Page 56 of Zero Hour

And just like that, the operator was back.

But Jasmine knew something had changed between them.

And from the way Pat hesitated for just a split second before walking away, she knew he felt it too.

CHAPTER 21

Pat called Blade, who answered immediately. Since Jasmine was no longer in play, he was watching the live feed from back at Blackthorn’s HQ.

“The attack is going to take place this weekend. Saturday, like the note said.”

“How do you know it’s this Saturday?” Blade asked.

“Jasmine confirmed it. The Falcon is flying out on Monday. He told her as much.”

There was a brief pause.

“Looks like we got her out of there just in time,” he said, in a low voice.

Pat grunted. “If we’d left her in, we might have got the target.”

“She’d also be dead by tomorrow. No point in second guessing yourself now, boss. What’s done is done.”

Typical Blade. They could revisit his actions later, but right now, they had to focus on the current situation.

“She give you anything else?” Blade asked.

“Only that her husband, Adam, had been recruited to develop an explosive device. In fact, they kidnapped him for two weeks prior to his death and forced him to work on it. Whenhe got back, he was so mortified at what he’d done, he hung himself.”

“Shit,” mumbled Blade.

“Yeah.”

“So they have a live ED and we have no idea where they’re going to detonate it.”

“Correct.” He cringed at his reflection in the kitchen window. It was dark outside, the garden encased in shadows. Holding the phone to his ear, he drew the blinds.

“What’s the reaction to Jasmine’s disappearance?”

“Pretty pissed,” Blade confirmed. “Buzzard went ballistic and kicked the shit out of the living room sofa.”

Pat smirked. “Good. Serves the bastard right.”

“They’ve been discussing what to do, only we can’t hear shit.”

He ran a hand over his jaw. “They’ll go after the boy. He’s their only leverage against Jasmine. Any news from Thorn?”

“She’s going in to get the kid now. We’re awaiting confirmation.”

“Keep me posted. Let me know the minute she has him.”

“Will do.”

Pat hung up, sensing someone behind him. He turned, finding Jasmine standing in the kitchen doorway.

“Were you talking about Ryan?”

Up close and in the bright fluorescent light, she was even more stunning. Her blond hair, still without a hint of grey, fell over her shoulders, mussed from their escape. Her green eyes—brighter now, more alert—shone with concern. And there, across the bridge of her nose, a light smattering of freckles he hadn’t noticed before.

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