Jessie clearly has no issue working under extreme stress. I think she and Ruby will grow closer. The badass big sisters to their three reprobate little brothers.
And then there’s Rayne. I got to work closely with him. He’s a leader. He’s talented and fearless. He’s the future.
Ruby catches my eye and smiles. Her resilience never ceases to amaze me. It was hard to think of her as just a member of the team this whole time. She’s obviously more than that. Way more than that. But I knew I couldn’t let my emotions affect my decision-making. There was too much at stake.
“Come on,” I say to them all. “We should get out of here. I’ll call Schultz—get him to put in a call to the Italian government and smooth things over.”
The five of us walk away, heading over the road and along a walkway that leads down the side of the river.
“This is actually a nice city,” says Link. “You know, when it’s not being blown up.”
“Yeah… it’s something, all right,” I reply absently.
I feel Ruby’s hand slide into mine. I turn to her and she smiles. It’s the kind of smile that feels like home. It makes me certain that everything will be okay. After the last few days, it’s just what I needed to see.
Jessie points across the river. “What’s the building over there?”
I look over and smile. “That… that’s Castel Sant’Angelo. Looks like it survived unscathed.”
“Yeah, it looks nice.”
I nod. “It is. Great view of St. Peter’s Square from the roof.”
31
May 8, 2020 – 11:15 PDT
I knock on the door of the suite and wait. There are sounds of movement from within. A moment later, it opens. Link is standing in front of me, shirtless, wearing shorts and running shoes. His impressive torso is shimmering with sweat.
“Put some clothes on, would you? I’ve just eaten,” I say, smiling.
He laughs and holds out his fist, which I bump courteously as I walk past him.
I’m carrying four coffees in a cardboard tray, with a fifth balanced on top, which I set down on the kitchen counter.
“Come and get them,” I call out.
Rayne and Jessie appear like dogs who sense their owner is cutting steak. He’s dressed for the beach, in a fitted Tee with shorts and flip-flops. Jessie is wearing a thin, over-sized top that’s hanging off one shoulder. It’s long enough to cover whatever shorts she’s wearing.
Finally, Ruby appears. She came straight here while I diverted for coffee. She’s wearing a red crop top that hangs off both shoulders. Her bare midriff is toned and tanned. Her white shorts match her sandals.
She’s a vision.
As everyone gathers around the counter, I look at each of them in turn. They seem happy and relaxed. They look rested, which I’m glad of. They needed it.
I debriefed Schultz shortly after we left Rome. I told him everything that happened. I left nothing out. It was a courtesy. He knows who I am and what I do. It’s why he hired me to train this lot. But I also wanted to show that I wouldn’t hide anything from him, in the hope that he would continue to reciprocate. So far, there’s been no cloak and dagger bullshit from him, and I’m grateful for that.
He explained to me everything he would do to smooth things over with the Italian government, then started to tell me about the next mission he had for us.
I cut him off pretty quick.
I said the team needed a break. They needed some furlough to recover from what was a true shit-show of a mission for all concerned. He was reluctant at first, but I politely explained that I wasn’t asking, which seemed to solve that little issue.
The twenty-four hours after Rome were rough on everyone. Ruby explained to me everything she, Jessie, and Link had endured while in Holt’s custody. They were all beaten pretty bad. Physically, they recovered and moved on. Mentally… well, that took a little longer.
Ruby is tough. It wasn’t her first rodeo, and she dealt with it. But it’s still an ordeal no one can prepare for. She likened it to what she assumed I went through with Miley, back in Tokyo. She said she didn’t know how I could do everything I’ve done after going through what I did.
Link actually suffered the least. Holt was a real piece of shit. He saw how physically strong Link was. How much he could likely endure. So, he made him watch as his men beat on Ruby and Jessie. He found that harder to deal with than if he had been beaten himself. He felt guilty, and even being consoled by Ruby did little to alleviate that.
But it was Jessie who struggled the most. Her reaction to it was probably the most… human. She has a brilliant mind and is one hell of a pilot. But she saw little combat up close in her time with the Air Force. Her body and her life have never been on the line. The torture, the pain, the helplessness… it broke her. Coupled with the guilt she felt over the damage she caused by taking out Holt’s drone with her own, she was a wreck for few days. The team rallied around her and helped her realize the struggle is natural. That it wasn’t a sign of weakness. She struggled, but she’s getting there.
So, on my own dime, I put the three of them up in the executive suite of a hotel in Las Vegas for two weeks. I told them to enjoy themselves and take a well-earned vacation.
This place is nice too. Top floor. Large windows offer a view of the city. Uninterrupted sunlight streams through them. It’s a massive room, decorated with marble and mahogany. Three large sofas. Two bathrooms. Four bedrooms. A kitchen. A bar.
