Page 105 of Always Been Mine

“What the fuck?” Viktor muttered. “Why is Army Special Forces operating within the homeland?”

Skinny remained stonily silent.

“Listen, we’re under CIA directive to handle this situation,” Viktor said. “Our order trumps yours.”

“We’re under CIA directive as well,” Skinny finally spoke up. There was a hint of confusion on his face.

“Redrook,” Maia whispered. “He’s running their show.”

Gabe was slowly losing patience listening to the hushed conversation behind him. His mission was surveillance, damn it. He promised Beatrice he wasn’t going to get involved in this CIA bullshit, but he was biting on his tongue not to comment on the clusterfuck.

“Maia, warn our guys to expect another team. Keep their eyes peeled for an ambush,” Viktor turned to Skinny. “You better tell your men to stand down. Your boss is dirty and is conspiring with Russians to kill innocents with the virus.”

“You’re wrong,” Skinny said. “Our boss is entrapping an ISIS operative who plans to launch a terrorist attack on U.S. soil with a virus.”

Wait. What?Gabe turned his attention to the gathering behind him. This was getting more FUBAR by the minute.

“Tim was right. He mentioned something about an ISIS plot to attack the U.S. after what happened in Iraq,” Maia said.

“Who’s Tim?” Gabe asked.

“AGS data analyst,” Travis answered. Obviously, his friend knew these people very well.

Viktor put his comms back on. “All in position? . . . Damn it. Okay we gotta move in. We’re heading down. It’s a go.”

The second the AGS boss gave the command, gunfire erupted in the barn area. Viktor gave Big Guy instructions to secure Skinny.

“You coming, Sullivan, Blake?” Viktor asked. He gave the signal for Maia to go ahead.

Gabe locked gazes with Travis.

“We’re not sponsored by any government agency in this op,” Travis said.

“You think we are? CIA directive or not, we’re totally clandestine on this one,” Viktor said. “We fuck up, we’re on our own.”

This time it was Viktor who leaned his face close to Gabe’s. “You like playing by the rules, Sullivan?”

“You like playing games, Baran?” Gabe fired back. “We could have killed each other earlier, you know.”

A chilly smile curved Viktor’s lips. “If I wanted you dead, Sullivan, you wouldn’t have seen me coming.”

With that parting shot, Viktor Baran disappeared into the shadows.

Panic grippedthe control room at the safe house as everyone listened to the scuffle breaking out through comms.

Soon after Travis failed to respond, they heard a fight break out from Gabe’s feed and judging from the distant sound coming from communication devices, both had been knocked off.

Caitlin and Beatrice gripped each other’s hands while Nate tried to get the guys back online.

“Travis, do you copy?” Nate’s voice was calm, but his expression was worried. “Gabe, do you copy?”

Finally, there was a distant,What the fuck, Maia?

“Travis, come in, buddy!” Nate spoke loudly.

“This is Blake.” There was a loud irritated huff. “I’m okay.”

Caitlin sighed in relief.

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