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At the same time, Magnet walked up to me, started to shake my outstretched hand, then pulled me into an embrace. We patted each other’s backs like guys do. “You look well,” he said, leaning closer. “Must be all the sex.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “In part.”
My eyes met Verity’s, and she nodded. We’d agreed to announce our engagement straightaway so everyone present knew we were in a relationship that we had no intention of hiding. I cleared my throat and held my hand out to her. She took it and stood beside me.
“We have a couple of announcements. First, Verity is remaining a member of the Swiss task force.” I turned to Magnet and shook my finger. “No attempting to steal her back.” I squeezed her hand.
“Also, I’ve resigned from Unit 23, not that I was ever official, anyway,” she said.
“I beg to differ,” Typhon, who I hadn’t seen enter the room, shouted out. “However, I have sadly accepted. You belong here, Verity.”
She nodded in his direction. “Thank you, sir.”
“And finally, we wanted to invite you all to our wedding on February 29.”
“You’re engaged!” gasped Nemesis. “Many congratulations,” she said to me before turning to Verity. “And best wishes to you.” She turned to those in the room. “We were about to hold a briefing to get everyone up to speed on the AMPS investigation.” She glanced over her shoulder at us. “It seems now would be the perfect time to do so.”
Magnet, who was nearest to us, motioned for Verity to take a seat. Schön, who had been in the chair beside him, stood and walked to another part of the room. Grateful, Verity and I waved our thanks and took the seats. No doubt they’d both noticed her cane, which she brought more just in case, given she rarely used it anymore.
Nemesis nodded at Ares, who lowered the room’s screen.
“I’m going to focus on recent events first. If anyone has questions about things that occurred prior, please hold your inquiries until the end, and I’ll address them. Before we get into the AMPS investigation, Oleander?”
“Yes?”
“Do we have an update on the ‘Ndrangheta op?”
“Poseidon and Michelangelo are still in Tropea, investigating. Tank, Blackjack, and Atticus, from the US task force, recently joined them. So far, we’ve not been able to find proof tying ‘Ndrangheta to a named trafficking ring. However, intel has confirmed they do engage in it. The connection with Godwin suggests the strong possibility they have some affiliation with AMPS. I’ll request an updated brief if you’d like.”
“Please do so,” Nemesis responded.
I wondered why O wasn’t in Tropea with Poseidon since, originally, she had been. It wasn’t a question I’d ask now, though.
“Moving along,” said Nem, clearing her throat. “On thirteen November, Zeppelin and other members of the Swiss task force, with help from MI6’s UAE team, intercepted Xavier Vella and Selene Pavia as they were fleeing Dubai.”
Both of their photos appeared on the screen.
“Our working theory is Xavier Vella was responsible for former Ambassador James Godwin’s murder. Based on a name Selene called out as Xavier was fired on, Sheka, we believe he is the S in AMPS.
“The two, Xavier and Selene, fled Mallorca at a time coinciding with a health crisis experienced by Francesca Vella.” Her image also appeared on the screen, as did Charlene Vella-Borg’s. “Upon her release from hospital, Francesca and her daughter chose to return to the island of Gozo rather than remain at the DéLeon compound, where they’d been residing under our protection since November of last year. Any questions thus far?” She looked around the room, but no one responded.
Two more images appeared on the screen, that of Lorenzo “Mithras” Moretti and Valerie “Pharaoh” Olin.
“As standard procedure, DNA samples were taken from all four victims suspected of playing a role in AMPS. While Oleander reported Pharaoh accused her of killing her brother, as of this morning, we’ve learned Mithras was actually her half brother.”
Verity’s eyes met mine as we both processed that information.
“What about Xavier?” I asked.
“We’re awaiting a more detailed report to be certain, but rapid testing indicates he and Pharaoh are full siblings.”
I was stunned, as were most in the room, based on their murmurs.
“And Selene?” Oleander asked.
“She is not related.”
“Wouldn’t put it past the arseholes to inbreed,” she muttered.