Page 26 of Dash

“He got drunk and took on an entire squadron in San Diego,” Mina informed me. “The guy almost won the fight, but then backup arrived. I hacked the bar’s security feed. Guzman’s a fighter if I’ve ever seen one.”

“A fighter, a partier, a drinker, a clown, a hothead, the list goes on.” Guzman had never been a saint, but he’d been Nix’s right-hand man and a hell of an operator. I couldn’t let him spiral out of control and ruin his life for good. “Bail him out.”

Mina raised her eyebrows. “You sure?”

“Bail him out and get him operational. I’ll straighten himout when I see him.”

“If you say so, boss.”

“I say so. You’ve got your orders. Anything else?”

“Just a quick question, because why not?” She made a show of inspecting the screen, as if peeking around me. “Are you trapped inside a white marble mausoleum?”

“No, why?”

“’Cause it damn looks like you are.”

My gaze roamed over white walls, white ceilings, white couches, white chairs. So unlike the Thena I’d known. The monochromatic art hanging on the walls had no shape, no meaning. It was as if the soul of the woman I loved had been frozen and stored in a cryogenic chamber.

“It’s not a tomb,” I said, although Mina’s observation had me considering the idea that perhaps Thena had buried herself alive in this place. “It’s a modernist penthouse that has been featured in several magazines.”

“Got it.” She eyed me with obvious skepticism. “Cold and stark is the rage among the rich and famous. Well, as long as you’re not trapped in a mausoleum and in need of rescue, it’s back to business for me. I swear, you’ve managed to assemble the smuggest group of Marines on earth. Did you pick these gamecocks for their size or their performance?”

I almost burst out laughing before I managed to modulate my voice and sound like the team leader I was. “I’m not talking cocks with you, Moses. Feel free to give them hell if they try to give you a hard time.”

“Nu-uh.” She waved an attitude filled finger at me. “Nobody messes with me. Any fool who tries will figure it out quickly.”

“Let’s try a talk before you flex your cyber muscle, shall we?” I suggested. “I’m sure you’ll have those apes whipped into shape in no time. Priority one. Find the Astor sisters. Send meevery clue you come across. Remember. They’re in danger.”

“On it,” she assured me. “And boss? I googled the Greek goddess, Athena. She’s a very formidable deity, the goddess of war and wisdom, and like me, she doesn’t take shit from anybody. Don’t let your growling bear problem kill ‘da’ mood, if you know what I mean. Goddesses are notoriously fickle and unforgiving.”

“You know about that, uh?” I shook my head. “Can a guy keep a secret around you?”

“Not unless he’s boring.” She grinned. “You’re definitivelynotboring.”

“Did you—?”

She spoke over me. “I make it my business to know everything I need to know. No worries. It’s all for your benefit, so I consider it ethical behavior.”

She would. Her definition of “ethical” was unique.

“Mina,” I started. “My personal life—”

“I would never, ever overstep my bounds.” She winked. “Unless it was absolutely necessary. Which in your case, it is, because, face it, you can be denser than brickwork and your skull is built of concrete. This is my way of saying women in general and goddesses specifically detest bossy bastards who tell them what to do and hold it all in. You guys are insufferable. It’s like cracking titanium eggs.”

“Last time I looked, relationship advice wasn’t in your job description,” I grumbled.

“Consider it a perk of hiring the best, namelymoi.” She pointed her thumbs at her face. “You can thank me later. While we’re at it, let me say, you worry too much, boss. It explains all the salt in your pepper. If I don’t take good care of you, you’ll be Q-Tip before you hit forty, which, if you think about it, it’s not too far away.”

Sheesh. I rubbed my forehead, forestalling the headacheblooming behind my eyes. This is what happened when you hired the best in the business.

“Free advice,” she continued, because who could stop her? “Do try to chill a little.”

“Chilling is not in my nature.”

“Don’t I know it.” She snorted a laugh. “You and Bozeman are grumps for the ages. Bozeman is a lost case, but hey, you could try.”

I had plenty of reasons to be cranky, but I wasn’t going to argue about them. “Are we done here?”

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