Page 16 of Legacy's Destiny

Deacon stared at the map on the table. “All right, I’ll contact Guardian as soon as I get back to my team. Do you have a go-bag ready?”

“I threw one together. It’s been years since I’ve been in the field.” Echo grimaced. “I’m in shape, physically. I have an old uniform that will work, but I don’t have any weapons or climate gear.”

“We can outfit you for the most part.” Deacon rubbed his chin. “Each transport has essential equipment for the areas they cover.” He glanced at her, assessing her size. “Boot size?”

“I have jungle boots,” she replied.

“Yeah, but it’s monsoon season. You’ll need water-repellant boots, rain gear, and such.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “Male size six. Female eights.”

“We’ll do the best we can,” he said before asking, “You realize we’re going to have to parachute in?”

Echo nodded. “It’s been a long time, but I’ve been through jump school at Fort Benning, and I have my wings.”

“So, you’ve jumped before? That will help.” Deacon was slightly impressed. Check that. Hewasimpressed. For some reason, he’d figured she was at a desk or behind the line most of her time in the military. He turned to Flanagan. “Is there anything else?”

Flanagan stood up. “Echo has all the additional information needed for this mission. It’s essential we get that device and the information is delivered to us. Guardian assures me they can communicate the information to us without it being intercepted. You must have some high-tech comm devices.”

Deacon smiled at Flanagan. “Guardian has communication technology that most of the world doesn’t.”

Echo’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline. “The rest of the world doesn’t have it? I can’t wait to see how it works.”

Deacon looked at her. “That will have to be approved.”

Flanagan shoved his hands in his pockets. “Good luck. Echo, I know this doesn’t mean squat right now, but I’ll do whatever I need to do to ensure your section is listened to.”

Echo huffed out a harsh breath and tried to smile. “Thank you for your assistance.”

Deacon was ready to get to work. “If there’s nothing else we need to be briefed on, let’s go.”

They exited the room, retrieved their belongings, and Deacon shouldered Echo’s go-bag, which she’d left with the guards. She grabbed a small suitcase, and they walked down the hall. Once they were out of the earshot of the officers at the door, she looked at Deacon and elbowed him. “So, how are you doing this morning, Sparky?” Her laughter was contagious. Deacon shook his head. This woman had so much sass.

He glanced over at her. “You realize you’ll pay for that, right?”

She laughed again. “Oh, I was counting on it. I saw your note and put your number in my phone. I wanted to text this morning, but frankly, I wasn’t sure when I would be back in the States.” She sighed. “I’ve been anxious about being in the field again, but I’m the only one who can complete it.”

“Why’s that? You said there were three who could open it.”

“Yeah, and the other two are ancient. One has a heart condition, and the other is a diabetic on insulin.” She looked over at him. “The CIA may employ me, but I’m not a field officer, nor is anyone in my section. All my field experience was in the military, which they discount out of hand. That’s why all our communication and concerns have been pigeon-holed. We’re typical employees with layers and layers of management over us.”

Deacon could clearly see the stress of the situation weighing on her. He called the elevator with his keycard. “It won’t be easy. I’m not going to blow smoke up your skirt and tell you it will be,but I’ve never lost an asset on a mission, and I certainly don’t plan to start with you.”

She smiled briefly. “That is really good to know. I’m glad we met last night, that what happened … well, happened, and that you’re the man in charge of getting me in and out of the country. On the way over here this morning, I worried that whoever was in charge of the team was an asshole or a royal jerk.”

“Oh, I can be an asshole.” Deacon chuckled as they entered the elevator, and he tapped his card again to take them to the suite level.

She nudged him with her shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. I’ll ask you how you want to play this, though.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

He turned to face her. “We know each other. How well we let my team know we know each other is up to you to decide.” He wasn’t taking that power away from her. He’d play it the way she wanted it to run.

“Oh.” She blinked and looked at the elevator door as it opened. “Will they think less of me?”

“For what?”

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