18. Alpha
ALPHA
HALSTON
At eight in the morning, Halston entered the embassy, the semi-lit lobby a reminder that the electricity was still out, the building’s generators doing their job. She hadn’t been able to hail a rideshare, but even if she had, the traffic lights were out. DC was in total gridlock.
Stopping in the executive lounge, she filled the ambassador’s carafe with coffee. As she readied his tray, she listened to the morning news anchor’s reminder that this was the second time the DMV had been hit with a power outage in recent weeks.
“Power companies in the District, the Maryland suburbs, and throughout Northern Virginia are perplexed,” reported the anchor.
“They’re saying the outages aren’t from the weather.
It’s not unusually cold or hot. There are no major weather events like hurricanes to take out the lights.
Right now, power companies are in the dark as to what has happened. ”
“Good one,” said the co-anchor. “We’re getting multiple reports from our sister affiliates that there are blackouts in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Seattle.”
“This can’t be a coincidence,” said the first anchor.
The two exchanged worried glances. “Let’s hope it is.”
Halston placed the carafe, a mug, a single sugar packet, and a tiny pitcher of creamer on the tray and hurried to the ambassador’s office.
While risky, she’d brought the rubber finger and thumb drive. If Bulgrov left for another off-site meeting, she’d continue pulling documents.
His door was open. He was meeting with Dmitri Petrov, but she couldn’t knock since she was holding his tray.
Bulgrov looked up. “Minka, come in.”
She set down the tray. “Good morning, Mr. Ambassador. I didn’t know you had a visitor. Let me drop my things and I’ll bring you some coffee, Mr. Petrov. May I pour for you, sir?”
“You brought ambassador coffee first?” asked Petrov.
“Yes. I was running a little late and didn’t want him to wait. Normally, I’m more presentable.”
She was still in her winter coat, her computer bag slung over her shoulder, her small crossbody strapped over her.
“Very dutiful,” said Petrov.
Bulgrov smiled. “Minka does excellent job.”
She acknowledged him with a nod. “I can bring you breakfast, sir. Both of you. Something from the cafeteria?”
“I’m good,” said the ambassador.
“Just coffee,” said Petrov.
Halston stopped in her office to drop her laptop. She hung her coat on the hook behind her door, slung the crossbody over her. She remembered she hadn’t turned the ringer on her personal phone off. Stopping in the restroom, she entered a stall, reached into her crossbody and silenced it.
In the lounge, as she got busy pouring a carafe for Petrov, Natasha entered.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Halston said. “You must be busy.”
“So busy,” Natasha replied. “Many big projects.”
While putting together a tray for Dmitri Petrov, he walked into the lounge. “I just sent you a text.”
“Just now?” Natasha replied.
“Yes,” Petrov said. “Are you doing any better?”
“No,” Natasha said. “I miss him every day. Nights are worst.”
Halston felt like she was eavesdropping on a personal conversation. She wanted to leave, but Natasha was standing in front of the cupboard where the mugs were kept.
“Minka, did you know Natasha was engaged?” Petrov asked.
“Yes, she mentioned it.”
“Her fiancé was gunned down in cold blood.” Petrov’s eyes turned cold. “A wonderful man. You would have liked him, Minka.”
“Yes, sir,” Halston replied.
“I’m meeting with Bulgrov,” Dmitri Petrov said to Natasha. “Why don’t I take you to dinner tonight?”
“How sweet,” she replied.
Petrov put his arms around her, pulled her close and hugged her, then kissed her forehead.
Feeling like she was in the middle of an intimate moment, Halston pulled the creamer from the refrigerator, but still couldn’t get near the cupboard because, now, they were both in her way.
After Natasha broke away, she shot Halston a smile. “Is he the best brother or what?”
They’re related?
Halston glanced from one to the other. “Of course.”
Natasha had introduced herself as simply Natasha. Even so, they didn’t have to have the same surname to be related.
“We work together on projects in Moscow,” Petrov said.
“And in America!” Natasha exclaimed.
“Our work is important,” Petrov added.
“The most important,” Natasha said.
“We block Minka,” Petrov said as he moved away.
“Thank you.” Halston stepped toward the cupboard, but Natasha didn’t budge. “Excuse me.”
After stepping aside, Natasha started watching the newscast, the day’s top story being the power outage.
“This is crazy,” Natasha said as Halston prepared Petrov’s tray. “Many cities no power.”
“Never at home,” Petrov said.
“No, never,” Natasha said as brother and sister shared a smile.
“Mr. Petrov, your coffee will be waiting in the ambassador’s office.” With the tray in hand, Halston left.
As she made her way down the hall, Petrov caught up with her.
