Page 12 of A Ballad of Blackbirds and Betrayal
“Because we need more than Mitchell,” Atticus replied.“We need his entire network.His buyers.His research team.Everyone involved in developing and distributing this weapon.”
“Plus,” Jade added through their comms from her sniper position half a mile away, “getting caught kidnapping and torturing a US senator might put a slight damper on our government contracts.”
“Details,” Eden said with a dismissive wave.“But seriously, you should see what I can do with a car battery and a pair of tweezers.Mossad trained us will in torture techniques.”
“Is anyone else slightly turned on when she talks business?”Nate asked.
“It’s just you,” Cal said.“I only get turned on by my wife.”
“I can hear you idiots through comms,” Jade replied, though there was affection beneath the exasperation.
“And on that note,” Cal interjected, “let’s remember that Senator Mitchell is one of Texas’s most beloved political figures.Three terms, campaign funded primarily by oil money and pharmaceutical giants.This estate we’re infiltrating tonight?Twenty acres of the most heavily secured private property in Dallas County.”
“Don’t forget,” Nate added, “Mitchell sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee.He’s got connections throughout every three-letter agency in the country.If we move against him without airtight evidence, we’re all looking at black sites and enhanced interrogation from the receiving end.”
The easy banter wasn’t fooling anyone.Beneath the casual exchanges lay the coiled tension of highly trained operatives preparing for a high-risk infiltration.Each of them understood exactly what was at stake.Each recognized the countless ways the operation could go wrong.
“Time check,” Max said from the control panel.He and Cal would be running operational support from the van, coordinating the movements of the field team and maintaining surveillance.
“Field positions in three minutes,” Atticus confirmed, adjusting the nearly invisible earpiece before turning to Sabrina.“I need to be absolutely clear about your role tonight.You stay in the van with Cal and Max.You observe, you identify anything that might be related to the bioweapon, and you communicate that information through the secure channel.Under no circumstances do you leave this vehicle.Clear?”
Sabrina’s amber eyes met his with unflinching directness.“Crystal clear, Mr.Cameron.”
Something in her tone suggested compliance would be conditional at best.Atticus felt the beginning of a headache forming behind his right eye.
“We’re running leaner than usual,” Cal remarked, fingers dancing across his keyboard.“Reza and Griffin are in Eastern Europe tracking a potential buyer for the bioweapon.Otherwise we’d have proper perimeter coverage.”
“We’ll manage,” Jade said, checking her weapon.“Not the first time we’ve been shorthanded.”
“Let’s just hope Mitchell’s security doesn’t decide to get creative tonight,” Nate added, sharing a look with Eden that spoke of previous operations gone sideways.
The camaraderie of the team was obvious despite the tension vibrating through the van.These people worked together like a well-oiled machine, their shorthand communication and implicit trust forged through shared danger.
“I mean it,” Atticus said, his gaze still on Sabrina.“This isn’t a hospital.Out there—” he gestured toward the estate visible on the monitors, “—people shoot first and ask questions never.”
“I’m aware of the risks,” she replied coolly.“I served in combat zones, remember?Your thorough background check should have covered that.”
“Two deployments as a trauma surgeon isn’t the same as covert operations against domestic targets,” Atticus countered, adjusting the tactical vest beneath his tuxedo jacket.The custom garment was designed to conceal body armor and weapons while maintaining the appearance of formalwear.“This isn’t a debate.”
“No, it’s not,” Sabrina agreed, rising from her seat with a fluid grace that belied the tension vibrating through her.“Because I’m going into that estate.Not as part of your infiltration team, but on the surveillance side with Nate.I’m the only one who can identify bioweapon components on sight.”
Atticus stepped closer, looming over her in the confined space of the van.“That’s what cameras and comms are for.You can identify them from here.”
“And if the transmission is jammed?If you need to make split-second decisions about which vials to secure or destroy?Unless your spy school covered advanced biochemistry?”She stepped forward, closing the distance between them until they were toe to toe, her face tilted up to his.“I didn’t survive three years in a MASH unit by being reckless, Cameron.I go where I’m needed, and tonight I’m needed closer to the action.”
“Oh my God, just kiss already,” Eden muttered under her breath, earning a suppressed snort from Nate.
The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with a tension that had little to do with their professional disagreement.Atticus was acutely aware of her—the subtle floral scent of her perfume cutting through the technical smells of the van, the determination in her eyes, the resolute set of her mouth.Their faces were inches apart, and for a fleeting moment, his gaze dropped to her lips before snapping back to her eyes.
Behind them, Nate cleared his throat.“She has a point.Having someone who can instantly recognize bioweapon components would be an advantage.Eden and I can keep her secure.”
“And she’d blend better as part of the landscaping surveillance team than trying to infiltrate the party,” Cal added, pointedly not looking at the tension-filled standoff.“Just saying.”
“I vote yes,” Jade’s voice came through their comms.“But only because I’m curious to see how long it takes before Atticus tries to shoot someone for looking at her funny.”
“I’m setting the over/under at thirty minutes,” Max chimed in.“Any takers?”
“I’ll take the under for a hundred,” Cal replied immediately.