No wonder it’s costing me seven grand a night. Damn.
Naturally, Ruby didn’t want to be left out, so she and I are in another resort a little further along the strip. We’ve enjoyed our time together, and we’ve given the team some space to unwind.
“So, how are you guys enjoying your break?” I ask.
“Have you ever been to Nevada at this time of year?” asks Rayne. “The suite is beautiful, but it’s hotter than hell out there.”
I smile. “Last time I was this far west was about eight years ago. It was August and much hotter.”
“Where did you stay?”
“About eighty miles north of here.”
“Heaven’s Valley?”
I nod.
He smirks. “Man, that place is crazy. Seen its fair share of shit too. Remember that big explosion? When was that?”
I grin. “About eight years ago.”
He laughs, but it quickly fades when he sees my expression.
“Wait, was that… was that you?” he asks.
I just smile.
He shakes his head. “Holy shit…”
“What have you guys been up to?” Jessie asks me.
I nod toward Ruby. “She’s been enjoying the pool at the hotel.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve been—”
“He’s been restless,” says Ruby. “And annoying as hell.”
I shrug. “I don’t like doing nothing.”
“Speaking of doing nothing,” says Link. “What brings you here now? This just a courtesy call, or is the vacation over?”
“I’m not sure yet. I had a message from the president last night to say I should expect a call today. Didn’t say from who, but I have a hunch. Thought it best I take it with all of you here, just in case, so I diverted my cell to the phone in your suite.”
Jessie leans back against the counter and sips her coffee. I notice Ruby has moved to her side. Those two have really bonded since Blackstar began and even more so since Rome. It’s done them both some good, I think. Ruby doesn’t really have girlfriends, and I know she’d love to hang out with someone who isn’t me for a change. And Jessie has always been straight-laced and professional, so she’s needed someone like Ruby to loosen her up a bit.
“Must be weird having the president of the United States send you texts,” she says to me.
I take a sip of my own drink. “The novelty wears off quicker than you’d think.”
Idle small talk and banter take over, which I’m happy to observe
. Ruby catches me looking at the group like a proud father and pulls a face at me. I roll my eyes and smile at her. Truth be told, I am proud of them. They’re a hell of a team, and I reckon we’re ready for whatever—
The phone in the suite starts ringing.
Speaking of which…
The conversation dies down. I wander over to the phone, which is sitting on the desk in the opposite corner. I perch on the end as I answer.
“It’s me,” says a voice I recognize immediately. “I need to call in one of those favors you owe me.”
Moses Buchanan.
I smile. “I was wondering when you were gonna call. What do you need?”
“Can’t a guy just check in on an old friend?”
“I guess. Is that what we are now? Old friends?”
“I sure as hell hope so, Adrian.”
“Josh trusted you, so I will until I’m given a reason not to. How’s life treating you?”
“Like a baby treats a diaper. You? I’m hearing good things about the new team.”
“We’re all doing okay. Rough time of it in Rome a week or so back, but we got the job done.”
“I understand you had a run-in with some folks from Tristar.”
I nod. “We did. Our target had hired them for protection. Not that it did the piece of shit much good in the end. Is this where you tell me my thing had something to do with that clusterfuck in New York a couple of weeks back?”
“Thankfully, no. We’re pretty sure those two events are unrelated. Sadly, Tristar’s involvement in both of them is no coincidence. Since the somewhat public closing of their head office in New York, their CEO has disappeared. That’s left a lot of mercenaries with questionable ethics to their own devices.”
“You’re worried they’re going rogue?”
“I think the job some of them took for your guy, Holt, was simply a minority trying to make some legitimate money. But more and more of these minority groups have been popping up…”
“And you think there’s someone else pulling the strings now?”
“Honestly? No. I think their CEO is pulling the strings as he always has. We just don’t know where he is.”
“So, you want my team to find him?”
“No. I’ve got somebody else working on that. I need your team to find the assassin who works for him.”
I sigh. “I just got done doing that. I’m happy to send a couple of the guys over to help, but this isn’t gonna need the whole—”
“It is. Adrian, this woman is dangerous. She took out Julie and Ray on her own. Another asset I’m trying to recruit has also had a run-in with her. More than once. He’s a capable man, Adrian, and he barely survived the encounters.”
I raise my eyebrows. Buchanan sounds almost afraid of this woman.
“She sounds like a real piece of work,” I say.
“She is. She fights with an almost uncontrollable violence. Like nothing we’ve come up against before.”
“I see. So, she’s the kind of enemy my team were brought together to fight?”
“I believe she is. How quickly can you and your team get to California?”
