SILAS FROWNED AT THE phone so long the screen went dark.Was he imagining things, or was Zain dodging his answer? Did they have more possible backup than just two guys?Silas shook his head. This solo job was screwing with his head. He was too on edge. Too invested. Too bad knowing all that didn't change his reality.He slid the phone back in his pocket and turned toward where Ekko and Chayan were pretending to eat."Good news." He clapped his hands together and pasted on a smile. "Our backup will be here tomorrow fairly early. They've already picked up your new passports so we should be good to go as soon as they arrive."Ekko's brow furrowed. "What's the plan? We can't just walk in there like last time.""No, we cannot." Silas perched on the coffee table facing the two. "Our very rough plan is for us to separate. Chayan will go with our backup on a chartered flight to Kemerovo Airport in Russia. From there the team will take commercial flights under their real names to Moscow t

EKKO LAY ON HER back staring at the vaulted ceiling of the bedroom. There was just enough light from outside that she could make out the decorative molding and tin tiles. At least she thought they were tin tiles. It was hard to say and she wasn't familiar with Mongolian architecture. Regardless of what it was, it was a beautiful detail in a lovingly maintained condo.She should be asleep, and yet she couldn't find rest. Not even snuggled in next to Silas.He'd finally rolled over, releasing her from his hold. While she wasn't as warm as she'd like to be, it was better this way. Her thoughts were too chaotic for him to be up in her personal space right now and he was too central to them.What the hell was she doing with this man?She turned her head and stared at his broad shoulders.She knew there were scars there. She could almost trace them from memory. Whatever caused them, she was glad he'd survived. The world was better because of men like Silas. Ones who did the right thing

SILAS PATTED CHAYAN'S SHOULDER. Silas wished there was something more he could do for Chayan. The man was a mess. He'd already changed once from sweating through his clothes once, and already there were dark lines down the back of his clean shirt.At least Ekko was holding it together well enough. She hadn't been sick since the night at the hotel despite everything that had happened."Everything's going to be fine. Brett and Vito are here. It's all good, man." Silas offered Chayan a smile.Shit, he hoped Brett was ready to deal with Chayan's nerves. Chayan had more or less pulled himself together yesterday and hid the grief, but even that had to be just below the surface. At some point it would all surface again. Vito was the quiet, silent type. It would be up to Brett to manage the mood of their team when they headed out.A rhythmic knock sounded on the front door.Silas frowned at the sound, not because it was odd but because he knew that sound. But...he wasn't supposed to be h

EKKO CLENCHED THE ARMRESTS of her window seat on the narrow commercial flight bound for London.Were they really going to make it out of the country? Was this happening?She hadn't taken an easy breath since leaving the condo. After days spent cooped up, she'd felt exposed and vulnerable venturing out even with Silas and Paxton on either side of her. Their ride to the private airport had gone smoothly. Boring even. The crew on the small plane chartered to take them to Dalanzadgad hadn't so much as glanced at them.Paxton had said their forged passports were simply an extra layer of protection should they be needed. Of course they hadn't really known if those were needed until they landed, which was when their tickets to London were officially purchased by the Aegis Group support staff.Everything had gone through without a hitch.It was too easy.Silas' hand covered hers. He squeezed gently as the nose of the plane tipped up.Something could still go wrong...The cabin bounced

EKKO STARED AT THE concrete floor. It had that artfully distressed look that went with the exposed brick and rustic ceiling beams, but was at odds with the stainless steel kitchen and stark white furniture.Why white?Why would anyone want white furniture?For one, it was boring.Second, it would get dirty and shabby in no time.Third, why the fuck did she care?Chayan was gone.Arrested.For a crime he hadn't necessarily committed. She'd gotten the passport. Not him. But he'd used it knowing it wasn't real.This was her fault.If she'd left well enough alone, he would have worked through his grief on his own. Yes, his home life would have been lonely. Chances were he'd get depressed, but couldn't talk about it for fear of bringing on the attention of the DSS.She cradled her head in her hands.If she'd never engaged in this plan those kids from the article would merely be grumbling under their breath.Why had she ever said anything?Ekko had seen firsthand how far Dauria