Page 95 of Enemy of My Enemy

Tianjing, China

“We have some concerns.”

Colonel Song crossed his legs and sipped his tea, watching the boats ferry passengers up and down the Haihe River. Overhead, the sun shone down on Tianjing, glinting off steel-and-glass skyscrapers. A pretty young waitress headed his way with a smile, but he waved her off.

He turned, pressing his cell to his other ear. “We don’t feel that your organization is making any substantial progress. And, your recent activities have attracted significant attention.”

Madigan’s voice scratched over the connection. Wherever he was, he was buried, far on the edges of global connectivity. “It was meant to.”

“We no longer are confident in the assurances you provided to us. We have not seen the potential that you promised. The world remains stubbornly normal, Mr. Madigan.”

“It’s General,” Madigan growled. “And I’m surprised by you, Song. You Chinese should know better than most; it’s the long game that counts. It’s about getting inside your enemy’s head. Unbalancing them. Destroying their equilibrium. Throwing their sense of safety, their sanity, into question. Ripping away everything they cherish. One. By. One.”

“How does a Russian destroyer tear apart your American president’s world?”

Madigan chuckled. “Another thing you should understand. Distraction. Deception. A feint. The purpose of which will be clear to you shortly.”

Songhmmed, and he frowned behind his sunglasses. Was it just more talk?

“Tell you what.” Madigan’s voice crackled through a burst of static. Water crashed in the background, like a wave breaking. “You can call me back in two days and offer me your government’s apology. Until then, I’ve got work to do.”

The line cut out.

* * *

Chapter 35

White House

“Hey.”Daniels checked right and left, making sure the hallways were clear, before slipping into Ethan’s office. He closed the door behind him.

“What is it?” Ethan rose from his desk and crossed the room, his body already primed for bad news. Adrenaline started flowing, his low-level panic a constant companion now.

Daniels pulled out a small square box from his suit pants pocket. “They came in.” He held the box out to Ethan. “Picked ’em up on my way.”

Ethan froze.

“I know it’s not a good time. But they’re here.”

Ethan plucked the box from Daniels’s palm and cradled it in his own hand. A simple black velvet box. It shouldn’t terrify him so much. But, God, it did. It quaked the foundations of his soul. “When will there ever be a good time. This is stupid. This isn’t a good idea.” His fist closed, as if he could hide the very thought the box—and what lay inside—represented. Shove it away, like he’d never, ever imagined it.

“It’s not stupid.” Daniels crowded close, and he reached for Ethan’s fist. He shook Ethan’s hand until Ethan’s fingers uncurled. “Nothing about this is stupid.”

“I never thought—”

“Neither did I, brother.” Daniels gripped his shoulder. “When you asked us to help you, I thought I was dreaming.”

Ethan stayed stock-still.

“At least look at them. You designed these, man.”

Slowly, he lifted the lid, the black velvet soft beneath his fingers. White satin folded over itself within, and in the center, two rings sat.

He stopped breathing. Blinked fast, as the world blurred.

They were thick rings of dark titanium, and in the center, a channel of diamonds ran all the way around. An eternity band, the jeweler had called the diamonds. Ethan knew, that moment, that was what he wanted for them both. Forever. Eternity.

“Damn. You did good,” Daniels barely whispered, and his voice broke through the fragile haze that had descended over Ethan.