Chapter 15

DAMOCLES SAFE HOUSE, ABU DHABI, UAE

He'd known? This whole time—possibly longer than the emails revealed—and he'd never said a word?

"All right." Chapel lowered his hands out to his sides, a move that reminded her of cats when they turned sideways to make themselves look bigger, fiercer. And this guy definitely seemed more intimidating than usual. "When, where, and what? Now."

Archie shook his head again. "I don't know. All I found out was that they're going to militarize the program to guide missiles. They're planning a demonstration. Soon."

Hollyn swallowed. Same message from the emails. Was he telling the truth or blowing smoke about not knowing more?

"What kind of demonstration and where?" Chapel pressed.

"Again," Archie bit out, "I. Don't. Know. I heard them talking about missiles and the Sparrow project. Wasn't hard to put two and two together from there." He bobbed his head toward her. "I know what her program does."

Hollyn wracked her brain. This wasn't right. Archie's behavior. His apparent regret. None of this was adding up. And did anyone else find it unbelievable that his captors hadn't cared that he could overhear them? "They can't make the program work without the whole algorithm." Better not tell him she had the missing part, just in case he was lying. "You saw the test runs fail."

He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "Sounded to me like they had someone working on that."

Who? Her stomach squirmed. Yet . . . "Even if they had everything they needed, the program is currently only able to support a short-range launch," Hollyn went on. "No one is dumb enough to try to guide a missile into an area they're standing in themselves."

"How short?" Chapel gruffed.

Hollyn lifted a shoulder and shook her head. "Fifty yards max. I hadn't developed the long-range sequence yet."

"I don't know," Archie said. "But they're definitely getting ready for something."

Expression granitelike, Chapel leveled a hard look at Archie. "And you expect us to believe you just managed to overhear all this?"

Chapel voicing what she'd just been thinking boosted her confidence. Yet she couldn't quite squelch the nagging thoughts in the back of her head that had her doubting Archie could be at the heart of all this.

But you can't deny the facts.

Her friend's lip twitched with ire. "Not like the door was all that thick, GI Joe."

Chapel didn't acknowledge the quip. Instead, he turned and spoke quietly to Macklin and Glace before looking at Hollyn. "That's good for now." He jutted his chin toward the door, and she took the hint.

She didn't want to press her luck by insisting that she stay, so she stepped out of the hold. Stopping by the command room to grab the microchip—she didn't want it far from her for long—she saw Davis and Hale were still wading through whatever footage they'd been talking about earlier. She had been going to slip into a chair near them, but Fury lifted his head off the floor and let out a low growl, effectively ending that idea. Why he wasn't a fan of her now, she didn't know. That was an animal for you, though. Especially one like the RMWD.

The guys glanced over their shoulders.

Davis straightened. "What'd he say?"

Hollyn leaned her hip against the door jamb. "Says he doesn't know who's behind this, but he overheard that they're planning to modify the program to work with missiles." She rubbed her temples. "I had a completely nonviolent intention with that program. That someone wants to militarize it . . . and they've got a demonstration planned . . . It doesn't sound good. Missiles! Can you believe it?" When his face went somber, her pulse sped up. "What?"

Davis stood. "Chapel still with him?"

"Wh—yes." She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I'll bring you up to speed later." He gave her arm a squeeze when he and Hale brushed past her, Fury hot on their tail.

"Well, okay then," she murmured to herself in the empty silence of their departure. A nearby clock read almost noon. No wonder she didn't feel on top of her game. She'd been awake for over twenty-four hours without food or rest.

Hollyn stepped over to the chip reader on the desk and took out the microchip, then shuffled to her room. Sinking down onto the bed, she looked at the tiny piece of tech in her hand. It'd been with her the whole time, and she'd had no clue. If she'd found it sooner?—

No. It wouldn't do any good to go down that road now.

Eyelids heavy with exhaustion, she set the microchip on her nightstand. The fluffy pillow lured her to lay down. She yawned.

Maybe just a quick nap.

"Hollyn?" a voice tugged her from the clutches of sleep.

With a yelp, she bolted upright, wide awake. Archie stood in the doorway, looking sheepish. Why was he here? The team was just letting him walk around the house now?

An uneasy feeling bobbed in her stomach.

"Archie . . . hey." She rubbed her face. Yawned, feeling like she'd run a marathon. So much for a nap helping. She felt more confused and tired than ever. What time was it?

The Abu Dhabi sky was a pool of pink and purple hues. Drat. She'd been asleep longer than she'd planned.

"What are you doing?" She shoved her blanket back and folded her legs. "Isn't the team questioning you?"

Cradling his injured hand, he stepped into the room. Lowered onto the bed beside her. "They decided I was in the clear."

They had? That didn't sound right. Call her crazy, but she didn't think Chapel would decide anyone was in the clear.

"What?" He eyed her.

She tried to stop staring as the uneasy feeling grew stronger. "Sorry." What was it about him that seemed different? He looked basically the same as always—minus the dirtied clothing and tired eyes. When was the last time he'd slept?

He flashed a grin that didn't reach his eyes.

Something's not right.

