I sat in the bowels of the Hotel, a bottle of bourbon sat on the floor next to me, a smoke glowed between my lips, my teeth clenched every time I pulled, and another piece of frag dropped into the small dish with a tinkling of metal on glass.

I'd packed the hole in my side; now I was pulling chunks of a bullet that was meant to kill me out of my hand.

And Alex and Pyotr were dead.

I wondered if Misha had been waiting on the other side for his old friend…

I sniffed as I continued to work. Pyotr died trying to save me, a true friend and a soldier to his last moment on earth. The more I thought about it, the more it hurt.

Tink…

He should be alive right now. He deserves to be alive…

Tink…

Alex should be here with his goofy fucking stories.

Tink…

If I'd just been faster, more on the stick…

Blood ran down my wrist, staining the gauze beneath red. I was just digging at this point.

I set down the forceps and reached for the bottle, taking a long slug of the ad-hoc anesthetic and wiggled my fingers; function was good; it'd take some time to get full feeling back, the nerves being concussed like they were. But as long as I could move it, I'd be able to fight, and boy-howdy was I gonna take my time with whoever did this.

The door popped open behind me.

"Zack?" Boris had come to check-in, it seemed.

I took a long drag, trying to get my emotions under control before I answered.

"Yeah, Sarge?"

"The Captain would like to see you in her office."

I slowly nodded as I wrapped gauze around my hand, "I'll be there; just have to finish this up."

"I'll let her know, and Zack?"

I looked back at him; his brow was furrowed, he seemed to be searching for something to say…

"If they had to go as they did, I'm glad it was with someone they considered a brother. They wouldn't want you questioning yourself either, Alex…" He cleared his throat, "He thought very highly of you."

I tried to smile and got halfway there, "Thank you, Boris, that means a lot. I just… I…" My voice failed…

"There was nothing you could've done."

His words buoyed me a little as I tied the gauze off, grinding out my smoke and sliding off the chair.

Time to go face the music.

Sofiya was behind her desk when Boris and I walked in, staring out the window as she finished a phone call.

"Someone is killing my men; this will not stand; you can either help me or stay out of my way…Very well, I appreciate your consideration."

She hung up with a sigh as my phone started to vibrate in my pocket; I dug it out to silence the call; Eda's name glared up at me. I pocketed it, my mind running…

She might know who did this. And if she didn't, she might be able to point me to someone who could.

I filed it away as Sofiya spun in her chair, "Sergeant?"

"Captain?"

"Give us the room."

"Ma'am."

He laid a hand on my shoulder and offered me a smile as he left us alone.

She watched him go, the door closed, and she looked back up at me evenly.

"Are you okay?"

It was as soft as her voice could get, laced with something like concern.

"No Sofiya… I'm really not."

It was a simple admission, but the god's honest truth.

She rose from her chair, stepping around the desk and closing the gap. Her arms flowed over my shoulders, and she pulled me against her; one hand reached for my injured one, ghosting lightly over it, I spread my fingers as wide as they would go between the gauze and the pain, and she gently slipped hers in to fill the gaps. Her other hand dragged up the back of my neck, bringing me in for a soft kiss that ended all too quickly.

"We'll find out who did this together, and we'll make them pay." She whispered against my mouth.

I nodded, kissing her again, relishing the electricity that arced between us even now, breaking it a moment later, "I couldn't save them…I'm sorry…Sofi, I'm sorry. I failed you, and I failed them…"

My voice broke, she pulled me in tight, and I wasn't ready for how soft and warm she was.

She was Balalaika, the warrior queen of Hotel Moscow, a nightmare for anyone who crossed her.

But right now?

She rubbed my back and cooed the sweetest words in my ear as I came apart in my guilt and grief. She was a paradox that I couldn't hope to unravel, but right then, she was everything I needed.

"Zack…You didn't fail; on any account, you survived, and sometimes that is the only victory we can hope for. It could just as easily have been you lying there, you were with them at the end, and I know that meant something to them."

I nodded into her shoulder, "Thank you; I know you're right, but…"

"No," She whispered, pulling back and looking into my eyes, "Stop right there, I am right, and that's it. You know as well as I do that you could spend a lifetime asking yourself what you could have done differently. Consider this an order…leave it."