In addition to being tall, he was a sizably overweight man, his belabored breathing a reminder that he was out of shape.
“Minka, you are family at embassy,” Petrov said.
“I have no family. That means a great deal to me.”
They returned to the ambassador’s office where she set the tray on the small conference table.
“Sir, I need to check in with my team,” Halston said, “unless you want me to stay.”
“Let the chef know Dmitri will be lunching with me,” Bulgrov replied.
On a tight nod, she left.
After informing the chef of the ambassador’s lunch guest, she made her way upstairs to speak with her team. As she strode down the hallway, she wondered what projects brother and sister worked on together in Russia that had continued in the States.
Her gut said it couldn’t be good… and her gut was rarely wrong.
GAbrIEL
At 7:20 PM, local DC time, Gabriel arrived at Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. He breezed through Customs, strode toward the parking lot. Once outside, he swept the area, his sights settling on the black limo waiting at the curb.
The driver exited, walked around as the back door opened.
Sin emerged. Gabriel shook his hand.
“How was your visit?” Sin asked.
“Bloody,” Gabriel replied.
To his surprise, a sinister smile brightened Sin’s face. “Sounds fun. Did you take back what’s yours?”
“Of course.”
“I heard Monroe is being tailed by Riccobene’s son, Marco,” Sin said as the cold wind whipped around them.
Gabriel tamed his windblown hair with a stroke of his hand. “She’s fucking with him.”
“Like only she can,” Sin said. “Riccobene is dangerous.”
“She’s also working with someone named Wolf.”
“That’s a dangerous combination.” Sin gestured toward the open door.
Gabriel slipped into the limo.
Halston—disguised as Barbi—and Evangeline sat huddled together talking in hushed tones. Both women turned, but only one of the women made his heart pound harder. Her lips tugged up in a brief smile that touched her eyes.
“Hello, Gabriel,” she said, her fiery gaze eating him alive.
“Barbi.” Sparks flew between them before he dragged his attention to Evangeline. “Good to see you, Evangeline.”
“You too, G,” Evangeline replied.
Sin joined them, the driver shut the door, hurried around. Seconds later, the vehicle pulled away from the curb.
The overwhelming need to pull Halston into his arms and kiss her had him extending his hand across the limo. She slid her hand into his and gave him a little squeeze. The energy that passed between them had him biting back a growl. He’d missed her. Missed her a lot.
As she separated, she asked, “How was your trip?”
“I took care of business, the Santini way.”
“And that is?” Halston asked.
“I eliminated the threat, calmed my employees, and stopped one of my guys from bleeding out while we got him to the ER.”
“Very productive,” Evangeline said. “And I see you’re wearing body armor.”
“That obvious?” he asked.
“Sin and I wear it under our clothes,” she replied. “I can spot it on others.”
“Who’s running the meeting tonight?” Gabriel asked.
Evangeline chuckled. “That’s a loaded question when you have that many alphas in one room.”
“I’m kicking it off,” Sin said.
“Add me to the agenda,” Gabriel said as he peered over at Halston.
“You gonna fill us in?” Sin asked.
“At the meeting.” He couldn’t take his eyes off Halston. Never expected to fall so fast… or so hard. “Barbi, how’re things at work?”
“I’m still there.”
“You thought you’d get fired?” Evangeline asked.
“Bulgrov caught me in his office after I’d hacked into his laptop.”
“That’s risky,” Sin said.
Gabriel smiled. “Badass.”
“Things coulda gone sideways, but I handled it.”
“Of course you did,” Gabriel replied.
“But today, I couldn’t get near his computer,” Halston continued. “He and Dmitri Petrov worked in his office all day.”
Gabriel’s blood turned to ice at the mention of Petrov’s name.
Scum of the earth.
“What were they working on?” Sin asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I wasn’t asked to take notes. When I delivered coffee and lunch, they made small talk with me.”
Gabriel glanced out the window as the car sped toward Great Falls. “Still no power?”
“No,” Sin replied. “It’s across several major cities from here to LA.”
“Someone’s fucking with us,” Gabriel said as he returned his attention to Halston.
He’d glance at whomever was speaking, then find his way back to her.
Most times, she was waiting, her penetrating gaze the hottest distraction.
The longer he stared, the more he liked.
Her Barbi disguise went beyond the wig or contact lenses.
She held herself differently, altered her voice.
He appreciated the level of detail she’d worked into her alias.
He was relieved she was safe, curious if she’d missed him, and hungry to take her in his arms and love her.
The driver pulled off the main road and into an established Great Falls neighborhood. After a few turns, he drove past a NO TRESPASSING sign and onto a dirt road.
“I remember this place,” Gabriel said.
“It’s the most secure location we have,” Sin replied.