Page 12 of Logan

Logan sat, his face impassive, as he listened.

“I know you ran a rescue several months ago for one of the Saints Protection team members and a scientist who was stuck in a snowstorm in Canada. I even know that scientist, Kendall Rhodes, worked for a lab identifying some of the threats.”

“What’s that got to do with this?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

“You have the skills to identify terrorists and eliminate the threat if it is proven that there is one. But you don’t have the scientific background to analyze the biologics. You can’t just blow up a lab without knowing if any organisms present would be deadly if airborne. For that, you need someone’s assistance.”

“We won’t be working alone? We’ll have a civilian to contend with?”

Donald’s lips pinched together in frustration. “The DHS employee I’ve chosen has a background in biology, but they’re not an agent. Just a biologist. They will simply be there to assist with the detection of a true threat. Once that’s done, they’re out of there. It will be up to you to destroy the threat.”

A frown knit his brow as Logan’s mind raced through the proposed mission. “Doesn’t the necessity of the other person negate the absolute secrecy?”

“Not at all. They work for DHS, and I fully vetted them. They hold a security clearance. They don’t have your skills…at all,” Donald added for emphasis. “But they would be able to detect what the terrorists are cooking up. Then, like I said, they’re out of there, and the elimination is up to you.”

Logan’s mind continued to filter through the possible mission. As a SEAL, he had no say in what missions the team was sent on. But now? He had final control of any assignments his company undertook.

The addition of a partner was troubling, but he understood the necessity. None of his Keepers had the scientific background to know what biologics he would find. Eliminating the threat would rely on what biological terrorism might be let loose in the process. “So there’s little working together with the biologist? We track the terrorists to see what they are creating, and heanalyzes the threat to see how to get it destroyed and then leaves so I can finish the job?”

“Yes, basically, you’re on your own.” Donald’s expression held steady.

“And when would this assignment commence?”

Donald pressed his lips together for a moment, then said, “In two days. You’d need to be in Alaska the day after tomorrow?—”

Logan hid his surprise and irritation. “How the hell do you expect us to be able to plan for a mission of this scope in less than forty-eight hours? Need I remind you that we’re still obtaining equipment and training?”

“You can do this. I know you can,” Donald retorted. “It comes down to whether you think you can handle this type of assignment.”

Silence reigned for a moment, with neither Donald nor Logan giving an inch in the stare down worthy of an old western standoff. Finally, Logan shifted his gaze around the room to see the other Keepers watching him. His skin felt uncomfortably tight, as he knew they waited to see what his decision would be.

“Give me an hour to talk to my team, and I’ll let you know.” Disconnecting, he turned to the others at the table, but they remained quietly waiting. Not one to blurt every thought that came to him, Logan drummed his fingers on the table.

The chance to work a dangerous but necessary mission. The chance to investigate. The chance to do something more than deal with security escorts, lost hikers, and security systems.It was exactly the type of assignment that called to him. Sucking in a deep breath, he nodded before lifting his gaze back to the Keepers.

All eyes were on him, and he continued. “I’ve explained that I accepted a few missions like this before I started LSI. I worked alone, and when asked to eliminate a threat, it usually meant toterminate with extreme prejudice.Each one of you knows whatthat means. I wasn’t a hired gun, but when the mission called for it, I had no problem completing what was required.”

Heaving a sigh, he kept his gaze moving around the table. “When you were hired with LSIMT, one of the things talked about was your willingness to do whatever was required, within reason, of a mission. This assignment involves a dangerous biological agent that creates a threat to whoever is sent to destroy it. This isn’t what LSI typically takes on, and we can turn it down. And, as you just heard, I’ve reiterated what we will contract to do and not do. But, as with any mission, situations may arise that cause us to act with force… even deadly force. Any problems? Say them now, ’cause there’s no judgment here.”

Frazier shook his head. “What we do is keep people safe, no matter how that may come about. No problem from me.”

“Or me,” Dalton said, shaking his head.

“Nothing we haven’t done in the service,” Casper said, his voice as soft as ever. “No problem.”

Sisco scoffed as he shook his head. “Me and Devil are all in, no matter what.”

“Done it plenty of times in the past,” Cory said, his face impassive.

Cole added, “My missions with the original LSI didn’t include elimination, but that’s exactly what happened with a few cases.” He shrugged his large shoulders. “It comes with the territory.”

Todd, Timothy, and Sadie shook their heads. “No problems,” they said, almost in unison.

Landon looked at Logan. “The question is, who will you assign to take on the mission?”

Logan speared them all with an intense gaze. “Me.” Seeing several about to speak, he said, “First of all, Donald was asking me to take this on even though he presented it as something to LSI. But this is something that I feel is necessary.” At that statement, he could feel the heavy stares of those around thetable. He reached behind and squeezed the back of his neck. “I know every person in this room is capable of taking on this mission. I trust each of you. But I can’t be a leader and send someone out on our first major mission if I haven’t proven myself.”

“Boss, you don’t need to prove yourself. None of us would be here if we didn’t trust you to have our back,” Dalton said, and the others nodded.

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