Page 78 of Thorn

“Yup, Margot’s BFF was Mossad, KIA, in a building explosion. So…You were making sweet love to the devil, my man. You may want to get to a doctor and get your gonads checked.”

“I wrapped them up, Mom, but thanks for your concern.”

“Did you see a tat on her while you were rolling around?” Nutsbe asked.

“Nope. But she could have covered it with theater makeup. She was wearing a watch. Truth be told, my focus wasn’t on her left wrist – but live and learn. It’s going on all my check lists from now on.”

Panther Force had come up against the Rex Deus a few times now. They were formidable opponents. So far, they’d all been males who had taken a pledge of brotherhood. That was how they described it to the FBI. They claimed their tattoos had no implications beyond that.

The tattoos were always placed on the left wrist where it could be hidden behind the large face of a wristwatch. The design was a series of circles and lines constructing the Sephirot, the tree of life. In esoteric Judaism, it was the central mystical symbol that originated in the Kabbalah. Different spheres represented a different aspect of enlightenment.

Back in Washington D.C., Panther Force had taken down a dozen men with this same tattoo on their wrists. Iniquus had learned nothing about the tattoo in the interrogations. The CIA, if they had anything, weren’t sharing. But his commander, Titus Kane, had brought a scholar in to teach them the basics. They’d nicknamed the group the “Rex Deus.” Panther Force didn’t know what they really called themselves. What they did learn from the scholars was that in myth, the Rex Deus, sometimes called “Star families,” was supposed to be the stuff of conspiracy theories and imagination.

The group of twelve Rex Deus who went down in the US had illuminated the first triangle in the design. That highlighted aspect symbolized wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. That group had tried to kidnap Zoe when she was building a microrobotics WASP prototype.

Another man with the tattoo had shown up on their radar even more recently. Panther Force was protecting two archaeologists who were helping to safeguard Syrian artwork. Unlike the other tattoos they had seen, this one had the sixth sphere illuminated,Tiferet. Their resource said this one had to do with beauty, balance, and harmony.

In Africa, Honey and Meg had been with another man with the tattoo. He died of his wounds when their group of scientists were taken hostage. The sphere that this man had illuminated wasGevurah− an instrument God used to judge humans and punish the wicked.

“Did you ID the janitor? Was he Mossad too? Some special ops guy that got himself ‘blown up’?”

“That’s a delicate subject between the US and Israeli governments. But we’re working the channels.”

“I’m not happy sitting here, Bro.”

“Roger that. FYI, when she left, Brigitte headed to her car, fanning her face.”

“Act of duty. I was letting her play. She thinks she’s got me by the boys, and I want her believe that.”

Thorn examined the janitor’s wrist tattoo. It looked like yet another sphere was illuminated.

“Which sephira is highlighted on the janitor’s wrist? What are we dealing with here?” Thorn asked.

“That’sNetzach.It stands firm with no regrets, no fear of death. Words associated would include victory and endurance.”

“Victory maybe not so much. But I can tell you, his endurance was over the top. When I was trying to take him down in the bathroom, he was formidable. Having fought next to Brigitte, I’m saying she’d fit that pattern. What does all that mean?”

“I checked our file,” Nutsbe said. “It seems that those would be the Kamikaze’s of the Star Families. They’re willing to die for their cause.”

“Perfect. Kamikaze Rex Deus. Have you noticed that theonlyplace we’ve ever picked up signs of Rex Deus in action has to do with science? It seems to me, from the pattern Panther Force has faced, that if there’s a dangerous weapon, like this apocalyptic neuroweapon, or an energy system, or even like Zoe’s work in blood pattern recognition and microrobotics – that they are out there trying to get that technology for themselves. Is it for development for their own use or suppression?”

“Keep running out that line of thought,” Nutsbe said.

“It’s important to know – if Juliette is their target, is it so they can learn from her and keep on the trajectory? Or do they want to know what’s out there, and then they make sure she’s no longer a threat by neutralizing her?” The muscles around Thorn’s jaw tightened. “I’m not going to let it happen either way. She’s an American citizen.”

“We think.”

“Fine. Whatever,” Thorn said through gritted teeth. “Get us the hell out of here.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Juliette

Paris, France

Night

Juliette rested on the razor edge of consciousness. She could hear the low rumble of male voices. They seemed distant, from the other side of the room. It was a nice sound. Calm.

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