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“Fuck!” The general slams his fist on the desk.
My sentiments exactly. Maybe it’s time for a new approach. One thing we know for sure is that they are Russian. Instead of following the leads, we should hit them in their native homeland. “General, send the team to Russia.”
General Parks swings his head in my direction. “Why?”
“They’ll never see us coming,” Benson says excitedly. “We can leave a false trail, make them think we’re headed back to the States with our tails between our legs, and hop over into Russia.”
“Pack up your team,” General Parks commands. “Head out. Benson, I want these assholes taken out.”
“Roger that,” Benson responds. “How’s Aurora doing?”
I answer before General Parks can. “She’s fine.”
Benson sighs. “I wish we would’ve known she was back in Boston that night, Sir. We would’ve made sure she was okay.”
“Stop beating up yourself, Benson,” General Parks orders. “No one knew she flew back to Boston, and we still don’t know what caused her to take all those pills.”
“She still not talking about it?” he asks, his tone laced with concern.
“No,” I grit. “It’s not our place to rush her either. She’ll talk when she’s ready… if she ever is.”
Benson clears his throat. “I’ll get started on transport.” The phone disconnects.
I pace the floor, not sure what has me more aggravated: Benson’s concern with Aurora or Krukov’s Houdini act. “We’ll get ‘em, Sir. Obviously, our strategy wasn’t working. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve rescued a lot of people, which is great, but it’s time to cut off the head of the snake.”
“I agree.” He leans back in his chair. “How’s Aurora’s training going?”
My steps falter. “Better than any of us thought.”
“Explain.”
“Bennett doesn’t have any worries about her capabilities in handling firearms. Her accuracy rate is better than some of the Marines on the base.”
He beams with pride. “That’s my girl. Anything else?” He looks at me expectantly.
“She bested me the other day during our hand-to-hand combat drills,” I admit. “Hell, Aurora could probably be a UFC fighter if she wanted. She has power behind her punches and kicks.”
“I would’ve paid to see that,” he says, chuckling.
“Carver probably has a video of it,” I joke. “In all seriousness, Sir, I don’t know what else we can teach her. She’s tough and resilient, as you’re well aware. Carver taught her how to throw knives, and she’s a natural, by the way. Hudson taught her basic first aid if she’s ever in a situation where she needs to administer it, and Thomas annoyed her enough that she fought back on the days she wanted to give up.”
We all contributed to helping Aurora achieve her goal, butsheput herself together again. I hate fucking telling him the truth because I don’t want to lose her.
I don’t want to be shipped back overseas, but I also want Aurora to be able to sleep peacefully at night without the damn devil chasing her. If it takes me flying to Russia to cut Dmitri’s head off myself and delivering it to her in a gift-wrapped box, then that’s what I’ll do.
“Sounds like Thomas,” he ponders. “I know you’re probably itching to get back in the field, but I’m going to continue to be a selfish bastard.”
Wait. What?
I don't even blink as I wait for him to finish.
“Aurora’s changed since you and your team have come back into her life.” He stands, walks over to the window overlooking the backyard, and points. “She spends hours practicing on that dummy you built for her. She’s eating and laughing again.” He turns to face me, his eyes brimming with tears. “I see my daughter again, and I have you to thank for that.”
“Aurora did that all on her own,” I say. “There’s a fire deep inside her. She just needed help igniting it again.”
“And you gave her the match.”
I dip my head.