The timbre of command slipped into her voice at the end, and I nodded again.

"I will…"

She ran her hand up and into my hair again, "Moi horoshiy."

My good boy

I slipped a finger under her chin, "Always Krasotka."

She smiled at my little term of endearment, but the sadness lingered behind her eyes.

We'd all be feeling the loss for a long time.

"As much as I could stay like this for the rest of the day. I have to continue with the efforts; there are more calls to make."

I nodded, leaning forward and pressing my forehead to hers…One final kiss…a longing look, and I left her to her business. Nodding to Boris and getting a reassuring smile in return as I headed down the hall towards my room

I was already dialing Eda as my door closed behind me; her answer was relieved but sharp.

"Nothing on the line, meet me across Slipknot Bridge, now."

I killed the call and headed for the parking lot, my alarm bells ringing loud; Eda had only sounded like that twice since I'd known her; both times ended in gunfire, blood, and a lot of explaining after the fact.

Someone had picked up my ride while I was fixing myself up; she shined beautifully in the afternoon.

Exhaustion pecked at my senses, having been up for almost thirty hours at this point, but I slid behind the wheel and took off.

I'd barely crossed the bridge when I caught sight of the only building for miles until you hit Rayong, an abandoned gas station. Eda stood out front next to a beater rig she'd probably picked up to blend in, waiting for me, a man I didn't recognize stood next to her. I threw it in park and hopped out.

She broke and ran for me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I hugged her tight as she sniffled.

"Shit, Briggs…Fuck…"

I squeezed her tight, "It was a rough one… what the fuck is going on?" I went to let go, but Eda just held me tighter.

"I thought…"

"Hey…You're not getting rid of me that easy. Alright?"

She nodded into my shoulder, finally letting go and stepping back, screwing her mask back into place. The man had stayed back, but he started towards us then and my hand drifted to my gun. I kept my eyes on him as I addressed Eda.

"So what was the big news?"

She shook her head, "It's the Russians, the actual Russian government."

I balked, "Fucking…what?"

"It all goes back to Balalaika's unit, they were railroaded by a bureaucrat by the name of Timofey Lomonosov, he's been a bit player in the intel game, but he's an oligarch, one of the biggest, really has the Kremlin's ear. He got her outfit blacklisted after a deal went sour. Balalaika, back when she was just Captain Sofiya Pavlovena, found evidence of someone high up doing business with terror groups.

"Lomonosov?"

She nodded, "He orchestrated her capture by ISIS, damn near got her killed. Some trumped-up charges later, and the whole outfit is on the street."

I could barely believe what I was hearing, "And you didn't think I needed to know that because?…"

"Classified, it all is, but after last night? Fuck the rules. Lomonosov recently inherited a Cabinet position, like a few weeks ago; this must be him finally cleaning house; he's tying up loose ends, Zack. You've gotta be careful." It was like she finally remembered the man standing just behind her.

"Zack, this is Jake; he's a friend."

The tall guy stuck out his hand, eyes obscured by Oakleys, shoulder-length black hair, Patagonia everything, and a cheap watch; if he wasn't another spook, I'd eat my shoes.

"Jake Morris."

I shook his hand, "Zack Briggs. You OGA?"

He smiled, "Eda told me you were sharp, doing some work for her?"

I relaxed a little, "Yeah, we go way back."

He nodded, "Keeping it short, I'm here because the balance is going to tip. We're going to try and control the fall."

I leaned against the car, "How do we plan on doing that?"

"Eliminate Hotel Moscow from the equation." I stiffened, and he chuckled, holding up his hands, "Not how you're thinking, trust me. We can really fuck with the Russians, loosen their grip if you will, by playing chess on this one, and having the Reds exit stage left of their own accord."

It clicked, and my mouth fell open, "You want to take out Lomonosov, topple an oligarch and make the Kremlin think twice…You want to send Balalaika and her people home?"

Again with that smile, "Bingo, it'll be a huge win for us to shake the snow globe, their trial was public, all of Russia is gonna know that they were railroaded, and the less confidence they have in the regime, the better."

I leaned against the car, trying to take this in… "If he's as popular as you say, won't this be like throwing snowballs at a forest fire?"

