Page 79 of Savage Reckoning

“The way she described it when she arrived here, you were a worthless piece of shit who couldn’t keep his dick under control.”

“She wasn’t far wrong.”

“And now? Where’s it going with you two?”

“We’re working things out.”

“That’s what she said, I seem to recall. Do I need to be on the lookout for another medic?”

“I guess that’s up to her.”

He’s silent for a few seconds, as though he’s uncertain whether or not to continue. Eventually, he opts to press on. “You’re no fool. You’ll have seen there’s tension between Jack and Aaron over who is second-in-command.”

This is news to me. I’ve seen no sign of dissent in the ranks. “If there is, they manage it well. But, yes, I can see the potential. Age and seniority versus blood.”

“Exactly. There isn’t room for a third dog in that particular race. The dynamic is delicate already.”

Now he has me on the back foot. “I don’t want the job.”

“Maybe not, but you would still be seen as a contender. I can’t let you disrupt things, and if you stay…”

“I can play nicely when I have to, but running with a pack isn’t what comes naturally to me. I work alone. I won’t be elbowing my way in.”

He raises one dark eyebrow. “A lone wolf presents a different set of issues. I can do without the hassle.”

I sigh. I could carry on but see no point. His mind is made up. “I get it. There won’t be a problem.”

He gets to his feet, unsteady but resolute. He offers me his hand. “I’m glad we see eye to eye. It was good talking to you, Mr Sawyer. I wish you well.”

“Likewise, Mr Savage.”

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CHAPTER 17

Megan

“I wasn’t expecting that.” Gabe steeples his fingers, frowning. “It’s not Olaf’s usual style. To work for someone else…”

“Maybe he needs the money,” Rome suggests. “He’s had some costly losses recently.”

“Possibly, though according to the boy genius here, he’s offering to do the job pretty cheaply. You’re quite sure he’s the guy?”

Casey and Freddie nod in unison, but its Casey who does the talking.

“We’ve been exchanging covert messages for the last couple of hours. It’s him all right. Olaf Sokolov. And he can’t get to work soon enough. I guess this job is personal as well as a half-decent earner. You’ve seriously pissed him off, Ethan.”

He grins. “Good. Did you relay my instructions?”

“Of course. He has over two hundred men ready to launch their attack the day after tomorrow. Six helicopters, the rest on motor launches. His plan, just as you instructed, is to take us by surprise, overrun the island, and eliminate everyone here. He apparently fancies the place as a holiday home.”

Ethan gives a grim chuckle. “I’ll think about scattering his ashes here. Okay. We have forty-eight hours. Ample time. Get moving. You all know what needs to be done.”

The men disperse, leaving just me, Casey, and Freddie in the hall. Casey’s role, with Freddie, is to monitor communications between Olaf and his men and gather any intelligence she can from it. For myself, I’m at a loose end until the fighting starts, and then I deal with the casualties.

Freddie excuses himself and heads for the kitchen to check out the fridge.

“You and your hunky marine look to be getting pretty cosy,” Casey remarks as soon as we’re alone. “So, you two are a thing again?”

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