Page 58 of Deadly Hope
“Six years as a SEAL team,” Deke said, pride evident in his voice. “Though some of us,” he gestured between himself and Axel, “went through BUD/S together before that.”
“Best team in Group Eight,” Kenji added.
“Until we weren’t,” Izzy said softly, and a shadow passed over the table.
Axel’s jaw tightened, but Deke picked up the thread. “Mustered out one by one. Tried the civilian thing. Then Tank—” He stopped, cleared his throat. “Well, Ronan and Axel got us back together. Turns out hunting killers is something we’re pretty good at.”
“Knight Tactical noticed,” Kenji said. “Offered us legitimate work, our own team. Better than chasing revenge.”
“Speaking of the team,” Voss said, clearly sensing the need to shift away from painful memories, “‘Operation Ninja Penguins’ probably doesn’t send the kind of message you want to convey to paying clients.”
The tension broke as Deke snorted. “Better than what this joker suggested.” He jerked a thumb at Kenji. “What was it? SEAL Team Seven Point Five?”
“At least it’s accurate,” Kenji protested. “We’re like ... SEAL adjacent now.”
“The A-Team was clearly superior,” Izzy insisted.
“If it were me, I’d go the mystery route. Shadow Protocol,” Voss suggested. “Or Genesis Initiative. Something that smacks of intrigue.”
“Those are good,” Axel said, nodding with immediate approval. “Professional. Low profile.”
Olivia pushed pasta around her plate, remembering how quickly he’d dismissed her suggestion of Phoenix Group yesterday. It shouldn’t matter. But somehow, these small moments ...
The conversation drifted as they finished eating, but Olivia found herself tracking the pattern. Every time Voss spoke, Axel leaned in slightly, his attention focused and appreciative. When the agent mentioned a surveillance technique she’d used in Belgrade, he asked follow-up questions. When she suggested modifications to their security rotation, he nodded thoughtfully.
It wasn’t that Voss was wrong—her insights were solid, professional. But he didn’t give Olivia’s professional insights the same attention.
After dinner, she found herself at the sink with Axel, falling into their old pattern—she washed, he dried. The others drifted away, Kenji heading up to check on Zara, Izzy and Deke arguing about whose turn it was for first watch.
Voss lingered, filling a glass with tap water. Olivia watched as the former agent held the glass up to the light, then added three drops from a small bottle she pulled from her pocket. The movement was so familiar it took Olivia a moment to place it.
“James taught you that trick?” The words were out before she could stop them.
Voss looked up, surprised. “The pH test? Yes, actually. Said he learned it in Venezuela in 2018.”
Memories assaulted Olivia, this time soft and bittersweet. “I knew he’d been in South America. He brought me an embroidered blouse. I still have it.”
Axel went still beside her, his shoulder brushing hers as he reached for another plate. The brief contact sent warmth through her arm, but he pulled away quickly, putting space between them again. Her hands were suddenly clumsy in the soapy water, and their fingers brushed as she passed him the last glass. He jerked back like he’d been burned, nearly dropping it.
But her mind was already racing past the awkwardmoment, pieces clicking into place. James and water treatment. His obsession with clean water sources after Caracas. The way he’d modified all his equipment to?—
“Oh wow,” she breathed. “That’s it.”
“What’s it?” Axel’s voice was carefully neutral, the tone he used when he thought she was reaching.
“I think I know where James might have left the evidence. His climbing gear?—”
“Olivia.” The weariness in his voice cut deeper than outright dismissal would have. “You can’t base operational decisions on childhood memories.”
“They’re not just—” She stopped, recognizing the set of his jaw. He’d already decided she was wrong. Before he would at least hear her out, push her to defend her logic. Now he just ... dismissed her. “Never mind.”
She dried her hands and left before he could see how much it hurt, feeling his eyes on her back the whole way out of the kitchen.
“I’m going to get my laptop.” She retreated to her room, closing the door silently behind her. She had work to do, leads to follow. She couldn’t afford to waste time on feelings that didn’t matter anymore. Her brother’s gear was in a storage box in the garage of her condo. They could retrieve it first thing. In the meantime, she’d show them photos of James climbing. He’d caught the bug as a teen. She had dozens of photos through the years. And she could show them just what had caught her attention.
Her computer waited on the desk. She’d prove her theory about James’s gear was solid. And she’d do it without Axel’s approval.
She didn’t need it anymore.