Morris shook his head, "We've got people on the inside; once Lomonosov goes down, we'll handle the rest."

"And what am I supposed to do with it? Balalaika is gonna skin me alive if I go back to her with this and she finds out I've been lying to her from day one."

"You can't speak frankly with her? Let her know that we never tried to undermine her?"

"How's that supposed to go? "Hey, I know that betrayal is kind of a sore spot, but surprise! I'm actually a CIA asset, but I swear I never fucked with you?" Is that how you see it coming down? Because I hate to break it to you, dude, I won't get too far before she cuts my throat."

Eda cut in, "He's right, Morris; she'll kill him."

Morris shrugged, "Captain Pavlovena has been looking for years; now that he's found her, he won't stop until everyone in her unit is dead. Which sure as you're born, will happen."

My mind raced as they went back and forth.

None of the boys ever said it, and I didn't pry, but you could see it in their eyes, the loss of it.

I knew because I'd sported the same look for a decade.

I owed them big and Sofiya?

Love was reason enough.

I lit a smoke as they went back and forth, staring off at the city behind me; Hotel Moscow had given me a place to belong, at a time when I desperately needed it, now I had a chance to give them their place in the world back… it'd be up to them if they took the open shot.

"Are you sure? If I do this, the Russian government will let them come home? Remove the marks on their records?"

Jake nodded, "Absolutely, the military was snowed by Lomonosov and his money. I've got a direct line to a highly placed asset that will assure it."

"And what about the people here?"

"With the Triads solely in control? Life will get a lot easier for the rank and file citizen, it won't be perfect, but it'll be a damn sight better than it was."

Eda looked more and more panicked by the second, "Zack…you're not really considering this? She'll fucking kill you!"

"Eda, what's my alternative here? I can give them their lives back; I can do something, really do something for the people of the city, no matter what, isn't it worth a try?"

Her mouth worked, a horrified look on her pretty face, "No…no, I won't let you…I didn't spend the better part of a decade holding you together just to have you throw it away. We can leak it; we can do something else, anything else!"

Morris shook his head, "Captain Pavlovena has been feeling it out for years; any rumors will be just that, she won't buy it… unless it comes from someone she trusts."

I felt it then, terrible resolve flowing through me, I didn't want to die, but I knew what I had to do now; I had to give them a chance, I had to try and help Sofiya. None of them ever said it, and I didn't pry, but you could see it in their eyes, the loss of it.

I knew because I'd sported the same look for a decade.

"It has to be me. Eda…I told her how I felt, after Abrego and the Colombians made their move on me, she trusts me enough, she might kill me afterward, but she'll listen… I have to do this…Otherwise, Lomonosov just keeps coming until we're all dead…I'm sorry."

She slapped me so hard I felt a tooth come loose—tears in her eyes.

"You…bastard! And what do we do if she doesn't hear you out? Bury the pieces we find?!" Her voice was desperate, pleading.

"We go after him ourselves," Morris cut in, "Our assets won't act against him… they can't jeopardize themselves. If it all goes bad, we'll take him out."

She stared into my eyes before spinning on a heel, a sob ripping out of her, and stormed back towards their ride, breaking my heart with each step.

I lit another smoke, "Morris?"

"Yeah, Briggs?"

"Watch her back for me, will you? She's mouthy as shit, crude to a fault, but she's my best friend."

"I will, man, here's hoping I don't have to." He held out his hand again, and we shook.

"Thanks. And listen, she knows how to get in touch with Dave, tell him it was an honor and a privilege…and tell him…tell him it counted for something okay?"

He nodded as I stared after Eda, tears threatening to fall; I smiled softly and whispered to her back.

"Later, Blackwater."

I slipped behind the wheel of the BMW and headed back into the city, back towards Hotel Moscow.

I keyed up some music, shaking my head at the random tune.

Even my Spotify playlist knew I was fucked.

I was afraid, and it showed as my hands shook; it took me three tries to find the ashtray as the city stretched out in front of me, the light played off the water, casting a glow over the place, almost divine light to mask the horror and death. I'd just gotten my life back, rediscovered my soul, and now it was going to end, sure as it began.

But I was ready.

