Max stood on the back patio, staring out at the vast expanse of green lawn that stretched away from the house. Trees stood as tall sentinels bordering each side, and he knew that beyond them was electrified fencing with concertina wire on the top. He knew it because Si had given him the video tour of the property and pointed out all the security measures. For a moment, he wished he could drag all these people he and Regan would be meeting with back to this house and beat the shit out of them until they were bloody and broken. What kind of people were they who would turn on their own country that way?He heard the sliding door open behind him and turned to see Regan step out onto the patio. Despite the intensity of the day-long session, and the stomach-turning events and people they were discussing, she still looked cool and contained. The only indication of its effect on her were the faint lines of strain at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. She carried a tablet in her hand simila

The sun had set and day was fading to night when Si joined them on the patio carrying his ever-present mug of coffee."You kids playing nice with each other?" He smiled while asking ."Yes, Dad." Max winked at him. "We're sharing our toys and everything."'We've been doing our getting-to-know-each-other thing," Regan assured him.Si dropped into a chair at the table where they sat. "Glad to hear it. You'll be walking into a group of people who aren't even sure they trust you being there and who probably are suffering paranoia off the charts because of Bernardo's 'heart attack.'""Tomorrow, one of the things we need to prepare is the electronics," Regan reminded him.A slow grin spread over Si's face. "Anxious to get your hands on those gadgets," he teased."You bet." She looked at Max. "I don't know if Silas has told you, but he's got special pens for us, one of which records voice and the other video. They are sound-and-motion activated."Max knew his eyes lit up. He, too, was

"A pleasure to meet you," he told her then looked from one to the other. "I understand this marriage is recent?""It is." Max nodded. "I waited a long time for the right woman." "I'm happy to see you've found her. Congratulations to both of you."Regan gestured to a tray on the coffee table holding a carafe, cups, and a plate of miniature pastries. "I took the liberty of ordering something. I find having conversations over coffee always makes them go so much more smoothly. Please have a seat and let me fill a cup for you."Her voice was a warm contralto, soothing yet at the same time confident. Not a woman Jed would want to cross. He found it interesting that she not Max, seemed to take the lead in this situation, but maybe that was by design.When everyone was seatedMax and Regan on one couch, Jed on the other facing themRegan gave him a smile that felt strangely as if it had skewered him."I understand how unsettling it has to be for all of you," she told him, "to have this sw

"You know, Regan, in all my SEAL training, one of the things I learned over and over again was the mission requires personal discipline. No matter how tough the assignment, no matter what my personal feelings might be, the mission was the only important thing. Everything else was sublimated to it.""I know that." She smiled. "I was married to a SEAL, remember? And I work with several. Is there a problem I'm not aware of?" The smile disappeared from her face. "Is it me? Did I do something? I thought"He held up a hand."There isn't a thing wrong with you, Regan. You're not the problem. I am."Regan frowned. "I don't understand."He sighed. "I shouldn't even be telling you this, but I thought you should know in case my behavior is odd at times. And just so you know this is not a situation I've had to deal with before.""Damn it, Max. Whatever bug you've got up your ass, just spit it out.""Look." He took in a breath and let it out. He was in very unfamiliar territory here. "We're

"Forgive me, senora, but Jed Whitlow cannot see through his own ego. It is convenient to let him believe he is the leader of the group. He does most of the work, and he is the conduit to provide the firepower. But once everything is in place, we may find it better to have someone else in charge.""Like you?" Lorena gave an unladylike snort. "That will never happen, and you know it.""No, my dear. I was thinking of you. With me as your silent partner. I cannot, obviously, be the face of this organization." His lips curved in a humorless smile. "Just the actual el jefe.""They'll never approve it," she told him, even as her heart beat just a little faster. "Everyone in that group believes he should be the one at the head of the table. None of them will give up even an inch of their power."She'd lusted for this since the beginning, knowing even then it would be an uphill battle."Then it's up to you to convince them." He drew another slow puff on the cigar. "Or you and I."Lorena s