Hollyn bit her lip. "Maybe you should go back and rest, Archie. You've been through?—"

"Did you know I have a couple sisters?"

"What?" Hollyn twitched. Talk about a jarring subject jump. "Uh, no. I don't think I've ever heard you mention them."

Hollyn stood and tried to nonchalantly maneuver so Archie would come away from the door. If she could just get a clear shot, she could bolt out of here and find Davis.

"They're younger than me. Haven't seen them in a while."

Where was this going? The dregs of sleep clogged her thoughts. "You should visit them when this is all over. Family is important."

"Sorry, Hol. Didn't mean to go there." He smiled.

The nickname coming from him didn't feel the way it did when Davis used it. Instead, it felt forced and highly awkward.

Archie tapped the edge of the bed with his good fist then stood. "Remember that game we used to play in the lab?" He looked at her. "Hypothesis: people will go to lengths they never imagined to protect those they love. Agree or disagree?"

Her heart was thundering in her chest now. She felt like a caged mouse a snake was about to devour. She could yell for help . . . but he was still too close. He could easily attack her, or worse, before any of the team reached them. Speaking of which?—where was the team?

"Agree," he prompted, "or disagree?"

"Agree," Hollyn replied quietly. "It's human nature."

Archie nodded, seemingly in thought. "I loved you, you know."

Hollyn widened her eyes. What was she supposed to say to that? "Archie . . . "

"Yeah, I was always too chicken to tell you. Then it was too late."

Yes. It absolutely was too late. He'd always felt like a brother to her. And even if he hadn't, she'd been in love with Davis since high school.

The realization surprised her, but it was true. She was in love with Davis.

Trust no one but Davis. Dad's warning replayed in her mind.

"Look," she started softly. She just had to placate him. Keep him calm. If he'd just take a couple more steps, she'd have a shot of escape. But he wasn't moving now. "A lot has happened in the last couple of days. I really think you should get some sleep. I'm sure Glace could give you something to help." She swallowed and tried to force a laugh, which just came out flat. "We both know we're not at our best when we're sleep deprived."

"Right." Archie nodded. "That would probably be good. I can't really think straight."

Hollyn seized her chance. Stepped toward the hallway. "I'll just go get?—"

But Archie blocked her path in one fluid movement. Before she knew what was happening, he was kissing her. Hollyn tensed, her entire body revolting. She jerked her head back. Pushed him away as hard as she could. "Stop!"

"Hollyn—" he tried.

"No!" Hollyn forced distance between them, continuing to hold up her hand. "Never, Archie. No, that's—it's not going to happen."

He dug his hands into his hair, a frenzied look twisting his expression. "I'm . . . sorry, Hollyn."

Without another word, he slipped out of the room.

Heart racing, Hollyn tried to think straight. What had just happened?

Davis. She needed Davis.

She reached for the microchip on the nightstand. Froze.

"No," she breathed. Rushed over. "No, no." She ran her hand along the entire top of the stand. It'd been right there! Where could it have gone? Maybe she'd knocked it off in her sleep?

Hollyn dropped to her hands and knees, dragging her hands over the floor, feeling dirt and rocks and food crumbs—gross!—but no chip. What'd happened to?—

She gasped, her gaze whipping to the door.

Archie.

Hollyn shoved to her feet and raced into the hallway. Nearly collided with Glace.

"You good?" the petite medic asked.

"Where have you guys been?"

Glace's look hardened. "In a meeting. Why?—"

"He took it!" Hollyn jogged toward the command room and Davis. She couldn't believe she'd just gotten played. Stupid, stupid girl. "Archie's got the microchip!"

* * *

"I can't believe I let him take it," Hollyn murmured for the dozenth time since she'd rushed in to tell them Archie had stolen the microchip. Over and over she wrung the baseball hat she'd been given to wear.

"It's done, Hol," Davis said. "Don't worry?—"

"Don't worry?" she cried. "They're planning a demonstration, and now that he has the missing code, they can do it!"

"We'll stop them in time."

Davis didn't like telling her things he couldn't actually guarantee, but she needed to hear that she hadn't irrevocably screwed things up.

Not like he had, anyway.

He was livid—along with the rest of them—that Twerp had given them the slip. None of them could figure out how Archie had escaped undetected, but Davis especially felt the weight of their mistake. Should have chained the guy to the wall. Held him at gunpoint. Anything but let their guard down a fraction of an inch, even if they'd thought he was secure.

While Chapel had chewed them up one side and down the other, they'd checked through surveillance footage without unearthing any clarity on what'd happened, so they turned their focus to the footage from their raid. Time wasn't on their side.

Davis and Hale had discovered a pamphlet for the Emirates Palace Hotel lying on the desk. On the whiteboard adhered to the north wall was written today's date, along with a missile schematic that had been partially erased. A little online digging had revealed a high-profile gala with ranking dignitaries and their families being held tonight.

However, they'd also found out from dark web searches that a general in the UAE Armed Forces was recovering in a nearby hospital across town. The guy was waist-deep in some shady dealings. That paired with the volatile relations between the armed forces and local anti-military organizations made him another possible target—though not as likely since they hadn't found anything pointing to him in the footage.