Everything had led to this; even I wasn't so much of a fool as to believe that this was sustainable. They were killing us, picking my new family off one by one.

Now I had the power to end it.

I lit another smoke, Shawn James providing my funeral dirge as the miles slowly ticked away.

A thought occurred.

Should I?

They'd probably try and stop me. I dialed anyway, and someone picked up after a beat.

"Lagoon Company."

"Rock?"

"Hey Zack, how's business?"

I fought to keep the tremor out of my voice, "Oh, ya know, same old shit, listen…Dutch around?"

"He actually just stepped out. Anything I can do?"

I smiled, "Nah man, just give him a message for me, tell him I said thanks… for everything, thank you for being a good friend and having my back. The same goes for you and everyone else there; tell Revy…"

"Who's on the phone?"

Speak of the Devil.

"I think something's wrong," Rock whispered to her; a click and the momentary hiss of static told me I was on speaker.

"Hey Rev'

"Hey Boy Scout, you good?"

"Yeah, man, do me a favor, huh? Keep an eye on your boy."

"Cut the shit; the fuck is going on?"

"I gotta go away for a while, just saying my goodbyes."

"Bullshit, what's really goin' on? You know we got your back if you need it."

Revy didn't know how to sound concerned, so it came out harsh, but I knew what she was getting at, and it dragged a smile out of me.

"I know Rev'. Just be safe and keep your fuckin' heads down. Thanks for being my friends; it meant the world. Rock? Don't keep it to yourself, okay?"

"I…I won't."

I flicked my cigarette out the window, the Hotel coming up quick.

"Later, guys."

I killed the call before they could respond. My phone lighting up a second later, Eda's name flashing across the display, that goofy-ass picture she'd snapped during the Carnival we'd spent together in Rio leered up at me, lips pouty, flashing a peace sign, her blue eyes sparkling in the neon lights.

I'd called her the most basic of bitches… she'd laughed.

Yeah, but I'm all yours.

I tossed my phone out the open window; she'd try and track it if she wasn't already. I wheeled into the parking lot, turning off the engine and breathing deep.

Well… shit, better get it over with.

I popped the door and started across the parking lot, getting nods and smiles from the door guards; it took everything I had to keep the mask in place. Across the magnificent lobby and up the stairs one last time… my heart pounded, so afraid I almost turned and ran.

Viktor and Yuri flanked her door.

"Is the Captain in? I need to speak to her; it's urgent."

Vic nodded, "She is…Are you okay, my friend? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Just mine." I managed a sad smile as Yuri knocked, sticking his head in, nodding at me a moment later.

I pushed past them, and there she sat, scribbling on some papers, her pretty eyes skimming the page, her mouth moving softly as she read to herself, she looked up, and something like warmth slipped onto her face.

I nodded but didn't return her small smile.

"Sofiya."

She smiled, "Zack, how are you? Feeling better?"

I looked away, trying to control my breathing.

"I need to speak with you."

She set her paperwork down, digging for and lighting a cigar; I took it as my cue and lit a cigarette, probably my last one.

"Go ahead; I'm all ears." She smirked at me almost playfully; my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Can I have one last kiss?

I took a deep drag and blew it out, gathering my thoughts.

The things love makes you do.

"I have information, information that will change the face of your operation here, change the face of Roanapur itself. And you're not going to like it. I'll ask you to wait to respond until I've finished, please."

She leaned forward, gesturing for me to continue, but all of her earlier warmth was gone, lost to confusion at the formality of my little speech.

"I know who put you and your men here… His name is Timofey Lomonosov, he's an oligarch, now a cabinet minister, the ambush, the hitter who tried to kill you the first time we met, the Italians and Abrego…it's all he's doing."

I was ready for her anger, "Zack…How? How could you possibly know that? I searched for years, and you waltz in here like it's nothing!?" She slammed her fist into the desk, and I swore I heard it creak.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, "Because I work for the CIA."

All the air rushed out of the room.

"What. In the fuck. Did you just say to me?" I opened my eyes; hers were deadly, bringing me right back to that first night what seemed like years ago.

"I work for the CIA…have off and on for years. I lied to you when you asked… but I never worked against you, I couldn't…I love you, Sofiya."

I was begging her now.

Click-Click

There it is.

