“Shit. Stall him for a second. I’ve got to get out of these clothes.”
Jace ran his gaze up and down me. “For the love of God, please do.”
I was back out less than two minutes later. The wall-mounted screen showed Ethan in his home office, Colorado mountains visible through the window behind him.
Ty was putting on a show, as usual. “I guess what I’m asking is whether waterborne cartel are essentially pirates? If so, do they have to wave the Jolly Roger for it to count as a pirate kill?”
Jace chuckled.
“I just want to use the right terminology in my mission report.” Ty leaned against the wall, arms over his chest. “Maritime cartel interdiction sounds way less cool than pirate engagement.”
Ethan spotted me. “Doing okay?”
I nodded. “Still breathing.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything further. Good. I didn’t need any more time sitting around talking about my feelings.
Orfeelingany of my feelings, for that matter.
Ethan’s expression turned business. “Good work, everybody. Despite the complications, all four doctors made it out of Corazón safely.”
“Three are already stateside,” Jace reported, shifting into briefing mode. “Williams and Martinez flew out yesterday morning. Dr. Yang caught a red-eye last night, said something about a hot date with her own shower and a bottle of wine.”
“And Dr. Valentino?”
“Afternoon flight to Chicago.” I kept my voice flat, professional. “Commercial, already booked.”
“Security for transit?”
Silence. I felt both Ty and Jace turn toward me, waiting. Of course they expected me to volunteer. I was the one who’d kept her alive this long. I was the one who’d?—
I cleared my throat. “Jace is handling it.”
Both Jace and Ty stared at me. This was news to everyone, including Jace.
“I…am?” Jace blinked behind his glasses, then recovered with typical speed. “Yeah, absolutely. Happy to make sure she gets home safe.”
Ethan’s tone stayed neutral, but I’d worked with him long enough to hear the question underneath. “You don’t want to see this through, Logan?”
“No point. She’s not a protectee anymore. Just a civilian heading home.” The words tasted like sand. “Mission parameters are complete. Time to move on. I’m ready for whatever we have on the books next.”
“Right.” Ethan shuffled some papers on his desk, but I knew he was buying time, reading the situation like the operator he’d always be. “How about a little downtime first? You’ve earned it.”
“I need to work.” The words came out harder than intended. “That’s what I do. That’s what I’m good for.”
Silence stretched across the connection. Ty and Jace exchanged the kind of look that came from years of reading each other’s minds in hostile territory. I ignored them both.
“We’ve got an extraction in Myanmar,” Ethan said finally. “Journalist grabbed by local militants. Rough terrain, minimal intel.”
“Perfect.”
“Logan.” His voice carried that particular note of concerned command. “You sure you don’t want a few days? Reset after?—”
“I don’t need to reset. I need a mission.”
“All right.” He leaned back in his chair, decision made. “Jace, get Dr. Valentino to her flight safely. Logan, there’s a bird leaving for Denver at 0800. Be on it. We’ll brief you for Myanmar when you land.”
“Copy that.”
