24. Michelangelo

The day following our dinner out, Nemesis suggested I bring Penelope to Shere. Given there wasn’t much going on due to the proximity to Christmas, she thought it would be a good opportunity for her to meet the team who was there.

She also suggested we have a quick private meeting.

“Wow. I’ve always wanted to visit Surrey,” Penelope said as we got closer to Shere and the coalition’s command center.

“Wait until you see the estate we’re visiting. It’s a quintessential English countryside.” My pleasant tone belied the anxiety permeating my every pore. I’d say I was hiding it from Pen, but I knew better. I was sure she felt it seeping out of me. “I’ll introduce you, then I have a quick meeting with Nemesis.”

“Is this it?” Pen gasped when we drove up to the gate. “You weren’t exaggerating. It’s stunning.”

I wondered if the site was chosen in part due to its tranquility. Inside the walls of the main house, it was often damned depressing. Each passing day without resolution meant more people were taken from their everyday lives and dumped into unimaginable horror. Each day also meant that some of them may have died at the hands of those who’d “purchased” them.

As much as I wanted my op to begin simply because the sooner it did, the sooner I’d finish it and walk away, I wondered if, when the time came, I’d be able to. Could I simply accept that I’d done my part and return to my life with Penelope? Surely, I’d be given more assignments from K19, but would they involve the fight against human trafficking?

I pulled up to the main residence, parked, then got out and opened Pen’s door.

“I’m nervous.”

Smiling, I took her hand in mine. “It was the first time I visited, too. They’re a good bunch. At times, intimidating but always friendly and welcoming when not in the midst of following an urgent lead. Here we are,” I said, opening the door and motioning for her to walk in ahead of me.

“Michelangelo, welcome. This must be Butterfly,” said Nemesis, standing when we were just beyond the foyer and found her seated at a table in the kitchen area.

The two women shook hands after Nem introduced herself first, then Ares.

“You are not expected to remember everyone’s names. I certainly do not,” I whispered after we’d made our way around the room.

A few minutes later, Typhon walked in. “Good to see the two of you again. El and I had such a nice time last night.”

Saint was in my line of sight, and I caught the scowl he quickly tried to mask. While curious about what had happened to cause such ill will between them, I was happy to remain in the dark. I had enough on my mind without knowing their story.

“I understand Eliza Fox took you to Five Hertford. It’s where we had our first date,” said Wren Whittaker when she and her husband, Wilder, joined those of us gathered in what was known as a situation room.

Penelope deserved a lot of credit for how unflustered she appeared after she’d been introduced to over twenty people. In fact, I heard her repeat each name back to the person within minutes of meeting them. Perhaps that was her trick and she’d be willing to teach me.

Nemesis signaled, and I leaned over to whisper in Pen’s ear. “Will you be all right on your own for a few minutes? I promise it won’t take too long.”

“I’ll be fine, Brand.” She smiled and returned to the conversation she was having with Bexli. At least, I thought it was her. Then again, I had a hard time remembering who was who.

“Sorry to pull you away,” said Nem when I joined her and two of the Americans in the library. “You remember Tank and Blackjack?” she said.

“Of course.” I nodded at each. Between them, it was obvious which one was Tank since he was built like one.

“We’ll bring you up to speed on our primary investigation first, then discuss your deployment,” she said, handing me a brief.

As I skimmed it, I was surprised to learn how close they believed they were to finding the final member of the target trafficking organization known as AMPS. Once they were able to dismantle it, the coalition intended to shift their focus to the Sicilian and Calabrian Syndicates, who they believed were the most likely to take over territories formerly controlled by AMPS. If Nemesis’ prediction was accurate, it was already happening.

“Your goal remains to get one of the most powerful Italian crime families to take the other down. As your history is with the Sicilians, your plan to infiltrate their organization in order to gather enough ammunition to take to the Calabrians is sound. You’ll have support from Tank and Blackjack as well as—” She stopped talking when the door opened and Typhon came in.

“Pardon the interruption. I was unaware this meeting was taking place, or I would’ve joined you sooner.”

“This doesn’t concern you,” said Nemesis, glaring at him like he was at her.

“I beg to differ. There’s vital information the coalition has not yet been made aware of.”

She sighed. “Very well. Get on with it.”

“Unit 23 has two agents already embedded in the Calabrian Syndicate—Giada Notaro, code name Luna, and Antonio Casavetti, code name Keeper.”

Nemesis raised a brow. “Shall I assume the next thing you’re going to say is you also have two who have infiltrated the Sicilians?”

He shrugged, which I found surprising. If the unit did have agents inside, his intention had to be to make us aware of it.

Nem leaned back in her chair. “Stop playing games and answer my question.”

“It may come as a surprise.”

“For God’s sake, Typhon, spit it out.” Nemesis was seething.

“Me.”

As stunned as I felt, it was apparent Nem was incredulous.

“For how long?” she asked.

“Years.”

“In what role?”

“Enforcer. By contract only.”

I knew very little about Unit 23 apart that assassination was their primary function.

“Convenient,” Nem commented.

“It’s served a purpose.”

“Where are you going with this, Typhon?” she asked.

“I’ll be spending some time in Tropea.”

I couldn’t speak for Tank or Blackjack since neither had said a word; however, I felt as though I was watching something take place I shouldn’t be privy to. I also knew better than to excuse myself.

