17. Hornet
17
HORNET
“ T he meeting’s confirmed for tomorrow,” Typhon said as he entered yet another temporary command center we’d set up in the Montenegro villa, where I’d been reviewing perimeter protocols. “Jekyll has agreed to our terms.”
I looked up from the monitors. “You don’t seem pleased.”
“Would you be?” He settled into the chair beside me, scanning the security feeds. “Procedurally, we’re as prepared as possible. The villa’s secure, extraction routes established, contingencies in place.” He paused, mouth tightening. “It’s the personal element that concerns me.”
“Delfino can handle herself,” I said, though I understood his concern.
“Professionally, without question.” Typhon pulled up the tactical overlay on the center screen. “But this reunion has implications beyond operational parameters.”
“What does she know about the meeting details?” I asked.
“Everything relevant. Jekyll arrives at zero nine hundred. Full security protocols in effect.” His finger traced the approach route on the display. “He comes alone, or not at all.”
“And he agreed to that?”
“Without argument, which in itself is interesting.” Typhon’s expression was guarded, but I caught the subtle shift in his posture. “I need you to coordinate enhanced surveillance before his arrival. The FSB’s presence in the region has increased in the past six hours.”
“Already on it,” I replied. “Greenwich has established monitoring stations along the coastal access points. Regent’s covering the inland approaches.”
“Add Blackjack to the rotation. I want full-spectrum coverage, particularly along the eastern ridge.” Typhon stood. “This meeting may be the culmination of Kima’s personal quest, but the risks involved go far beyond family reconciliation.”
After he left, I spent the next hour reconfiguring surveillance protocols and establishing overlapping coverage zones around the villa. The property’s strategic positioning offered excellent defensive advantages—clear sight lines in all directions, multiple extraction routes, and natural barriers that channeled any approach through predictable vectors.
Greenwich appeared at my shoulder as I finalized the last adjustments. “Overheads show increased activity at the municipal police station in Budva,” he reported. “Could be routine, but the timing is suspicious.”
“Cross-reference with known FSB presence in the region,” I instructed. “And establish a secondary monitoring post here.” I indicated a position with optimal viewing angles of the main approach road.
“Done.” Greenwich hesitated before adding, “Reaper’s been acting odd since we arrived. Requested access to all the communications protocols, then spent three hours reviewing surveillance footage from Athens.”
This caught my attention. “Anything specific he was looking for?”
“Wouldn’t say. But he was particularly interested in the timing of Jekyll’s movements during the convoy interception.”
“Where is he now?”
“East wing, setting up additional equipment.”
“Everything secure?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe of the room where I found Reaper.
He glanced up, a flash of something—wariness?—crossing his features before he steeled his expression. “Almost. I’m finalizing the encrypted channels now.”
“Greenwich mentioned you’ve been reviewing the Athens footage.”
Reaper’s hands stilled momentarily. “Confirming some details.”
“Anything relevant to tomorrow’s meeting?”
“Possibly.” He continued his systems check. “During my interrogation, Jekyll mentioned connections I’m still processing.”
I moved further into the room, keeping my tone casual. “Between him and the FSB?”
“Between various parties involved in this op.” Reaper looked up, meeting my gaze directly. “There are layers here none of us fully understand yet. Connections that predate our involvement.”
“Anything specific I should be aware of?”
Reaper seemed to weighing his response. “Watch the dynamics when Jekyll arrives. Particularly between him and Amaryllis.”
“You think she has a personal stake in this meeting?”
“I think her interest in finding Dr. Henning might intersect with whatever Jekyll reveals in ways we haven’t anticipated.” He closed his laptop with a decisive click. “And I’m not convinced their agendas align with ours.”
Before I could press further, the door opened and Amaryllis entered, carrying additional communications equipment. She paused when she saw us, her expression shifting to professional neutrality.
“Everything set for tomorrow?” she asked, moving to the workstation.