Davis secured more mags in the ankle holsters under his suit pants. While some of the team would provide cover around the Emirates Palace, he and Fury would go undercover as party security, so Fury would have full access for his EOD search. Davis tucked the forged security clearance Blank had created for them into his pocket.

Hollyn looked especially out of her depth, back in her ballistic vest with his KA-BAR strapped to her thigh. She, Bennion, and Glace would head to the hospital and away from the most likely target.

"Hey." He tried to calm her. "It's going to be okay."

She nodded but continued to chew her lip. Kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She clearly wasn't made for this, but he was proud of the way she was still holding it together after all she'd been through.

A realization he'd never thought he would come to slipped into his mind: This would be his last rodeo.

Soon as they were on the other side of this, he was making sure Hollyn had as much peace and quiet as she could handle. He'd gladly spend the rest of his life protecting her from having to deal with anything like this ever again. The internal calm that followed the decision was confirmation enough. Couldn't have imagined living to see the day he'd willingly step away from this life.

She was worth it, though.

Hooah.

Chapel had decided that they'd cover their bases and have teams set up at both the hotel and hospital. But with one a more likely target than the other, Hollyn would go with Bennion and Glace to the hospital—the safer of the two. The rest of them would set up around the hotel and try to intercept Archie and whoever was with him.

Foregoing his M4, Davis checked his Sig and slid it into place on his waist holster. Grabbed the tuxedo jacket. The team had done a decent job finding a passable outfit for the black-tie gathering on such a tight turn around. He ran a finger along the neck of the dress shirt that squeezed tighter than he would've preferred. Tugged it from his skin. The ensemble was made even more uncomfortable by the low-profile Kevlar vest underneath.

Flipping monkey suit.

"OTG in ten." Chapel was the first ready. "Sixty mikes to head this off."

The rest of the team double-timed their efforts.

"Are you sure about this?" Hollyn stepped up to Davis.

Amped up, Fury spun and knocked into her legs. She practically jumped away.

"Sure about what?" He double-checked her vest.

"About splitting up."

He wanted her as far from danger as possible. "I'm sure. Don't need you getting hurt."

She nodded without another word, and he almost missed her arguing with him.

"Move out." Chapel spun a finger in the air.

They hurried toward the waiting vehicles. Fury leapt inside after the rest of the team.

"Be careful." Hollyn suddenly wrapped her arms around Davis's neck.

He tugged her close for a quick second. Kissed the side of her head. "Always." Then they were heading in different directions.

The farther they drove, the stronger Davis's gut feeling grew?—something was wrong.

Hale knocked his knee with his own. Nodded and held out a fist that Davis bumped with a gloved hand. It surprised him that, even though missions and team were the only things he'd ever lived for, now that he had someone important in his life, the only thing he really wanted to do was protect her. Life goals that had once been held in concrete were breaking loose. Morphing into something he couldn't have predicted.

Just one more mission. Then I'm done. For good.

On his terms this time.

When they arrived at the hotel, it was nearing 2200 hours. Which was ideal because the darkness allowed the team to disperse undetected while Davis and Fury walked into the party.

The six-story structure was more extravagant than any place he'd been invited to before—or rather, not invited to. Near the center of the expansive setup, a wide stone path cut across a large but shallow pool. Hundreds of guests in black-tie attire congregated around dozens of café-height tables set up around the rest of the open area. Rows of highly manicured bushes lined the space between courtyard and sandy beach. Not exactly Fort Knox.

They were given a few hard looks from actual security patrolling the outskirts of the Emirates Palace courtyard, and for a moment, Davis wondered if their cover was blown. But he threw them a chin-up greeting and acted like he was supposed to be there. The guards returned the gesture and moved on.

The din of the gathering was barely edged out by the crash of ocean waves to the building's twelve. There were more people here than he'd anticipated, dressed in everything from evening gowns to traditional saris to military suits.

He and Fury maneuvered around the stamped concrete pathways. The dark sable shepherd sniffed the air, and Davis watched for the slightest hint that his partner had a hit.

A woman in a white-and-gold sari detoured in their direction, champagne glass in hand. She grinned at Fury. "Awww, what an adorable puppy!"

The shepherd seemed about as thrilled with the term as Davis and surged toward her with enough ferocity to bring the woman up short.

"He's working," Davis warned. "Keep your distance."

"Well!" She glared at the two. Hurried away.

Davis thumped a hand on the landshark's side. "Nice," he murmured.

"Blank. Update." Chapel came over comms.

Davis listened as he scanned the guests. Neither Archie nor Germaine had shown yet.

"Nothing on facial rec," Blank updated in her usual calm and quiet tone. She was manning their eyes in the sky once more.

"Stay frosty, people," Chapel comm'd the team.

Didn't have to tell Davis twice. The uneasy feeling he hadn't been able to shake in the Jeep was still going strong out here. Loose grip on the leash, he finished their loop around the courtyard. "Let's run it again," he muttered to his four-legged partner.

"Possible confirmation on Archie," Blank comm'd. "Stand by."

Here we go.