“As with prior instances of overlapping missions, I will insist you brief me on every facet of whatever ops you’re planning,” said Nemesis.

“For now, it will consist of support only.”

Nemesis looked from him to me and back again. “Do you have reason to believe your involvement is necessary at this time?”

He nodded once, which only seemed to annoy her further. When she stood and shut her laptop—slammed it closed might be a better way to put it—the rest of us in the room stood as well.

“We’ll speak later,” Nem snapped on her way out. However, given she looked between Typhon and me, I was unsure which of us she was speaking to.

“Gentlemen, would you also please excuse us?” Typhon shut the door behind Tank and Blackjack, then locked it. “What Nemesis didn’t say before she left in a huff was that the deployment is set for two January.”

I nodded as I mentally counted the days between now and then. Eleven.

“You were anticipating it was imminent, weren’t you?” Typhon asked.

“I was.”

“The Sicilians will be wary, which is the reason I stepped in.”

I raised a brow. “You intend to be my entrée?”

“Ease it, at least. Not to mention, Tweedledee and Tweedledum will be of no help whatsoever. Why in God’s name Nem would send two Americans in with you is beyond me.”

I remembered him voicing his opinion of them last night. He’d also said I’d have “their” support, which I assumed meant agents from Unit 23—not Typhon himself. On the other hand, he couldn’t very well divulge something of that nature in front of Pen or Eliza.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Were you involved in the hit that was to be carried out four years ago?”

“Of course I was. However, Scaglione called it off.”

The Calabrian don was livid when he found out the painting I’d “stolen” on his behalf was a forgery. It cost me two originals, which weren’t mine to begin with, to get him to call off the hit. Until now, I doubted it really had been, though.

Richard, whom I’d dismissed without a second thought at Thanksgiving, had literally saved my life. He paid the restitution on the forged pieces I’d claimed responsibility for, as well as compensated those who the original artwork was stolen from.

I owed the man an apology, which I’d give him prior to the deployment.

“You will not be able to communicate with Penelope outside a secure app.”

“Understood.” It was another reason I needed to get in and out as quickly as possible. However, defining what that meant in an ever-changing landscape of mission objectives was making my head spin. Once Typhon and I were finished, I’d check on Pen, then find Nemesis and ask to speak with her on my own.

“Here’s a brief on my cover as well as my history with both families. There were others I worked with earlier on, when I was establishing myself. Within those pages, you will find an approximate kill count. Keep in mind those numbers aren’t in any way accurate.”

A few minutes ago, Typhon had said his role was as an enforcer, but only by contract. Had he killed for both, as well as the other families, he’d just mentioned?

Having first-hand knowledge of the hierarchy of the Sicilians, it didn’t surprise me they were willing to allow Typhon to work outside of the typical family structure. I was a big guy, but he towered over me. And, as fit as I kept myself, he was also far more powerful than I’d ever get, no matter how much I worked out.

He studied me. “You’re not going to ask if the number is higher or lower?”

“Frankly, I’d rather not know.”

“Lower. Much lower.”

My eyes scrunched. “I don’t understand.”

“While those of us in Unit 23 are tasked with eliminating the evil-doers of the world, many of the lives the mob wants terminated are the good guys.”

“How do you prove the deaths?”

“You’d be amazed at what our crew is capable of.”

Admittedly, this exchange made me feel somewhat better. Having been on the wrong side of a hit, I was relieved to know Typhon, at least, didn’t murder everyone he was assigned to for the very reason he’d stated. I may not have been one of the good guys, but I was sure many were.

“Is anyone else from the unit undercover with the Sicilians?”

“Negative, and it’s my understanding Nem is having those from MI6 withdraw intermittently as well. The unit has two agents inside the Calabrian Syndicate, and I intend to keep them there.”

I was relieved to hear that too. I’d mentioned to her I was uncomfortable having others who’d infiltrated either organization interfering with my objectives.

“What else do you want to know, Brand?”

I realized why he used my given name rather than the code name almost everyone else used exclusively. Both crime families knew me as Brando Ripa.

“I’d like to get with Nemesis to make sure my role is the same as it’s been these last few weeks.”

“Meaning the art-forgery angle.”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s another reason I’m deploying with you. I don’t want your head or fingers in human trafficking. You don’t have the background or the training.”

“Understood.” Once again, I was relieved.

“Tank and Blackjack will be poking around, as will I. You keep your eye on your own prize.”

My eyes scrunched again. “You expressed a fairly low opinion of them.”

He shrugged and smiled. “Part of the Unit 23 persona.”

“It appeared to be solely for my benefit.”

He nodded. “Brand, if you aren’t intimidated by me at this point, you have no business participating in this mission.”

“Your goal was to intimidate me?”

“Damn straight. There isn’t a person in either family who’s met me and isn’t. That includes both dons.”

“Got it.”

“Now that you’ve wrapped things up with Nemesis, I suggest you get your arse back to London and enjoy every minute you can with Penelope in the same way I plan to do with El. And about Christmas, Saint’s wife, Harper, is everything he isn’t, but he worships the ground she walks on.” He stroked his beard. “Interesting metaphor, given she’s a vicar. Anyway, no need to run interference. If the day comes when I do kill him, it’ll be somewhere other than El’s flat.”

“Understood,” I repeated, even though I didn’t and, again, didn’t want to.