Slapping a hand on his ass she squeezed a cheek. “Wherever you go, I go. That’s non-negotiable. So don’t even think of trying to go all noble on me again if it comes down to you leaving.”
Grady shook his head, that look of wonder back on his face. “My strong, warrior goddess. Is it any wonder I love you?”
Feeling better, more centered, and thrilled to the marrow of her bones that he loved her too, she shot him a cheeky grin. “I always knew you were a smart man.”
Laughing, he paid her back for the smack on the ass with a gentle one of his own. “Smart ass.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
GeneralRiveracouldn’tbelievehis luck. Black Bay had just saved his ass – and the lives of his men. He’d been given the green light for a full-scale assault on the Resurrection facility, but every simulation they’d run led to the loss of lives. The window between them breaching the modified warehouse and ORION initiating counter measures and activating the soldiers in stasis was too small. No matter how they planned it, there just wasn’t enough time. But if he could get the shareholders on board with this new plan, he no longer needed to worry about that.
Christ, when he’d reached out to Black Bay, he’d thought he’d be getting another set of eyes looking for the Commander. He didn’t think they’d actually come through. And to find out the Commander was already connected with the AI, speaking to it? It was the best-case scenario.
He had to confer with the others – he’d already called the meeting – but he didn’t think he’d have a problem getting the majority to fall in line.
He’d also learned the neurologist, Doctor Tanner Blackmore was still alive and currently being held at Black Bay. That had been a surprise. According to the Commander, he’d needed to “borrow” the man for some work modifying the chip for non-stasis. If they reached an agreement about the Resurrection soldiers being transported to Black Bay, they’d keep him on, if the man was willing, to do the same procedure on the rest of the soldiers.
They hadn’t mentioned the Deputy Director who had also gone missing at the same time, but there would have been no benefit to keeping the CIA man. Grant Ridley was likely dead, but he’d ask General Davies about the man once negotiations were complete, see if he knew anything.
Faces began popping up on the screens and Rivera composed his features, settling into an at-ease stance. As soon as everyone signed on, he shared what he’d learned and the offer that was currently on the table.
There was some concern about Black Bay now being privy to the experiments and their less than legal nature – the political fallout if it leaked to the press would be catastrophic – which led to an argument about the dangers involved in the soldiers’ memories being returned. Understandable. The Commander on a vengeance mission had been bad enough – most of the players had beefed up their security as a result – but fifty-one additional elite operatives potentially hunting them? That had them practically shitting themselves.
General Rivera let out a shrill whistle to cease the riot of voices yelling over each other. He held up a hand. “Option A,” he barked, getting their attention. “We destroy the facility and all the soldiers currently being housed within. You lose your investment and any future returns.”
There were frowns and shaking heads on the screens, just as he knew there would be. They’d been over this discussion before. “Option B. Full tactical response with only a slim margin of success and a good chance you will still lose your investment.”
He didn’t bother mentioning the loss of lives as most of these people didn’t care, not really. They might say it bothered them but at the end of the day, money drove them. End of story.
“Or option C. We put our faith in the teams at Black Bay to rehabilitate the soldiers. They’ll still be working for us, just from a different location, and you’ll still keep your investment and any future returns.” War was profitable after all, and everyone here was set to gain a lot of money if things went as planned.
“General Davies, who runs Black Bay,” he continued, “has experience with just this sort of thing. The Beasts he commands are the result of similar experimentation. They’re aggressive predators and yet, he’s managed to keep them in line for almost two decades.”
For the most part. There’d been some incidents in the past, some questionable disappearances, but General Rivera didn’t feel the need to point that out. Instead, he added, “They never went to the press.” That much was true. “And they’re some of our best military assets.” Also true.
“We’ll need someone inside,” August Cleary, an extremely wealthy weapons manufacturer pointed out. “Someone keeping an eye on things to make sure our best interests are met.”
“That can be arranged.” Rivera looked at the faces on the screens. “Are we in agreement, then?”
Nods all around. Resurrection would now be part of Black Bay. Beasts and Resurrection soldiers working together. It was actually a rather potent mix. One he’d like to witness in action.
Black Bay was back on high alert as they waited for the decision to come through. Lark, it turned out, wasn’t the only one determined to protect Grady. General Davies would fight for him too. Pride flooded her as she looked at the familiar stern countenance of the man. The General may not be her father by blood, but he was the father she chose and she’d chosen well.
The agreement, when it came, was far sooner than expected. All of them had thought they’d drag it out, asking for a ton of concessions and alterations to the original offer, but surprisingly, they hadn’t. They’d agreed with only one caveat – they wanted one of their own people on Black Bay to monitor ORION and the soldiers under its command.
A spy in their midst wasn’t ideal, but the outcome was better than she’d dared hope for. Grady was staying. That’s what mattered to her. No one was going to take him away from her.
The deal was struck and General Davies and General Rivera immediately began hammering out the logistics of transporting the Resurrection soldiers. She and Grady didn’t need to be there for that. Turning to him, she opened her mouth to suggest a little private celebration, but his eyes were shimmering with that fascinating iridescent blue grid pattern. He was talking to ORION. When he smiled, she knew the AI must have been pleased – or, as pleased as an artificial intelligence could be.
When his eyes cleared, he turned that smile on her and held out his hand. Taking it, she asked, “ORION is satisfied with the outcome?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She squeezed his hand in response. “Want to go grab some food and get crumbs in my bed?”
Grady grinned. “That sounds like a damn good plan.”
They were both grinning, gazing at each other as they left the room when a sudden roar split the air and Grady was ripped away from her.
