Chapter 32

32

The tarmac of Redemption Creek’s small airport shimmered in the evening heat as Alex stumbled off the plane into the warm night air. Jason had gotten them to the private airstrip on the atoll in ten hours, not twelve, but the one-stop-round-trip had meant almost twenty-four hours in the air. She was cooked.

Gabe, Liv, Mac and Gravy followed her down the plane’s stairs, all looking equally travel-worn, though Gabe, at least, had regained his normal energy.

Despite the fading bruises on his face and arms—clear reminders of the recent attack—his eyes sparkled with his usual mischievous energy. Good to see he was bouncing back.

“You’re looking better, cuz,” she said, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Gabe flashed her a lopsided grin. “What can I say? I’m resilient. Plus, I had some ideas during the flight. Can’t wait to get back to my lab and test them out.”

The teasing retort died on her lips as her attention was drawn to Jason. He loped down the jet’s stairs looking like he’d gone ten rounds with a grizzly bear and lost.

Gravy, who had just stepped off the plane, took one look at Jason and blurted out, “Dude, you look…” He paused, shaking his head so hard his unruly hair swished in the wind. “I don’t even know.”

Alex stifled a snort, silently agreeing with the assessment. Then she realized she couldn’t look much better.

Paige, Cody, Fenn and Kate exited the main house, heading out to greet them. Tension filled the air as the two teams eyed each other warily.

Alex got it. Meeting in the middle of an already tangled op was less than ideal.

Liv’s fingers twitched near her hip, where she holstered her sidearm. “Nice place you’ve got here,” she observed, her tone carefully neutral.

Mac scanned the fenced compound. “Very ... secure.”

Fenn grinned. “We like to think so. Welcome to Fort Knox, Redemption Creek style.”

“Come on in,” Paige urged. “Dinner’s on.”

Jason and his team led them across the airstrip toward the main house.

The minute they entered, Gabe let out a low whistle, and headed straight for the gigantic computer monitor that took up half of one wall, his eyes wide with childlike wonder. “Is that the new Iris Prime? Those aren’t supposed to be released into Beta for another six months.”

Paige practically bounced on her toes, her face lighting up. “I know some folks. It’s way better than I expected. Full eye movement and gesture control. Want to see?”

“Uh, yeah!” Gabriel exclaimed, already halfway across the room.

Cody’s brow furrowed as he watched them go, his mouth set in a thin line. Alex bit back a smile, wondering if she should warn Gabriel he was accidentally moving in on Cody’s girl.

Meanwhile, Gravy was making his rounds, shaking hands and doling out compliments like they were party favors. “Man, this place is awesome! And you guys are so cool. It’s like being in a spy movie!”

It was like having a golden retriever around, all wagging tail and unbridled enthusiasm. But as she caught Jason’s eye across the room, his expression mirrored her own thoughts. What they really needed was a pit bull.

The savory aroma of Mason’s cooking wafted through the air, making her realize she hadn’t eaten anything but a couple power bars and a papaya since this time yesterday.

The teams settled around the large dining table. She couldn’t help but notice the contrast between them—her RAVEN operatives sun-kissed and relaxed beneath the strain of travel, Jason’s crew looking like they’d been through a war.

Bridger stumbled in the door, his usual crisp appearance replaced by rumpled clothes and a five o’clock shadow.

Tai eyed his friend. “Rough night?”

Bridger collapsed into a chair, running a hand over his face. “Jane’s having contractions. False alarm, but ...”

“Bridger’s about to be a dad,” Alex explained to the group. “Twins. Any day now.”

A chorus of congratulations and sympathetic murmurs filled the air. Gravy, ever the enthusiast, leaned forward. “Dude, that’s awesome! You’re gonna be like, a cool dad times two!”

Bridger managed a tired smile. “More like a zombie times two, I’m thinking.” He introduced himself to Liv and Mac and Gabe. “Thanks for coming.”

Her guys nodded politely. Probably she was the only one who spotted the wariness in Mac and Liv’s eyes.

The tantalizing scents of Mason’s creation, a heavenly blend of garlic, butter and oregano-scented tomato sauce lightened the mood like a burst of sunshine.

Jason cleared his throat. “Before we dig in, let’s say grace.”

A hush fell over the group. They bowed their heads. Jason’s deep voice resonated through the room, expressing gratitude for the food, and the team’s safety, and a special prayer for Jane and the twins.

Amens were still echoing around the table while Mason set out massive serving dishes piled high with spaghetti and meatballs along with perfectly-broiled garlic bread and an impossibly fresh-looking salad. Plates full, the conversation shifted to mission planning, ideas bouncing around the table like a pinball machine on overdrive.

Paige paused, fork halfway to her mouth. “What if we infiltrated their communications network?”

Gabriel’s eyes lit up. “I might have some tech that could help with that. If we could just?—”

“Whoa there, Einstein,” Mac interrupted, his gruff voice softening the words. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We need to consider the physical security too.”

Liv nodded, her earlier wariness melting as she engaged with the group. “Mac’s right. We need a multi-pronged approach.”

“Absolutely.” Mason jabbed a serving fork in Liv’s direction. “The lady is spot on.”

The gruff man’s praise earned him a sliver of a smile. The tiny expression was the equivalent of a bear hug from most people.

The meal progressed, plates growing emptier while the figurative pile of ideas grew higher. Tai and Mac compared notes on hand-to-hand combat techniques, their earlier suspicion replaced by mutual respect. Paige and Gabriel were lost in their own world of tech-speak, while Cody looked on, a mix of admiration and jealousy playing across his features.

Even Kate, the least talkative in Alex’s opinion, engaged in an animated discussion with her fiancé, Fenn, about the finer points of explosives. Alex caught Jason’s eye across the table, a silent understanding passing between them.

This could work.

“You know,” Gravy piped up, his mouth full of mashed potatoes, “my dad always said the best way to beat a bully was to make ‘em look stupid.”

Jason eyed his protege. “You might be onto something there, my man.”

Fenn nodded. “No joke.”

“Seriously.” Mason shot Gravy an approving look.

As the laughter died down and the planning resumed with renewed vigor, Alex felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the hearty meal. Looking around at these people—some old friends, some new allies—she realized they’d already won a crucial battle.

Seven-Five might have resources and ruthlessness on their side, but this joint team? They had heart.