Jasper frowned. “Tabitha and my brothers were set on this track, and they’ve stayed on it of their volition. It’s all they know, which means Tabitha in particular is at the top of her field.”

“All right.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Grit mulled that over. The assignment was pretty simple, all in all. Stop the insane assassin from murdering Elias Mitchell. “Does Elias and his family know he’s getting protection?”

“They’re aware.”

“Uh-huh. Cooperative aware or pain in my ass aware?”

Atticus grinned. “Possibly both. I assured them you’d be as unintrusive as the situation allowed. With any luck, this assignment will be over in a week, two tops. Tabitha’s reputation is for recon, then the strike. She doesn’t mess around.”

Now came the question he didn’t really want to ask. “Lethal force?”

Jasper grimaced, but it was Att who answered. “I trust you to make whatever decision you feel necessary, Grit. Tabitha is family, God help us, but you both have a job to do. I’m not going to dictate to you how to defend yourself if it comes down to that. This isn’t exactly a normal assignment.”

It would be if his friend’s sister wasn’t his adversary, he thought. Kill or be killed wasn’t a laughing matter. Hell, killing for the sake of it wasn’t his MO anyway, but he knew that there would be tough decisions ahead if he and Tabitha came to blows.

“Okay, then.” Inclining his head toward Atticus, he sighed. “What time’s my flight?”

“Hayley has all the details waiting for you at the desk. You fly at four.”

Grit checked his watch. Being prepared for immediate dispatch came in handy more often than not; his go-bag was in the bottom of his locker. “Anything else I need to know?”

“Just be careful.” Jasper looked him square in the eye. “Don’t turn your back on her.”

Rising, Grit nodded. “I’ll let you know when I’ve landed and made contact with Mitchell.”

“Any problems, or if you need backup, just say the word.” Atticus stood and shook his hand. “I’ll reiterate Jasper’s sentiments, Grit; be fucking careful.”

“Always, boss.” Snagging his Stetson off the back of his chair, Grit left the comfort of the office and headed straight to the locker room to collect his gear.

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