Her Stechkin came level with the bridge of my nose, the hammer pulled back, all the slack out of the trigger as her eyes raged at me…and it was only anger.

Balalaika didn't do heartbreak.

"I have to commend you…you actually had me fooled."

"Sofiya…"

"Do yourself a favor… Don't. Use what little time you have left on this earth to pray."

She stalked around the desk, closing the gap and slamming the muzzle across my temple… my vision tunneled, and everything went dark…

No one was more surprised than me when I opened my eyes.

It was dark, I was in some kind of enclosed boat launch, the bay shimmering in the moonlight, and I was tied to a chair. Balalaika stood in front of me, dressed in fatigue pants and that same striped blue shirt under her coat.

"You might be wondering why you're still alive… cooler heads prevailed for the moment."

Boris stepped into view.

"Even so. You're not leaving this place alive, it's as inevitable as the sunrise, but first?…" She shrugged out of her coat, handing it to Boris, cracking her knuckles as she closed the gap.

The first punch to my gut was like getting hit by a truck.

"You're going to pay for your betrayal. Sergeant? Give us a moment; I'm going to handle this personally."

"Captain." He cast a blistering look my way, and I knew my last bridge was burnt; he left us alone without another word. Balalaika advanced again, rolling her shoulders, knuckles cracked off my jaw, rattling my teeth.

She didn't ask me any questions, never spoke once. Just hit me and hit me until blood rolled down my face, my eye started to swell shut.

"I wonder, just what does the American government stand to gain by sending me off to chase ghosts?"

Doesn't she believe me?

I'd resigned myself to death; now I was just angry.

The anger was rising, heat coloring my face as I slowly started working on the duct tape they'd tied my hands with.

I wasn't going to die without making her see that she had a way out, that they all did.

"I hope your masters are comfortable with getting you back one piece at a time."

I had to stop her, had to make her see.

If it took a fight, then I'd oblige.

Her hand lashed across my face, blood whipping through the air. She reared back to hit me again; her blue eyes were blazing at me, cold fury rolled off her in waves.

The tape snapped, and I caught her wrist on the next swing, flying out of the chair.

Her eyes went wide, and neither of us breathed for a beat.

Then she rolled into it and threw an elbow into my face, a jab knocked me sideways, but I rolled with it and snapped one right back into her nose, just a flick to knock her off balance before I drove a hook into her face, kicking the chair into her legs and sending her tumbling to the floor.

When she looked up at me through a curtain of blond hair, blood sheeting from her nose, her eyes, those eyes that drew me in since day one, were insane with rage.

She threw a handful of dirt into my face and charged, slamming us both into the brick, the hole in my side opening up painfully. One hand locked around my throat, the other drove into my ribs, breaking two in one clean shot; I slammed my forearm into her elbow, breaking her grip and ignoring the explosion of pain in my chest, grabbing a handful of her shirt and pulling her in close, about to knock her head clean off her shoulders.

She growled and head-butted me, breaking my nose, sending me reeling into the wall.

"Goddamnit!" I roared.

She spat blood on the floor and raised her hands, ready and waiting,

"DAVAI!"

COME ON!

I reached up and set my nose with a crunch, walking toward her like a man on a mission, feinting low and nailing her in the face when she bought it. She stumbled back before throwing herself forward with a war cry; a thunderous hook caught my jaw, snapping my head around and almost putting my lights out.

I shook it off just in time for her to throw an elbow into the side of my head; I rolled with it, letting the blow glance off, she overextended, and I bulldozed her into the wall, bringing my knee up into her stomach, she doubled over. I cracked a straight left into the side of her head, dropping her to a knee.

"You fucking…bastard." She panted, "It was all lies, wasn't it?"

"Look me in the fucking eyes, Sofiya, and tell me that I would've walked out of your office alive if I had been honest that first day." The fight ran out of me, and I was unable to keep the tears out of my voice as my world crumbled again… "It was real…I love you so much it hurts, I wasn't ready for it, it was just there, suddenly, and I couldn't fight it, didn't want to…Please…I'm trying to help you…"

She glared up at me, rising slowly; the look on her face made it clear that she didn't believe a word of what I had to say…

"Shut your fucking mouth; I've had it with your lies."

