Page 185 of Enemy of My Enemy

Jack smiled. He caressed Ethan’s face, his thumb tracing Ethan’s lips. “All the way. Forever.”

* * *

Sergey found them later,his eyes red-rimmed. He spat out Sasha’s frantic last message.

“Purposely drilling?” Ethan frowned. “Purposely releasing the methane hydrate? Why?”

The reason slammed into Jack, cymbals crashing in his brain. “This is the real attack. Canada is just a diversion. Goddamn it, he doesn’t even want Canada or the US.”

“Whatdoeshe want?” Sergey scowled

What was it Elizabeth had said? If enough methane hydrate entered the atmosphere, it could ignite? “He’s trying to burn it all down. Flood the atmosphere and light everything on fire. It’s already in the jet stream. When he ignites it all, it will burn through the world. Incinerate millions. Billions.”

Scott’s jaw dropped. Ethan stared at him, not blinking. Sergey grumbled under his breath, long curses in bitter Russian.

“He doesn’t want to take over,” Jack said, a dark laugh falling from his lips as he finally, finally figured it all out. “He wants to watch the world burn and sit on top of the ashes. Inherit the wasteland at the end and call it his kingdom. Anarchy and the apocalypse, all by his own hand.”

Ethan paled at Jack’s words. “It’s exactly what Cook said. They want a world of their own. Endless war. ‘A new dawn is coming. A new sky awaits us all.’ I thought he was just being an asshole. I didn’t think he was being literal.”

“They mean it,” Sergey growled. “They mean to burn this world and take what is left for themselves.”

“A new dawn. A new sky. Code words for the ignition?” Jack frowned.

“This is all fucked-up.” Scott shook his head. He glared at the sky. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go get the bastard. I’ve got a family to protect.”

They moved quickly after that, Jack calling Elizabeth and giving her the intel while Sergey, Ethan, and Scott packed up the bunker. Sergey spoke to the men and women he had placed in command of his insurgency, and they spread the word through the ranks. They were moving out, heading into the desolate Far East, and waiting for their allies.

Elizabeth promised subs from Hawaii in one week.

“We need to be careful, Jack,” Ethan breathed into his ear, his words for Jack alone. “We never did find the person who put the pictures in your duffel. And there were pictures of us, picturesonlysomeone in our inner circle could have taken, in that tanker. Someone in the White House is on Madigan’s side.”

Jack’s face turned to stone. “Should we call Cooper? You trust him, right?” Jack helped Ethan pack their jeep. It had been Sasha’s, but Sergey had been carefully avoiding it like a black hole. “Do you think he could help?”

Ethan frowned. “He’s a good man. He’s got a good team. And yes, I do trust him. I’ll make the call.” Ethan took his scrambled cell and dropped a kiss to Jack’s cheek, trotting off into the forest.

* * *

Chapter 61

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Cooper’swhole team had descended on Faisal’s villa. They’d arrived in ones and twos, and Cooper ferried them all from Jeddah’s airport to the compound. Doc took over, giving them a grand tour and assigning bedrooms and beds.

When everyone was settled in, Cooper called them all down to the main room for a briefing.

Cooper stumbled, though, before he spoke, and his eyes fixed on the prince.

All eyes turned to Faisal. Faisal looked away.

Tension grew, everyone eyeballing each other left and right.

Before they could speak, Faisal’s phone rang. He and Cooper shared a long look and headed for the kitchen together to speak privately with the caller.

Minutes passed. People started fucking around.

No one was watching him. Perfect.

He slipped outside to the massive deck overlooking the Red Sea.