Page 106 of Code Name: Typhon

Nemesis stood, slammed her laptop closed, and stalked from the room. “We’ll continue this discussion later.”

We wouldn’t be, but I had no intention of informing her. To the Americans—Tank and Blackjack—I said, “Gentlemen, would you also please excuse us?”

They both stood and left the room as if their chairs were on fire.

“What Nemesis didn’t say before she left in a huff is that the deployment is set for two January,” I said once they were out of the room.

Brand studied me but didn’t speak.

“You were anticipating it was imminent, weren’t you?” I asked.

He nodded. “I was.”

“The Sicilians will be wary, which is one of the reasons I stepped in.”

“Do you intend to be my entrée?”

“Ease it, at least. Not to mention, Tweedledee and Tweedledum will be of no help whatsoever. Why in God’s name Nem would send two Americans in with you is beyond me.”

Brand appeared thoughtful. “I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Were you involved in the hit that was to be carried out on me four years ago?”

“Of course I was. However, Scaglione called it off.” There was no reason for him to ever know what it had taken to save his life, so I changed the subject. “You will not be able to communicate with Penelope outside a secure app.”

“Understood.”

Given I didn’t want to take the time to review my history with the Italian crime syndicates, I did something I never did—prepared a brief.

“This will give you insight into my cover as well as my history with both families. It is for your eyes only,” I said, handing him the document.

“Understood.”

I raised a brow.

“Sorry. Understood, sir.”

“There are others not mentioned whom I worked with earlier on, when I was establishing myself. Within those pages, you will find an approximate kill count. Keep in mind those numbers aren’t in any way accurate.”

He looked down at the brief but didn’t open it.

“You’re not going to ask if the number is higher or lower?” I prompted.

“Frankly, I’d rather not know,” he muttered.

“Lower. Much lower.”

His eyes scrunched. “I don’t understand.”

“While those of us in Unit 23 are tasked with eliminating the evil-doers of the world, many of the lives the mob wants terminated are the good guys.”

“How do you prove the deaths?”

“You’d be amazed at what my crew is capable of.” My words appeared to ease some of his tension. “What else do you want to know, Brand?”

After he told me he planned to get with Nemesis to confirm his role would be as they’d originally discussed, I assured him he was going in, in the same role he’d had with the Sicilians years ago—as an art forger.

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