Chapter Twenty-Six #2
Things better go right. Andre squeezed Riley’s hand. If they didn’t, it meant Fortress had failed in its mission and the United States would have to fight a war against a biological weapon. The stakes were too high to lose this fight.
He frowned. Should they warn someone higher up the food chain than Brent Maddox? His stomach knotted at reporting to one of the political powerhouses in Washington, D.C. The most likely person to need the information was William Martin, President of the United States.
Talking to the political elite was way out of his comfort zone. Give him a gun, and he’d be fine. Wrangling over politics? Definitely not comfortable with that.
Riley rested her hand on his forearm. “What’s wrong? Did I miss something in the update?”
“I’m afraid someone higher in rank than Brent needs to know about the threat to the US. What if we can’t take down Obsidian Storm? The US needs to be ready.”
Riley’s lips curved in a wry smile. “We need to give the White House a Storm warning.”
“Exactly. Although I hate to do it, I don’t know another way to handle this.”
“Brent is the Fortress CEO. He has more clout than we do.” Her eyes twinkled. “I say we let him deliver the bad news.”
They went to their rooms to grab their gear and met the rest of their teams in the living room.
Seth looked at the two teams. “We’ll travel in a caravan.
Unless I’ve misread the situation, Obsidian Storm has people watching us.
If they have two brain cells to rub together, they know we’re aware of them. I don’t see a need for stealth.”
Noah nodded. “If they want to come at us, bring it on.”
“We’ll meet you in the garage,” Elias said. “Iona wants to check out something in the hotel gift shop before we leave.” He escorted her from the suite.
Seth stared after them for a moment. “Is something brewing there?”
Teagan patted his chest. “It has been for a while, love. You don’t notice those things.”
He frowned. “I’m aware, but I keep my mouth shut.”
Grant nodded. “It’s safer that way.”
The others laughed as they stepped out into the hallway.
The operatives bypassed the elevators to carry their gear down the stairwell to the garage.
By the time Elias and Iona arrived and Riley and Seth had checked out of their suites, the bags were in the cargo areas of the SUVs.
A moment later, Seth led the way down the interstate toward Nashville.
Although the operatives remained alert, no one interfered during their journey. An hour later, the security team on duty at Fortress opened the gate to allow Seth and the others into the Fortress compound, where they parked inside the garage and unloaded their bags.
The elevator arrived on the executive floor a moment later, and the door slid open. A pretty woman wearing a white lab coat smiled at Riley as she and the others exited the elevator car. “Hey, Riley. I haven’t seen you in a while. How’s everything going?”
Riley grinned. “Abby, I didn’t expect to see you on this floor.”
Her friend laughed. “Yeah, I usually have my eye to the microscope unless I’m taking a lunch or dinner break with Carlos. I delivered some reports to Micah Winter. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be out of the lab.”
“Oh, yes. Carlos.” Riley wiggled her eyebrows. “How are things going with your new boyfriend?”
Abby sighed dramatically and patted her chest over her heart. “What can I say? He’s the most romantic and sweetest man I’ve ever known. Carlos is the perfect man. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s thoughtful, kind, and wealthy. He spoils me so much. I adore him, Riley.”
“Sounds like he’s perfect for you. I’m glad you’re so happy. You deserve it.”
Abby’s expression was smug. “I agree.” Then she laughed. “I better get back to the lab. They’ll be missing me soon. Good to see you again, Riley.”
Zane Murphy zoomed up to them at the elevator. “Come with me.” He spun his wheelchair around and led them to the large conference room, where Brent waited for them.
“Take a seat. Zane.”
“I’m on it. One minute.”
Iona looked at Brent. “When and where will we meet the M team?”
“They’ll be here in about 30 minutes. They returned from deployment late last night, and the jet hadn’t returned yet.”
That was a piece of luck. After Andre seated Riley, he dropped into the seat next to hers and waited for whatever came next. At the one-minute mark, the President of the United States appeared on the wall screen.
Andre swallowed hard. Oh, man. This was not what he’d expected, but he should have. They were talking about national security, after all.
Brent straightened. “Mr. President, good to see you again, sir.”
“You pulled me out of a meeting on a day with a packed schedule. What is so important that I had to pause a meeting with the British Prime Minister?”
“A weaponized flu virus.”
Martin’s eyes sharpened. “How credible is the threat?”
“Ninety-five percent. We’re confirming and reconfirming as we speak.”
“I want to know the instant you hit 100%. Who?”
“Obsidian Storm.”
The president’s face went blank.
Andre went on alert. That expression said this man knew more than he could say. Had the president been aware of Obsidian Storm and its agenda? What was going on?
“You’re sure they’re behind this threat?” Martin asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you know this?”
Brent looked over his shoulder at Andre before turning back to the screen. “This is Andre Marsh. He and his partner Riley Sloan were targeted by kidnappers on the orders of Javier Garcia and Diego Mendoza. The kidnappers were captured and questioned.”
“Where are they now?”
“Don’t ask.”
“A black site, huh? Fine. Just don’t kill them.”
“That’s up to the kidnappers.” Brent looked at Andre. “You’re up, Andre. Tell the president what you told me.”
For the next few minutes, Andre and Riley updated the president on everything they knew about Obsidian Storm and its plans.
“No concrete proof?”
“No, sir. Only the word of a man who lied at a few points to distract us. We got half-truths and half-lies.”
“But you believed this?”
Andre looked at Riley. She should take this answer since she’d lived the experience.
“Yes, sir,” Riley said. “We believe it because when I was with The Company, my first assignment was to take out Obsidian Storm’s leader.
The reason I was sent in the first place was rumors about the Storm being on the verge of weaponizing a virus.
I took out Eduardo Garcia and got out as ordered.
My orders did not include destroying a virus.
In fact, my handler didn’t tell me about the virus until I returned to the States. ”
Martin stared. “So, you took down Garcia. Good work. I knew the CIA would have a good grasp of what was happening. That’s why I ordered and approved the mission.
I didn’t know the agent was you. There was another assassination connected to Obsidian Storm that day.
Would that have been your handiwork also? ”
“That was my doing, sir,” Andre said. “I was with a Ranger unit in those days.”
“I’m impressed, and that doesn’t happen often. Good job, both of you.” He shifted his attention to Brent. “What now?”
“We’re taking down Obsidian Storm. It’s the only way to ensure Riley and Andre and the rest of their teams won’t have a target on their backs.”
“What about the virus?”
Their boss grimaced. “We’ll figure out a way to get rid of it.”
“In other words, you’ll wing it.”
“We’re doing this with or without Washington’s support but we’d prefer to have it.”
“Ah. So that’s what you called me for. You want permission to go after the Storm.”
“Yes, sir.”
Martin was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Do it. I expect success from all of your teams.”
“Copy that, sir. Sorry to interrupt your schedule.”
“If you destroy that virus, we’ll be even.” Martin ended the transmission feed.
A knock sounded on the conference room door, and David Montgomery and his four brothers walked into the room.
Andre smiled. Time for the party to begin.