Page 36 of Critical Mass
Hehadlearned his lesson.
Hudson straightened his shoulders and forced his mind back to the tactical situation. Back to the operation. Back to what mattered.
“We should continue the briefing,” he said, his voice coming out rougher than he intended. “Time’s running out, and we still need to finalize the plan for tomorrow.”
Colton studied him for a moment—that assessing look that suggested he saw more than Hudson wanted him to.
But he nodded. “Agreed. Let’s get back to work.”
As they returned to the table, Hudson kept his eyes on the maps and documents spread across its surface. Not on Natalie. Not on the way she’d laughed with relief. Not on how she’d looked at him like he might be worth trusting.
He couldn’t afford distractions. Not now. Not when thousands of lives hung in the balance.
He’d focus on the mission. Just the mission.
It was the only way to keep everyone—including Natalie—alive.
Even if it meant killing whatever might have been between them before it had a real chance to start.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Colton’s expressionremained sympathetic but relentless as he dove into the mission again. “Financial records show your father has been funneling millions of dollars through shell companies to organizations with known terrorist connections. Phone records place him in contact with Sigma operatives on the nights before each of their major attacks.”
“He’s a businessman!” Natalie’s voice rose, desperate now. “He deals with lots of people. That doesn’t make him a terrorist!”
“Ms. Ravenscroft, we’ve intercepted communications where your father explicitly discusses details,” Ty said. “Target locations, casualty projections, and the timeline for what they’re calling Critical Mass. It’s his voice. His words. No room for interpretation.”
“How would he even get chemical weapons through customs?” Natalie asked. “Ports have security, inspections?—”
“Your father’s company has trusted shipper status,” Hudson said. “Ravenscroft International has operated for decades without violations. Customs fast-tracks his containers because they’ve never had reason not to trust him. That’s what makes this so perfect—Sigma is using your father’s reputation as cover. The drums would have cleared customs days ago as legalindustrial chemicals. By the time anyone realizes what they really are, the ships will be gone.”
Natalie’s face went pale. “So they’re using his business?—”
“To bypass the security that’s supposed to stop exactly this kind of attack,” Colton finished.
The tears spilled over, tracking down Natalie’s cheeks. She swiped at them with the back of her hand, rough and impatient, smearing the wetness across her skin like she could erase the evidence of weakness. Her jaw clenched as more tears fell, and she scrubbed harder at her face, her movements sharp and jerky, like she was furious at her own body for betraying her.
“You’re wrong,” she whispered. “You have to be wrong. My father—he raised me. He took care of me when my mother died. He’s not a monster.”
“People can be both,” Hudson heard himself say. Everyone turned to look at him. “He can be a good father to you and still do terrible things. Those two facts don’t cancel each other out.”
Natalie’s eyes met his, and the pain in them was unbearable.
She stared at him for a long moment before turning back to Colton. “What exactly do you think Critical Mass is?”
“We believe Critical Mass is a coordinated port attack involving chemical/biological agents,” Colton stated.
The air left her lungs. “What?”
“Based on our investigation, Sigma has been using Ravenscroft International to smuggle weaponized materials into the Hampton Roads area,” Colton continued. “On a specific date, these materials will be released in Norfolk.”
“That . . . that can’t be . . .” She shook her head before pulling herself back together.
“We believe it’s true,” Colton said.
She swallowed hard. “Tell me more about this attack.”