Something flickered in her eyes that caught me off guard. I couldn't tell if it was pain, but it was gone as fast as it had appeared.

I took a step back; pain rolled around in my broken heart, leaving nothing but cold in its wake.

Okay then.

I was back on familiar ground… swallowed up by agony. I knew it like the back of my hand.

If I had to die here, I wanted her to be the one to do it.

I raised my hands, "Let's go then."

She charged and kicked me in the face. My head snapped back, blood spraying from my shattered nose. I hit the ground, trying to roll out of it, but my body refused to respond… one too many knocks to the head... She straddled my hips and punched me in the face, blows raining down on my abused self. I felt my consciousness slipping, but somewhere deep inside me, the anger welled up, the will to live, and having had enough of her inability to see what was right in front of her face.

I cocked my head as her fist came down, and she punched the hardpack, cursing as her face twisted in pain. I reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair, using it as leverage to roll her off me and pin her to the ground.

"Sofi…Stop." My training was no match for her experience; she'd get out of this and end it; I was playing for seconds.

"MUDAK!" She screamed in my face. I stared into her raging, burning, blue eyes, her lips twisted into a feral snarl.

She was beautiful.

A knee came up into my balls, and I folded.

"Mother…fucker!" I yelled, rolling away as she popped off the ground.

I came to a knee as the door crashed open; Boris blew in, his gun up and scanning, eyes widening when he took in the scene.

"Captain?"

She held up a hand, walking off the fight, in much better straits than I was. No surprise, she was a trained soldier, the fact that I'd landed a hit at all was a fucking miracle backed by Eda and the Agency.

"I'm fine, Sergeant." She looked down at me, her eyes glittering, but she didn't make a move.

"Thought, I wasn't…leaving here… alive…" I panted.

Her voice was flat, icy….dead. "You saved my life, and you took care of my men; that's the only reason you're still breathing; I pay my debts. Leave Roanapur and never come back… If you do, I swear on the lives of my men that it will take days for you to die. If you take my mercy for weakness and send anyone else in here, I'll owe them no such courtesy."

She took her coat from Boris and threw it around her shoulders/

"Goodbye, Mr. Briggs."

They walked out, and I collapsed, my injuries finally taking their toll, but I was alive. Thunder cracked as I pushed myself to my feet; tears that had nothing to do with my pain rushed down my face as I set off, staggering towards the lights of the city.

The deluge started, but I just kept walking… my feet were bloody inside my tattered shoes by the time I hit the city proper, but I dragged myself forward, the curb jumped up and caught me a few blocks from the clinic, and I collapsed, slamming painfully into the concrete.

"Mon Dieu…Zack?"

Genevieve?

Bless her little French heart.

I groaned in response.

"Oh, we must get you up, Achara! Aidez moi! 'elp me!"

Hands grabbed me as my vision faded in and out; it took both of them to get me to my feet. I sagged against them as the rain pounded down on us, the dragged and carried me for who knew how long, I kept blacking out, losing time, I could hear Genevieve yelling in French, the cold and wet, was replaced by the crackling of a fire, someone was stripping me, little gasps of horror as more of my wounds were revealed.

"Oh, mon coeur.What 'appened?"

"Got hit by two…buses… and a fucking train," I whispered.

"I…I do not know what to do…" She sounded so helpless and afraid, breaking my heart a little.

"I need you to get someone to the Rip-Off Church, tell Sister Eda I need to speak with her, bring her here."

"Oui, I can do this."

I reached up weakly, running a hand up the side of her face; her small hands grabbed mine, squeezing gently.

"I will get 'help, I swear."

I nodded, "Thank you, sweetheart. Gotta get some sleep…wake me when she gets here."

I couldn't wait for her response, the dark closed in all around me, and I slipped away.

Someone was shaking me.

"Wake up, you asshole!"

Eda…

My eyes slid open slowly, blinking against the light, "Not so loud, Blackwater, fuck…"

Arms wrapped around me, and she lost it, sobbing into my shoulder. Eda wasn't a full-on cryer, and the gravity wasn't lost on me. I reached up with one arm and pulled her in close.

"Shh, hey…it's okay. I'm fucked up… but I'm up."

