3. Welcome Home
WELCOME HOME
GAbrIEL
Wincing, Gabriel pushed himself out of the recovery bed nestled in the medical ward at the Black Site. To his surprise, he had a hard-on.
I still got it.
Into the bathroom he padded. After what took too many minutes, Mr. Johnson relaxed and he did his business. As he exited, Teddy walked in.
“Whoa, my man, what’re you doing outta bed?”
“I’m coming out of the bathroom. You get three guesses.”
“Is there a woman in there?”
Gabriel chuffed out a laugh. “Nice. If there was a woman, I’d still be in bed.”
“You slept good. The last twenty-four you were in and out.”
“What day it is?”
“Monday. Monday afternoon, actually,” Teddy replied.
“What happened to Sunday?”
“You slept through it.”
Nurse Baker hurried into the room. “Gabriel, where are you going?”
“To get something to eat.”
The nurse pointed to the bed.
“Aren’t I supposed to walk to prevent a blood clot?” Gabriel asked.
“He’s got a point,” Teddy agreed. “And no matter what you say, he won’t listen.”
“Let me take your blood pressure and check your vitals.”
Gabriel sat in the chair while the nurse did his job.
“Your vitals are great.”
As Gabriel stood, his shoulder, chest, and leg muscles screamed. Caught by surprise, he steadied himself with a hand on the bed.
“You want me to bring you something?” Teddy asked.
“I’ll go with you,” Gabriel replied.
“Before I can discharge you, you have to listen to my lecture. Change the dressings on your shoulder and leg twice daily.” Nurse Baker lifted a pill bottle off the side table. “Take one antibiotic twice daily for three days to prevent infection.”
Gabriel shifted toward Teddy who nodded. “You gotta do it.”
“Do you need anything for pain?” the nurse asked.
“I’ll take Tylenol.”
“I’d go easy for the next few days,” Baker continued. “The bullet in the shoulder was a clean removal. Doc expects a full recovery. The bullet in your thigh was a little messier. Still a full recovery, but you’ll probably need PT. That one might hurt a little longer.”
“I’ve got a high threshold for pain.”
“It’s the Santini way,” Teddy said.
“Poppin’ those motherfuckers is the Santini way,” Gabriel snapped.
“Yeah, so please don’t make me an accomplice to a murder,” Baker said.
Gabriel smiled. “Three murders.”
“I’ve heard too much.” The nurse slung his backpack over his shoulder. “Teddy, can you escort me out?”
Gabriel extended his hand. “Thanks for everything.”
The nurse shook it, then the three headed down the hall. Pain shot through Gabriel with each step, but that wouldn’t stop him. Wasn’t the first time someone had tried to kill him… wouldn’t be the last.
Teddy and Baker veered toward the exit, Gabriel continued on to the kitchen. As he approached, he heard familiar voices.
Gabriel stood in the doorway. Standing at the stove were two of his favorite people—his NSA contact, Kathrine Austin, and a woman he’d met through Sin and Evangeline, Stoni Alexander.
Kathrine had a muscular build with shoulder-length blonde hair and a warm smile. Stoni was petite with long salt and pepper hair that she’d tucked behind her ears. Both wore sweaters and black pants.
“Six cities,” Kathrine said.
“When?” Stoni asked.
“Yesterday.” Kathrine grabbed four plates from the cupboard.
Stoni filled a glass with water. “Which cities?”
“Portland, Maine; Wichita, Kansas; Tampa, Florida; Richmond, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; San Jose, California; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.” Kathrine pulled the toast, started buttering it.
“No butter for me,” Stoni said.
“No butter? What are you putting on it?”
“I’m having avocado toast. I’m off butter for a while.”
Kathrine laughed. “You’re off everything.”
“That’s seven cities,” Stoni said as she filled another glass with water. “Not six.”
“I’m a dumbass,” Kathrine said.
The women laughed as Stoni scooped scrambled eggs onto the plates. “How long?”
“How long what?” Kathrine asked.
“Were the blackouts?”
“Twenty-two minutes, each city,” Kathrine replied. “The blackouts happened at the exact same moment, across times zones. Lights came back on at the same time.”
“What’s NSA saying?” Stoni asked.
Teddy returned, stood beside Gabriel. “Why are you standing out here?”
“I’m listening,” Gabriel murmured as both women whipped their heads in his direction.
“Gabriel!” Stoni hurried over. “Look at you walking around the Black Site.”
He stepped into the room and hugged her, then hugged Kathrine.
The women brought the plates to the table, then poured four coffees.
“Sugar?” Kathrine asked.
“I’m off sugar,” Stoni replied.
Kathrine laughed. “Who’s the dumbass now?”
With a chuckle, Stoni added unsweet oat milk to one of the mugs.
“What can I do?” Teddy asked.
Stoni handed him a container of raspberries. “Rinse these.”
Kathrine divvied up the sausages onto the plates.
“G, your ass is hanging out the back of your hospital gown,” Teddy said.
Both women glanced over.
“Leave it,” Kathrine said, and she and Stoni laughed.
