He blew air from his cheeks and slid his fingers into his hair, dislodging several strands from the cadroen. For just a moment, his messy hair made him look younger. He turned beseeching eyes to her. “Can you go tomorrow, right after dawn? That way we could all go. The Borderlands will be quiet by then.”
Antony drew close as well. “We’ve considered waiting, but once Carla or Jeannie has a lock on the site we have to move fast. It could be any time now. Given the vegetation, the length of the shadows, there’s a good chance we’re looking at the Mediterranean. It’s still a big area to cover for the grid but we want to be ready to go at the drop of a hat.”
Thorne sighed. “You’ve really got it narrowed down then.”
“Yes,” Antony said.
Thorne looked up at him. Everyone looked up at Antony. He was two inches taller than Thorne. “Fine. You’re right. You have to go. Take three warriors with you but if I know anything, this smells like a f**king trap.” Thorne’s lips curved in a crooked smile.
“I know.”
“You f**king call me if you end up facing a regiment.”
For a reason Parisa couldn’t explain, Antony smiled. Must have been a warrior thing because she hadn’t heard anything funny at all. Antony added, “I know how you hate missing a party.”
Thorne nodded but his lips flattened to a more familiar grim line. He grabbed Antony’s arm and squeezed, his knuckles whitening. “Call me if you need me.” He stared into the warrior’s eyes for a long, determined moment then dropped his hand and turned into the room. “Who the f**k is going with them?”
All the warriors volunteered. Thorne nodded again, and this time he smiled. “All right, then. All right.” Parisa glanced up at him. His voice sounded like it had gone through a shredder.
“I am going,” Jean-Pierre said. He stood by the bar, shaking a martini. “I will not be left behind on this one.”
“Done.” Again Thorne barked.
Both Zacharius and Santiago stepped forward and together gave a shout like a battle cry.
Thorne grinned. “So the two of you want to go?”
The warriors gave another shout.
“Fine,” Thorne barked. “Fine.” He drew close to Antony and poked him several times in the chest. “Just make sure you bring them home safe and sound. Got it?”
“Yes, jefe.”