Page 63 of Azrael

Charming raised an eyebrow.“You never mentioned this contact before.”

Samurai’s expression remained neutral.“Never needed him before.”

That was Samurai -- always with cards held close to his chest.

“Good,” I said.“Get him watching arrivals.Any private jets, charter flights from Israel or connecting countries.We need names, descriptions.Then we can have Shade check into them, see if they’re connected to what happened over there.”

“Mazida and Zara need to be briefed.They need to understand what we’re up against.It’s possible they’ll be the first targets if things go sideways.”

“You handle that,” Charming said, the order clear in his tone.“For now, we defend and gather intelligence.When we have a good picture, then we decide whether we’re in the clear.”

The tension in Stripes’ shoulders eased slightly.“So we wait,” he said.

“We wait,” I confirmed.

Havoc pulled out a map of the compound and surrounding area, spreading it across the table.“Let’s talk specifics.I want surveillance cameras here, here, and here.”He pointed to the main road and two access points through the wooded area behind the compound.“Motion sensors throughout the perimeter.Armed patrols 24/7.”

I leaned in, focusing on the tactical discussion.This was familiar territory -- planning defenses, anticipating attacks.It was what had kept me alive in a world that wanted men like me dead.

For the next hour, we hammered out details.Who would take which watch shift.Where to position our best shooters.How to rotate the Prospects through security duties without leaving gaps.The conversation flowed with the efficiency of men who had done this before, who understood that thorough planning now might save lives later.

Throughout it all, I was aware of the occasional glances between Stripes and Samurai -- measuring glances that spoke of their concern.Not for the plan itself, but for me.They had seen what I’d done to the men guarding her.The level of violence had been necessary.They were watching for signs that I might be slipping, that my control might be fraying.They wouldn’t find it.

I gave them nothing to worry about.My voice remained steady, my decisions calculated.The rage that had driven me during the rescue was now tightly contained, channeled into protecting what was mine.

As we finalized the details, Charming looked around the table.“Any other concerns?”he asked, his gaze settling longest on me.

I shook my head.“The plan is solid.”

He nodded once.“Then we’re done here.Havoc, get the security upgrades started.Stripes, make those calls.Samurai, contact your airport man.Azrael…” He paused, his gaze hardening slightly.“Take care of your woman and her mother.Make sure Mazida understands the rules while she’s here.”

I stood, recognizing the dismissal for what it was.“She’ll understand.Zara will help her if necessary.”

As we filed out of the room, Stripes caught my arm.“This girl,” he said quietly, “she’s important to you,da?”

I didn’t answer immediately.Zara had crashed into my life unexpectedly, had somehow slipped past defenses I’d maintained for decades.What we had wasn’t easy to define.

“She’s under my protection,” I finally said.“And she’s… mine.”

Stripes smiled slightly, the expression making the lines around his eyes deepen.“Not what I asked, but the answer is enough.”He patted my arm.“Be careful, brother.The heart can make the head stupid sometimes.Especially when you can’t admit your feelings even to yourself.”

With that bit of Russian wisdom, he moved off toward the main room of the clubhouse.Samurai lingered a moment longer, his dark eyes thoughtful.

“They will come for her first,” he said, his voice pitched for my ears only.“Not because she’s a woman, but because they’ll figure out she matters to you.”

I nodded once, acknowledging the truth in his words.“Then they’ll find out what happens to people who touch what’s mine.If Tel Aviv wasn’t enough of a lesson, I’ll show them my darkest side.”

Samurai’s expression didn’t change, but something like approval flickered in his eyes.He inclined his head slightly and walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway.

I took a moment to gather myself before heading back into the main room.The strategizing was done.Now came the harder part -- telling Zara the nightmare might not be over yet.That finding her mother hadn’t removed the threat but possibly increased the danger.And that keeping them safe might require measures she wouldn’t like.

But first, I needed to find her.In a compound preparing for war, I needed to steal a moment of peace with the woman who had, against all odds, become my reason for fighting.

Chapter Eighteen

Azrael

The operational briefing had left a weight on my shoulders that only one thing could lift.I found Zara in the main room of the clubhouse, sitting close to her mother on one of the worn leather couches.She looked up as I entered, her gaze finding mine across the crowded space.Something electric passed between us -- understanding, need, relief -- all packed into a single look.I jerked my head slightly toward the hallway, and she nodded, leaning in to say something to Mazida before standing.The brothers parted for her as she moved toward me, some with knowing smirks, others with respect.She wasn’t just my woman.She was someone who had earned her place among us through her own strength.

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