“Almost,” Reaper replied, his tone revealing nothing of our previous conversation. “Hornet and I were reviewing security protocols.”
“I’ve established monitoring positions covering all approaches,” I confirmed. “Anything suspicious gets flagged immediately.”
“Copy that,” she said, focused on setting up the equipment she’d brought. “The meeting is set for the main salon?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Primary team positions as discussed in the briefing.”
“Good.” She glanced at Reaper. “I should coordinate with Greenwich on the surveillance rotations.”
He met her gaze with unusual intensity. “Remember, this meeting is for Delfino. Her questions take priority.”
Irritation flashed on Amaryllis’s face. “I’m aware of the mission parameters, Agent Black.”
“Are you?” The edge in his voice surprised me. “Because your focus seems increasingly narrowed to one particular aspect.”
“Finding Dr. Henning is directly connected to understanding Jekyll’s activities over the past eleven years,” she replied, her tone cooling noticeably.
“Connected, yes. But when priorities conflict?—”
“They won’t,” she cut in. “I know my role here.”
The tension between them was palpable, an undercurrent I couldn’t fully decipher. Reaper held her gaze for a moment longer before reopening his computer.
“I’ll finish configuring these frequencies,” he said, effectively dismissing her.
Amaryllis’s mouth tightened, but she left without further comment.
Once her footsteps had faded, I raised a brow at Reaper. “Want to explain what that was about?”
He sighed, setting down the communications device. “Trust your instincts tomorrow.”
“Perimeter is secure,” Greenwich reported at our final briefing before we called it a day.
“Good,” Typhon acknowledged. “Maintain rotating shifts through the night. I want fresh eyes on every screen when Jekyll arrives.”
“What about internal security?” Blackjack asked. “How do we position ourselves during the meeting?”
I pulled up the villa’s floor plan on the central display. “Primary meeting in the main salon. Typhon and I will maintain direct presence. Regent, you cover the western approach. Blackjack, eastern entrance.”
“Greenwich will monitor all feeds from the communications hub,” Typhon added. “Amaryllis will coordinate with our external assets from the secondary position here.” He indicated a spot with clear sight lines to both the meeting area and the main entrance.
“And Reaper?” Blackjack inquired.
“Tactical reserve,” I specified. “Mobile position allowing response to any sector as needed.”
“Everything’s set,” I said, joining Kima in the bedroom we shared.
“Good,” she said, rubbing her temples with her index fingers.
I sat next to her on the bed, grabbing one of her wrists and bringing that hand to my lips. “Reaper’s exhibiting unusual tension regarding Jekyll’s arrival. Particularly concerning Amaryllis’s involvement.”
Kima’s brow raised. “I’ve noticed their increased friction.” She shifted so her head rested on the pillow, and I did the same. “Have you and Typhon discussed expectations for the meeting?”
I considered his question before responding. “While we’ve addressed preparation and anticipation of things that could go sideways, we both agree that your reunion with your stepfather should be respected and treated as personal in nature.”
“Practice that statement much?”
I grinned. “This is about you and Jekyll, my te?or . What are your expectations? That’s if you’re willing to share.”
“I’m unsure. Part of me has a mental list of questions. Another part knows that when I see him, my mind will go blank and I’ll forget everything I intended to say.”
“Come here,” I said, pulling her into my arms. Kima rested her head on my chest and wrapped her arm around my waist. “What’s your biggest concern?”
She didn’t speak for several seconds. “That he’ll manipulate me into believing he’s someone he’s not.”
Morning arrived with clear skies and sunshine. The final security checks confirmed all systems were operational, surveillance positions were manned, and communication channels were stable.
“Incoming vehicle,” Greenwich announced at precisely zero eight forty-five. “Single occupant, matching expected profile.”
Other than me, who stayed with Kima, everyone else moved into their designated positions. We stood in the main salon, back to the windows so the morning light created a subliminal advantage—whoever entered would face momentary adjustment to the contrast while she could see them clearly.