"Shut up, just shut the fuck up…" She sobbed, holding me tighter.

I rubbed her back and let her get it out; I'd have my own breakdown later.

"Eda…I have to leave, that was Balalaika's condition; I have to leave Roanapur."

She nodded, sniffling and hanging on for dear life, "We'll handle it; I've already talked to Langley, they're willing to give you contractor status, you'll be under our umbrella from now on… c'mon cowboy, let's get you outta here."

I let her drag me to my feet and out the door. Genevieve stood on the sidewalk, smoking and keeping a lookout.

I dug in my pockets, and mercifully, I still had some cash left.

"Genevieve?"

Her soft accent was music to my ears, " You're awake? Mon Dieu, you 'ad me so worried!" Her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears. I remembered every time she'd come into the clinic, roughed up or sick,

I'd taken care of her then…I saw no reason to stop.

I handed the whole wad of cash.

"Genny, there's about a thousand there…I have to leave, you should get out too. Get out, please…"

She stared at the money; all of it would have gone to her pimp; in exchange, he kept her alive and made sure she had a roof.

Now she had a way out.

I reached up and patted her on the cheek.

"Take care, ma belle…Ca VA?"

Genevieve looked up from the cash, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Eda huffed, "Fucking get in the car."

Genny nodded and double-timed it to Eda's rig.

"Thanks, Blackwater."

"Briggs, you owe me so much at this point I can honestly say, fuck your gratitude."

She dragged me along, I limped, leaning on her and sliding into the passenger seat, Genevieve hopped in the back, Eda keyed the ignition, and we sped off, smoking the tires a little.

I dragged on my smoke; Genny softly cried in the back, and Roanapur ticked by outside the window. Memories and pain flashed through me as we blew past the Lagoon Office, then the clinic, shops, and alleys.

It loomed out of the darkness faster than I was ready for.

The Hotel…

She was in there; I could feel it.

The worst part was, I knew she wasn't hurting like I was. Even if she had the luxury, she wasn't that kind of woman. I'd become the enemy the moment I told her who I was.

I was chasing a ghost again.

I slipped lower in my seat as we roared across Slipknot Bridge; Eda pulled out her phone, dialing quickly.

"Yolanda? Yeah, it's Eda; I've gotta get out of the city for a few days…No… Rico's ready…Yes, just like we talked about…Good luck to you too…"

Another call as I lit a smoke.

"This is Rasp, word of the day is Prism. Bearing west toward Rayong, priority extract plus two, civilian transport for a nonessential to Europe…France…Understood….ETA two hours…"

She hung up, and I reached over and squeezed her knee, silently thanking her.

We didn't speak until we reached the safe house; Morris waited out front of the run-down apartment, approaching as we pulled up.

I rolled out of the rig, leaning against the door; the pain from my ribs was getting to be unbearable.

"Eda?"

"Yeah?"

"In a lot of pain here."

"Suck it up, buttercup; we've got full medical kit inside."

I nodded, reaching to open Genevieve's door.

Eda shook her head, "No time. Morris is gonna take her to the airport; we've already got her booked out."

I nodded, raising my hand to catch Genny's eye; she smiled brilliantly, waving back, tears leaking down her face.

Thank you… She mouthed.

I gave her the best smile I could muster, hoping with everything I had that she'd be ok…

Morris sensed my unease, "She'll be fine man, I'll get her out of here."

I nodded as Eda threw an arm under mine and across my shoulders.

"Thanks, Morris."

He nodded and slid behind the wheel.

Eda dragged my dead ass inside as they pulled away, laying me on a couch in the living room and hustling off, hopefully, to get me something for the pain. I heard her sneakers thumping around on the second floor before she came back down; she held out her hand, dropping two pills into mine.

"Vicodin, take 'em now so I can close these cuts."

I dry swallowed them, looking forward to taking a breath that didn't hurt.

"I want in ongoing after Lomonosov."

Eda pulled away, fire in her eyes, "After what the cunt did to you?"

I nodded, "He's got more than just her to answer for. I want in Eda, I know I'm about the furthest thing from a Direct Action guy you've got, but I want in."

She huffed, staring at the wall for a long minute, "You really care about her, don't you?"