After Teddy tied it, everyone sat down. Gabriel’s shoulder wasn’t an issue, but his thigh was throbbing pretty good.
“I love breakfast for dinner,” Teddy said.
“What time is it?” Gabriel asked.
“Four-thirty in the afternoon,” Stoni replied.
“That’s a lot of eggs,” Gabriel said.
“Teddy’s in the house,” Stoni replied, then her playful expression fell away. “Gabriel, how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” Gabriel studied her for an extra beat. “What are you guys doing here and how did you get in?”
“Teddy let us in,” Stoni replied.
“I thought this was a secure site,” Gabriel said.
Stoni forked in some eggs. After swallowing them down, she said, “It is. We’re cleared to be here, and we wanted to check on you.”
“I thought you wrote fiction,” Gabriel said.
“Z and I worked together at the Bureau,” Stoni explained. “I left to write. After Z retired, he started recruiting me for special projects.”
“If there’s anything I know,” Kathrine said, “No one ever says no to Z.”
“Pushy little man,” Stoni said, and the women laughed. “But we love him.”
“He keeps our lives interesting,” Kathrine said.
“And way too busy,” Stoni added.
“What’s with the blackouts?” Gabriel asked before sipping the coffee.
Kathrine and Stoni exchanged glances.
“It’s nothing,” Kathrine said.
“Out with it,” Gabriel said, waving them in.
“There’s been chatter that we’ve been following at NSA,” Kathrine said. “There’s a vulnerability with the electrical grid.”
“In the US or around the world?” Gabriel asked.
“Pretty much everywhere,” Stoni replied. “That’s exactly what the Chinese, the Russians, and the bad actors in the Middle East are focusing on. You take down the grids—”
“You create mass chaos,” Teddy said.
“So these blackouts… were they suspicious?” Gabriel asked.
“They gave my team pause,” Kathrine said. “Seven cities, full-blown blackouts for twenty-two minutes each, all at the same time.”
“Not a coincidence,” Gabriel murmured.
“That’s what’s got Z worried,” Stoni said.
“And half of NSA,” Kathrine added.
“And the FBI,” Stoni said. “It’s jumped to high-tier priority at all of the three-letter agencies.”
Just then, Z and Sin entered the kitchen.
Sinclair Develin—known as The Fixer—was a DC power player who co-ran Develin and Associates with his wife, Evangeline.
Towering over most at six-three, Sin touted a muscular build, bright blue eyes, and short brown hair held in place with hair product.
Always dressing for success, he wore a dark suit, crisp white shirt, no tie.
The power Sin wielded put him in a category of his own.
If he liked you, you were golden. If he didn’t… you were screwed. Big time.
“We’ve got a problem,” Z said, pulling up a chair.
Sin poured himself coffee, but instead of joining the group, he leaned his backside against the counter.
“Gabriel, you need to leave the country,” Z said matter-of-factly.
“Fine by me, as long as my destination is Italy.”
“The six mobsters you were tasked to take out with Teddy and Greystone had been sent here to assassinate several high-ranking military officials,” Z said. “Their elimination was intended to stop them—”
“Which we did,” Teddy said.
“But also to send a clear message that we knew what they were up to,” Z said, finishing his thought.
“Too many games,” Gabriel muttered.
“I agree,” Sin said, “but when Gabriel took out the entire group out at their Russian restaurant, it became personal.”
“G, Sin was tipped off that they’re coming for you,” Z said.
Gabriel hands curled into fists as the frustration streaked through him. “It woulda been good to know that before they ambushed me. Now, it’s my turn. Revenge is my business.”
“Nothing in this quiet war we’re fighting is ever simple,” Sin said.
“It is for me,” Gabriel replied.
“Gabriel, give Z’s suggestion some thought, that’s all,” Kathrine said. “By staying, you put your family—including Elsa—at risk.”
Anger had Gabriel shoving out of his seat. With his half-eaten plate and empty mug in hand, he slowly made his way to the sink. The pain in his leg would be the motivation he needed to find the thugs who did this to him.
“Fine, whatever,” Gabriel said. “Make the arrangements.”
He said “yes” to get them off his back. Gabriel was never one to follow orders.
Not about to start now.
“Thank you both for coming to see me, and for breakfast,” Gabriel said to Stoni and Kathrine. “Teddy, I’m outta here.”
“Where are you going?” Sin asked.
“Home to pack,” Gabriel replied.
HALSTON
The hotel door opened wide, the woman stepped aside, and Halston crossed the threshold. A quick glance around the suite. A large living area, a closed door she assumed led to a bedroom. No one else in the room but the brunette.
The stranger shut the door.
“Welcome, Halston. I’m Evangeline Develin. Are you hungry? I ordered dinner for us. Can I get you a drink?”
Halston had no idea who this woman was. Was she foe or friend? Who did she work for? Yes, Halston was starving, but information first, food second.
A knowing smile touched Evangeline’s eyes. “I’ve arranged for someone to meet us here.” She opened the door to the bedroom and a woman walked in.