Page 34 of Belgian Betrayal

Atkins nodded. “Thank you.”

Catya laughed without humor. “Don’t thank us yet. Let’s get to Brussels, do what we can and then move on to Bruges. We’re running short on time.”

Chapter 9

Catya studied the platform carefully as they rolled into the train station in Brussels. Though they’d dodged their pursuers in Amsterdam, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any in Brussels. The people who wanted the disk could have mercenaries in more than one city.

As they stepped off the train, Fearghas’s phone chirped with an incoming text.

He read the message and grinned. “We have a ride waiting outside the station.” Fearghas led the way to the designated exit where a black Mercedes sedan parked against the curb. The driver, a tall man with brown hair and brown eyes, stood next to the car. As soon as he spotted Fearghas, he raised a hand and waved.

Fearghas hurried over and quickly shook hands with the man.

The man tipped his head toward the car. “Get in. We can do introductions on the way.”

Catya lifted her chin toward the passenger seat door. “Fearghas, you need to sit up front. Atkins and I will take the rear.”

Fearghas opened the door for her and waited while she slid onto the back seat.

While Atkins slid in next to her, the driver hurried around the car and climbed in. Fearghas dropped into the passenger seat and closed the door.

As the driver pulled away from the curb, he glanced toward Fearghas. “We got to the airport thirty minutes ago. The others all went on to meet with Dmytro’s contact in the city not far from here. I got a rental car and came straight here.” He shot a glance over the back of the seat at Atkins. “By the way, I’m Ace Hammerson with the Brotherhood Protectors International. You must be Peter Atkins, MI6.”

Atkins nodded. “I am.

Ace glanced into the rearview mirror. “And you’re Catya Romanov.”

Catya’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, sir. And you’re Fearghas’s boss?”

Ace gave a brief smile. “I am. Although I’m fairly new to the title and with the Brotherhood Protectors International. We haven’t even set up the headquarters yet, nor are we fully staffed.” He tipped his head toward Fearghas. “Fearghas and I are two of the first members of this branch of the Brotherhood Protectors.”

Fearghas turned in his seat to look back at Catya and Atkins. “We’re new to Brotherhood Protectors but not new to these kinds of operations. Ace is a former US Navy SEAL, highly trained in combat and special operations, to include rescue and extraction.”

“Fearghas is one of the first the brotherhood has hired not from a branch of the US military. We’re excited to have him working with us in Europe. He briefed us on the situation. We’re all here to help.”

Ace followed GPS directions through the streets of Brussels and came to a stop in front of a three-story building with a white stucco exterior, wrought iron balconies and tall windows.

“This looks like the place,” Ace said. “Jaz texted to let me know we’re supposed to enter through the rear door and go down the stairs to a basement. We’ll find the other members of our team there.”

Catya pushed open her door before Fearghas could get out of his.

Ace grabbed a duffel bag out of the vehicle’s trunk and led the way to the corner and into a narrow alley between the white stucco building and a red brick structure.

At the rear of the building, a staircase led downward to a hunter-green door below street level.

Ace tapped his knuckles on the door.

A moment later, a woman with black hair and green eyes opened the door and motioned for them to enter. Once they were inside, she locked three deadbolts and armed a security system.

She slipped her hand into Ace’s. “They’re ready,” she said. “We just need the disk.”

Ace tipped his head toward the woman. “This is Jasmine Nassar, former Israeli Sayeret Matkal, a member of our team. Jasmine, these people are Catya Romanov and Peter Atkins.”

Jasmine nodded. “We can get to know each other later. We don’t have much time; let’s get that disk to Dmytro and his friend.”

As Jasmine turned away, Catya shot a wary glance toward Fearghas.

He reached for Catya’s hand and squeezed it gently. “She’s one of the good guys,” he whispered.

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