"I do. She might be a stone-cold killer, but none of them deserve the hand they've been dealt… Eda, I fell for her, hard."

She shook her head, "That big heart is going to get you fucking killed one day, Briggs. I mean, fuckin'… Balalaika… of all the women in the world, all the women you could have…"

I caught the edge of bitterness there, and it twisted into my guts like a knife as I realized that I'd said too much.

"Eda…I…I'm sorry. I-"

"No, cut the shit; I know you might be sorry, you're a good man, and this can't be easy. I just figured I'd have what it took when this all shook out." Her shoulders sagged as all the fight ran out of her, "But I made you a promise, and you're my boy, till the end."

I grabbed her hands with mine, knuckles bloody and swollen, I must've looked pathetic, but I slipped some steel into my voice.

This was for the ball game.

"Eda, listen to me. I need you to understand…You're not second fiddle, you're the most amazing woman I know, you deserve better than me in every way."

She looked away, but I grabbed her shoulders, making her look at me.

"I couldn't, wouldn't be able to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. And you mean so much to me, too much to do that to you. Hurt you now or destroy you later? I hated my fucking options from the jump."

She was staring at me with misty eyes.

"Zack…I love you. I have since Brazil, that first night in the bar when I realized that you were immune to my charms… that was where it started, this little spark that grew every time I saw you. When you almost died in Rio…I sat by your bedside and watched you fight to live; something changed… I've run assets all over the world, left some of them to die; that's the job. But you…you hooked me and pulled me into the orbit of who you are."

She chuckled sadly, "You're just so fucking good…That doesn't exist, not in the world we live in, and before long, I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. I was walking into walls at Langley, too distracted by where you were and what you were doing. I convinced the guys on Seven to let me recruit you, but I did it because I needed you close. I could've used anyone else, better-qualified guys, better equipped to do what I asked of them. But I wanted you…"

She lit two smokes and passed me one, progress, I guess…

"I still want you… I want you so bad that if I have to spend the rest of my life taking a backseat to Sofiya fucking Pavlovena…That's a small price to pay."

I was struck dumb by her speech, I thought I knew, and she'd played it so cool…I never believed that her feelings ran this deep.

But it all clicked. She kept me around for years, trained me, saved me from myself time and time again. And in my pain and cowardice, I'd hidden from the love she showed me.

Here was a woman who just wanted to be a small part of my world while I was all of hers.

What a fucking asshole I am.

"Eda I…"

What do you say at a moment like this?

My voice cracked, "I…" And failed.

First, it was a ghost; now, it was someone who'd cut me apart if she ever saw me again.

And Eda was caught in the middle.

She reached over and slid a hand through my hair, pulling me close.

"I'm sorry you lost her. I really am…"

I nodded, letting her pull me in.

"Eda…"

"Shhh, I'm working on it, don't fuck this up."

I smiled, and it felt real as I drifted off in her arms.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2021.

I sat in the room, hide on the fiftieth floor of the hotel, behind a spotting scope. Blackout curtains hung all around me, keeping the light from reflecting, the ashtray next to me full of butts; I knew Angie was watching me, shaking her head. We'd tracked Lomonosov here, finally got out ahead of him, now we were overlooking the Palm Jumeirah. The man-made island was a favorite meeting spot for the elite.

We weren't alone either; I had NSA SIGINT dudes pulling traffic out of the air over at the Burj Al Khalifa; good intel put Lomonosov here by tonight.

I took a slug off my burnt coffee and got back in the glass.

Ah, the life of a spy…

Thumping footsteps announced the arrival of my plus one.

"Any movement?"

I shook my head as he settled in next to me, passing me some shawarma and a coke.

"No, but when he shows, we'll nail his ass."

Dave smiled, taking a bite of his sandwich…

"That's a plan."

A/N: Dave's back in the game, and the hunt is on!

Holy shit that took a lot out of me, this story is taking shape now, and I crammed a ton into this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A brief aside about Balalaika and Zack, neither of them is the white picket fence and a minivan type. But a blind man could see that what she brings out in him isn't good. Whether love can temper it? We shall fucking see, and I can't wait to drag you guys along on the rest of this journey with me.

As Zack is driving back into the city, the song is "Burn The Witch" By Shawn James.

Until next time!