I pause. “Give me three days.”
“Seriously? You’re in Vegas. That’s, like, six hours away.”
“I know. But my team are on vacation for another two days, and I’ll need to see someone before I start working with you. So, give me three days.”
There’s a moment’s silence, then a heavy sigh.
“Fine. I’ll see you in three days. Thanks, Adrian.”
“No problem.” I go to hang up, then think of something I should probably ask. “Hey, does Jericho know you’ve invited me to the party?”
Buchanan chuckles. “I told him before placing the call.”
“How did he take it?”
“Oh, he’ll come around, I’m sure.”
“Right.” I smile. “Take it easy, Moses.”
I hang up and look over at the team, who are all staring at me with curiosity.
“Well?” asks Link.
I shrug. “You have two days of vacation left. Then it’s time to go to work.”
“What’s the mission?” asks Rayne.
I stand and crack my neck, releasing some of the tension. I look at each of them in turn and smile.
“The mission is a favor for GlobaTech,” I say. “They want us to go catch an assassin.”
The End
Acknowledgments
And so, we reach the end of my twentieth book in eight years. This has been a real landmark for me, and something I’m incredibly proud to have reached.
This book went from a blank page to a full novel in a little over six weeks, which is a personal best in terms of writing.
I want to take a moment to thank my incredible team for all their hard work in getting this book ready for the world. There’s a reason I offer their services to other authors!
As always, my editor and significant other, Coral, has done an incredible job of polishing and fine-tuning the vision I had for this story. She’s on the same wavelength as me in so many ways, which makes working together so much more rewarding.
I also want to thank Daniel, my designer, who worked really hard to bring the new branding for my Adrian Hell series to life. The work he’s done is first class, and the impact this has had on the series as a whole is already evident.
Finally, I want to thank my readers. I started this journey back in 2013, and many of you have been with me since then. Your continued support makes this the most rewarding job in the world, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Here’s to another twenty books!
Epilogue
I stride across the floor of the casino. My Raptors hang in their shoulder holsters beneath my brown leather jacket and bounce against my ribs with each step. I ignore the looks from people as I walk by. The place is busy and alive, but it’s as if I’m dragging a wall of silence behind me, muting the world as I pass it.
I head to the VIP area at the back. I breeze past the security guards standing there, who simply stepped aside and removed the velvet rope blocking my path. I climb the few steps and head around the corner, stopping in front of a booth shielded by frosted glass.
Bathed in neon and surrounded by women, Remy Fortin stares up at me blankly. I stand and smile. Waiting.
He quickly recovers from the shock of seeing me and gestures to the chair opposite him.
“Monsieur Adrian, a pleasure as always,” he says. “Please, join us. We have just ordered some champagne.”
I shake my head. “I’m good, thanks. This is just a quick visit.”
He nods. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m gonna need you to call off the dogs,” I say, holding his gaze.
He laughs nervously. “Monsieur Adrian, I… I do not know what you mean. Sure, of course, I heard some of our brothers and sisters had… how you say… capitalized on an opportunity the last time you graced this city with your presence, but that was not me. That was not—”
I hold up a hand, cutting him off. I then reach inside my jacket and retrieve one of my guns, which I aim squarely at Fortin’s head. The women shriek and tense.
“Nothing happens in Paris in our world that you don’t know about or authorize,” I say matter-of-factly. “You’re also the first one to talk about honor and tradition and reputation. How we don’t go after our own.”
He shuffles in his seat. More nervous chuckling. “Monsieur Adrian, all due respect, but… you are not one of us anymore. You are retired. You know the target you have on your back now. This I cannot control. You know this.”
I shake my head. “What I know, Remy, is that I was in Paris and found it difficult to do what I needed to with swarms of assassins trying to kill me at every turn. That needs to stop. I’ve got shit to do, and I don’t need to be looking over my shoulder the entire time I’m trying to do it. Am I clear?”
Fortin nods hurriedly. “Of course, but as I say, I cannot control what our peop
le do in their spare time.”
“Right. Well, maybe you should remind people of that honor and tradition you’re so fond of.”
“But that only applies to…” His eyes go wide. Then he smiles with a mixture of nerves and excitement. “Monsieur Adrian, are you saying you are coming out of retirement?”
I hold his gaze and keep my gun aimed at his head, unwavering. I say nothing. I let the moments pass, embracing the uneasy silence. Then I slowly put my gun away. I smile. Then I turn and walk away.
“Monsieur,” he calls out. “Are you saying…”
I stop and adjust the collar of my jacket. I don’t look back at him.
“Yeah, Remy.” I smile to myself. “I’m back.”
A Message
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James P. Sumner
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The Devil You Know Page 24