I leaned in to kiss her cheek, remembering how sweet our lovemaking had been the night before. It was as though we’d pushed every thought about other humans out of both our minds and focused solely on each other.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“You and me naked.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and her eyes drooped. “My stepfather will be arriving at any moment.”
“You could always, err, postpone. Tell him that something’s come up. Perhaps you can reschedule for another day.”
“You have no idea how tempting that is.”
I wriggled my eyebrows. “I’m all in, baby, if you are.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Only you could find a way to put me so at ease. My hands literally stopped shaking.”
I pulled her close and brushed her lips with mine.
“So, it seems only fitting that I should tell you…”
“Go on.”
“Your fly is open.”
“Seriously?” I gasped, checked, then looked back up at her. “No, it isn’t.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re right. What I meant to say instead is that I love you, and given how unbelievably nervous I was—am—to do so, I wanted to disarm you first.”
I cupped both her cheeks with my palms and leaned in again, but this time, there was no simple brush of mouths. I kissed her deeply, passionately, with everything I felt for her. “I love you, my te?or ,” I whispered.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now, no matter what happens with Jekyll, I know I’ll be okay. I love you, and you love me, and that’s all I need in life.”
“You don’t have to do this, you know. I’ll support whatever decision you make. You don’t owe him an audience. You don’t owe him anything.”
“I want to,” she said after several seconds. “I want him to see his betrayal didn’t break me. I want him to know I have people in my life who truly care for me in a way he never did.”
From behind me, I heard Typhon clear his throat.
“May I have a moment?” he asked.
I kissed her once more and took a step back. “I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything.”
She smiled through her tears. “I love you,” she whispered.
“And I love you.”
As I left the room, I intentionally refrained from looking at Typhon. Whatever he had to say to Kima was between the two of them. I trusted he’d not hurt her.
“Wait,” she said as I stepped over the threshold.
I turned to face her.
“When he arrives, I want you with me.”
“As you wish,” I said, once again stopping short of looking at Typhon. Whatever his opinion, it didn’t matter. Only Kima’s did.
“Final confirmation,” Greenwich said once I shut the door behind me. “Identity verified as Edgar Hyde. Vehicle proceeding through security protocols now.”
Through the comms, I heard Regent confirming the final approach while Blackjack reported all areas were secure.
“He’s coming through the main entrance now,” Greenwich reported. “Regent is escorting him to the salon.”
The door of the salon opened. Inside, Kima was perfectly still. Only someone who knew her intimately would recognize the subtle tells of tension—the slight adjustment in her breathing pattern, the barely perceptible shift in her stance, reinforcing her emotional composure. I entered the room and stood beside her.
Footsteps approached along the corridor. Regent appeared first, conducting a final visual sweep before nodding to someone behind him.
“He’s clear,” he reported. “Security protocols complete.”
And then Jekyll was there, standing in the doorway, his appearance both familiar from the surveillance footage and somehow utterly different in person. The physical deterioration suggested ongoing health issues.
Yet his bearing remained commanding, his eyes sharp with intelligence as they immediately found Kima. She stayed where she was, forcing him to approach her and, thus, giving her a psychological advantage.
For a suspended moment, neither spoke, the weight of eleven years stretching between them. I watched Kima’s face, attuned to the almost imperceptible changes in expression others might miss—the slight furrow of her brow, the momentary parting of her lips, the straightening of her spine.
Recognition, reassessment, resolution—emotions cycled beneath her composed exterior. Whatever mental preparation she’d undertaken, the reality of Jekyll’s physical presence had nonetheless registered with impact.
It was her momentary hesitation that triggered my protective instincts. For all her strength, Kima was entering uncharted emotional territory. And as Jekyll stepped fully into the room, his gaze never leaving hers, I silently positioned myself to intervene against whatever form the coming confrontation might take.