Page 97 of The Bait

Asher squeezed Harry’s hand, so very happy to hear that. Growing old together had never sounded so good.

“Istomin has been charged,” Captain volunteered. “He’s finished. And his men, and half a dozen politicians from several countries, and officials in almost every level of government. Cops too.” He gave a smile to Asher. “Your run in with the press blew the whole ZBK thing wide open. Once the media got hold of it, reporters,whistleblowers, witnesses, you name it. It’s a shitshow. The UN, Nato, the EU. It’s big news.”

Asher was almost embarrassed. “I didn’t do it to blow it open. I mean, I hoped it would. I just wanted some backup to turn up at the old compound we were going to.”

“Both your faces on TV,” Captain said quietly, “was the reason we got the call, just so you know. We were already watching the situation. We knew Yunho and Lucas were missing but we didn’t know where they were. Then there was the murder of Rozga and his whole chapter of men.” He made a face. “So we knew where you two were, and we hoped you’d lead us to find Yunho and Lucas.”

It was almost as if they’d used Asher and Harry as bait as well. But Asher couldn’t bring himself to be mad. They had saved them after all.

Captain smiled. “But when you plastered yourselves on every TV and newspaper across the world, we knew shit was about to go down, and we had to move.”

“Our identities are blown. Names, faces,” Asher said flatly. Harry would need the Australian government to get him home, but Asher didn’t have any government or embassy to help him, and without Yunho’s help...

“I’m supposed to be dead,” Harry said. “So the whole Parrish case is probably fucked.”

Captain shook his head. “No. Your friend took care of that.” Asher and Harry both stared at him to clarify. “Mr Oh Yunho. With the ADF, he’s been an integral part of the whole thing to bring them all down, and to clear both your names. Him and Agent Edwards.”

With the Australian Defence Force?

“MI6 and the ADF,” Harry whispered. “Together.”

“And other agencies,” Captain said. “It’s a joint effort.”

“Like the Milvus Division,” Harry added.

The Milvus Division.

Asher couldn’t believe it when Harry had told him. It hurt to hear it from him then, like it hurt to hear from this Captain now. Asher needed to speak to Yunho. To see him.

He hadn’t wanted to even think about it before now. He’d been so mad, so unsure. He wasn’t ready to hear of his closest friend’s betrayal. Yunho had been the only family Asher had known, and to think it’d all been a lie. Asher wasn’t sure he could cope. Certainly not without Harry by his side, and before his shoulder surgery it wasn’t possible.

But now . . .

But now Asher needed to see Yunho.

He needed to know. All the secrets, all the lies. He needed to know it all.

“Have you heard how Lucas is?” Asher asked. They’d had no real updates, and whether that was because it was classified or if they just weren’t privy to know.

“He’s alive,” Medic said. “How on earth he lived through that, Ido notknow. He was...” He made a face. “He’ll have a very long recovery, and permanent injuries aren’t known yet.” He put up both hands. “That’s all I know.”

“We need to go find Yunho,” Asher said. “He’s here, yes?”

Medic gave a nod. “ICU. You probably wouldn’t have been able to see him before now anyway.”

Asher nodded. He knew Yunho had some significant injuries. He’d seen him, beaten, drooling blood, gasping for every breath. But hearing the words ICU stung.

He turned to Harry and took his hand. “I need to see him.”

Harry gave him a smile. “Of course.”

“We should, uh, we should leave you guys to it,” Captain said, taking a step back.

“Thank you,” Asher said quietly. “For saving us. For bringing Harry to get me.”

“No problem.”

Medic looked right at Harry and put his hand out as if he were stopping traffic. “No, don’t get up. We’ll see ourselves out.”

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