Chapter 36
BLADE
Ihave a bad feeling about this.
Aspen is quiet, evidently wrapped in bad memories, because I have never witnessed anxiety like this from her.
It’s as if she is slowly walking away from me in her mind.
It’s obvious from the slump of her shoulders, the defeat in her blank stare, and the nervous habit she has of digging her nails into her palm.
I can’t even reassure her, no matter how much I try. The words merely die at the back of my throat as they strive to make their way past the lump in it.
It’s a glorious day in Washington. The sun is shining high in the sky; the traffic taking a rare day off, and even the birds are here for the drama.
I’m no stranger to drama, but when you are playing a major role in that and it may bring consequences, it’s not a part I’m willing to play. But I will. For Aspen. For my old lady who will never be anything else after we marry this time next week.
However, today is not our wedding day. It’s someone else’s, and that man, his bride, and the entire fucking congregation are about to get the shock of their lives.
She shifts beside me, the black SUV racing through the almost deserted streets. Her small hand tightening in mine, revealing her mind is slowly coming back to me.
“I can do this.”
Her soft whisper causes my fingers to tighten around hers, and my tone is even, belying my inner turmoil.
“You got that right.”
A brief smile lights her face, and her soft sigh feeds my resolve.
“This will work. It must.”
The determination in her words trails off as if she changed her mind before the sentence finished.
“Darlin’.”
My words are designed to reassure but sound empty as I voice them.
“We have never lost a mission yet, and this is not the day that happens.”
“I trust you, Blade. All of you.”
She turns, her pretty eyes clouded with pain, and if I could smash up the world right now, it would be a very good use of my day.
“But we’re talking about Gideon Fox here.”
“He is one man, darlin’. We are many and Gideon Fox against Ryder King will not end well for your former husband.”
“I believe you, Blade.”
A surly voice cuts through the silence, and I’m almost amused at the image of my brother shifting uncomfortably in his black suit.
“Two minutes.”
Aspen smiles, but I don’t miss the anxiety in her expression.
“You can do this.”
I attempt to reassure her, and she nods, tugging her lower lip between her teeth as Flash remarks from the driver’s seat, “I must say, I can’t wait. This is a dream come true for me.”
His light tone eases the tense silence a little, and I chuckle to myself as he adds, “Put my name down for a copy of the wedding reel. This is gonna be priceless.”
Aspen half-smiles, his words doing little to shift the anxiety sitting heavy in her eyes, and as we turn into the street toward our destination, a cold, calm resolve settles over my heart.
My eyes connect with my brother’s in the mirror, and he nods, no need for words as we communicate through telepathy.
We are identical twins and share more than our appearance, which is why my heart remains heavy because yesterday Sunday left.
Razor is hurting, and it’s so deep it’s tearing him up inside. Outwardly, he’s the usual surly son of a bitch, but inwardly he’s destroyed.
Nobody but me would ever know that. He even fucking watched her walk away as if he couldn’t give a damn and the minute the car left the compound for the airport, he disappeared to his room and only came out this morning for the briefing.
There has been no time to touch base with him, but I will. As sure as Aspen will get closure today, Razor is gonna hear me out. Even if takes beating the sense into him myself. It wouldn’t be the first time for either of us.
Flash slows the car at the checkpoint and winds down the window.
“Hey, man.”
The cop who steps forward peers into the car, more out of interest than anything.
Flash grins, his usual easy charm dousing the tension, and the cop consults his checklist.
“Name?”
“Ryder King.”
He steps back, the clipboard dropping to the side. A closed expression on his face, only the sheen of sweat breaking out on his brow revealing his thoughts on that.
“Have a good day, sir.”
He almost salutes as Flash raises the window and chuckles as we pass through the barrier.
“Remind me to change my name the moment we get back to the compound. That name would unlock the fucking federal reserves.”
Razor says nothing, then again, he rarely does, and Aspen sighs, leaning back, her head resting against the cool leather upholstery.
My heart is slamming against my ribs on repeat, which surprises me. I’m used to the calm, the expectation before a mission, and it never affects me. This time it’s personal though in more ways than one.
My knuckles are white, and I relax my hold. Aspen does require the use of her fingers after all, and I take a deep breath as I attempt to regain my composure because this will all be over tomorrow because, as it turns out, today is judgment day.