Page 86 of Austen

“Where?”he’d asked.

“The Bahamas.A little place called Alice Town on North Bimini Island.All tucked away and quiet, about 250 miles from here.My contact should get us where we need to go.”

“The Keys are closer.”

She’d given him a tired look.

“Fine.But first we need to get Declan and Austen.”He’d pointed to the embassy on the wall map.“The problem is, we have a small window of time.If we don’t get there before they leave the embassy, we lose them.”

“No problem.”She’d indicated a rack of rental bikes.Then she’d pulled out a wallet and produced a card.“I think that Thomas McKnight would just love to take a ride on a rental bike.”

Nice.He’d have to find Thomas McKnight and apologize, but,right now, yes.

She’d run the card and released the bikes, and he’d gotten on.

“Youdoknow how to ride a bike, right?”she’d said.

“Are you kidding?Try to keep up.”

“Challenge accepted.”She’d grinned.

Aw.He’d gotten on and maneuvered his way through the square and then out to the street, where he’d followed the road along the coastline and through the city toward the embassy.He’d turned into a tourist, glancing back at her as she’d pedaled, grinning at him.And for a second, he’d been in Krakow again, sneaking out of their safe house, working together as they went to the café to meet his team.

Stop.He couldn’t go there.Because it would only end up in darkness and pain and fury.

They’d reached the embassy, the tall white building with the long windows and the gate around the perimeter.An American guard had stood at the entrance.

Stein had kept pedaling, found an alleyway, and parked the bike.Then they’d set up shop in a nearby café, and he drank black take-the-roof-off-your-mouth coffee and they watched people come and go.

“Who did you reach out to?”he’d asked.

She’d sat opposite him, the street traffic mirrored in her aviators.

“My boss, Mystique,” she’d said.“She has connections.We’ll figure out how to hustle Declan and Austen away from their overlords, sneak up to an airfield, and find some wings.”

“You hope.”

“According to Mystique, there’s a remote airfield with small planes.It won’t be the first time I’ve hijacked a plane.”

He’d shaken his head, rolled his eyes.“I don’t think I want to know.”

“Oh please,” she’d said.“Like you never did anything sketchy during your time as a SEAL.”

His mouth had pursed and he’d looked away because he didn’t like to think about that life anymore.

“You miss it,” she’d said.

He’d nodded.“I miss the teams.I miss the teamwork and the camaraderie.I miss knowing I’m doing something for good.The tip of the spear.”

He’d sat up then, seeing Declan and Austen emerge from the embassy.They’d gotten into an SUV, and by the time they’d pulled out, he and Phoenix had retrieved their bikes.They’d followed them through the congested traffic toward Old Havana to an old-style colonial Spanish hotel.There they’d parked while Declan and Austen wandered around Old Havana, shopping like they were on a date or something.Steinbeck had wanted to grab them then, but he’d spotted their tail, and Phoenix had talked him into holding back.

Then they’d nearly gotten caught.Maybe they’d ventured too close, maybe the tail had seen them, but Phoenix had grabbed him and pulled him into the shadows between shops.

“What?”he’d said as he braced an arm over her.

“I think you should kiss me,” she’d said.

“Really?”he’d said.“I feel like we’ve been here before.”

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