Page 50 of Jonas (Silver Team #4)

“It’s not just the Chinese,” Nebraska corrected. “Penny, why don’t you explain?”

“Six months ago, I broke the encryption on a new protocol. When that happens, the system is kicked back and new parameters are assigned. Type 1 security is always evolving and changing. It’s not a design, assign, and forget.

Modern wars aren’t fought on the battlefield, they’re fought over radio waves, satellites, networks, and transmitted data.

He who controls the airwaves controls the flow of information.

There is never a second when the US isn’t under relentless cyberattack. ”

Penny stopped and shook her head as if she realized she’d gone off track.

“Sorry. The encryption I broke was on a packet of documents from a CIA field agent warning that the Russians were being fed highly classified intel. The report was more than twenty pages, which included his unnamed source at the Russian embassy confirming what the case officer had learned from a Russian agent in Poland. There was nothing in that report that gave me concern. Nothing I haven’t seen dozens of times.

But when I took the report to Ryan, he was…

nervous. Thinking back on it, it was the only time in all of my years working with him, he questioned me about what I’d read and reminded me of my oath. ”

Zane’s face was set to murderous. His issue with the Russians was legendary. They could also cloud his judgment, his dislike was so extreme.

“Did the report say what intel they were being fed?” I inquired.

“Titans Point,” Penny whispered.

“The NSA surveillance hub?” Derrika mused. “But they went after the NSA through the Pentagon. That doesn’t make sense if they wanted Titans Point. Why not just go straight to the source?”

“No. The Titans Point you’re talking about is the old AT&T building in New York. That’s not the actual surveillance hub. It wouldn’t be smart to have all the intelligence the NSA has collected stored in a place that’s widely known on the internet.”

“So… that place isn’t real?” Derrika pushed.

“Sure, there’s an NSA presence there. Sure, they run surveillance out of the building. But that’s not the true location of the hub.”

“Is there anything that’s actually real?” Derrika asked the million-dollar question.

“If it’s information the Russians are after.

If they want to know everything we know, all the stuff that they don’t know, they’ll find it at Titans Point.

And where they’ll find the location of Titans Point is through the Pentagon.

The rest of the intel will be a bonus. But the gravy, that’s the Point. ”

My gaze swung to Zane. “Are you sure about this?”

“Kira’s connecting dots as we speak. But until the situation is completely under control, we’re staying the course.”

“If it’s the Russians who want the true location of Titans Point, why are the fucking Chinese involved?”

Fucking hell, I needed someone to draw me a flowchart or a stick figure diagram to keep all this shit straight.

“Oil,” Zane grunted. “The Chinese are content killing us slowly. Communism doesn’t have to worry about power switching sides every four years, so they can play the long game and kill us financially by flooding our markets with goods, wiping out US manufacturing.

They’ll build and sell us chips and transformers with backdoors, then turn around and sell access to our enemies.

They’ll supply the military industrial complex anything they need, and they’ll find a way to screw us with that, too.

But they do not want military engagement.

However, they want Russian oil. So when Russia says they want America’s intel— all of it— and promise to keep that oil flowing on the cheap, the Chinese jump.

They get a friendly president and stay in Russia’s good graces. ”

I looked at Easton, who looked about as unhappy as I felt.

“Did Jun De buckle and confirm the Russians are involved under Cash’s precision placement of the patches?”

Derrika’s question was met with Cash flipping her off.

“As of an hour ago, Jun De is enjoying freshly placed patches and impressively remaining silent through his cock and ball torture,” Lore told her.

“Don’t forget the taint,” Derrika added. “I heard the taint is a very sensitive, special place.”

Fuck, the woman was funny.

“Ha. You’re hilarious.”

“Aw, thanks, Cashy.”

Lore snickered, and Cash turned in her direction. “Your ass is gonna pay for that later.”

“Promises. Promises.”

“No,” I cut Cash off before he could get into another back and forth with Lore. “As amusing as you two are, my brain feels like it’s going to explode, and another go-round between you two might put me over the edge.”

“This shit’s almost done,” Zane assured.

“How the hell do you figure that?”

“Because if it is the Russians using the Chinese as the front man, POTUS is confident he has leverage.”

“That sounds great, and I mean no disrespect, but how confident?”

“The kind of confidence that comes in the form of high-value leverage. And before you ask, I know what it is, and I’m confident once Kira confirms the Russians are behind this, not only will they turn over the names of everyone in the government who’s involved, but the Chinese will be paying restitution for the damage they caused. ”

What the fuck could the president know that would evoke fear in the Russians?

“What could POTUS—” Derrika started to ask but stopped herself when Zane pinned her with a scorching stare. “Right. Forget I asked.”

“Kira said it would take her at least twenty-four hours before she had anything for us. Ryan Clarkson is on his way to some torture site in the jungles of South America and is no longer our problem. When I left the shed, Theo was engaged in an epic stare down with Jun De Chen. Smith was sharpening his knife, and Rutte was sweating. Soon, both will be on their way to shittier accommodations that’ll make Cash’s handling of their genitals seem gentle.

Unfortunately, this means my sanctuary’s about to be taint ed…

see what I did there.” Zane paused for a reaction.

“Was that a dad joke or something?” Penny asked.

“Yes, Penny, it was a dad joke,” Zane scoffed.

“Jeez, sorry. Ha. Ha. That was really funny.”

Zane nodded his acceptance and went back to what he was saying.

“The Agency is sending two Mr. Color-By-Numbers here to take Rutte and Jun De off our hands. Up in Canada, Mark is neck-deep in dismantling the Wu’s network.

The Canadians are less than pleased to know they have a vast sleeper cell network in their country.

And as you nosy fucks already know, Dutch has Bolin.

For now he’s holding on to him. The CIA might find him useful to get Jun De to talk.

Though I doubt a man who can withstand hours of Icy Hot being applied to his cock and not so much as blink will shed a tear if his brother’s tortured in front of him.

So for now we’re holding fast. Nebraska and Easton are taking the day to see Pidgeon and Charlie before they head back up to Connecticut.

Cash is going to go dip his hands in acid.

I don’t know what Torture Tits…” Zane paused and looked at Lore.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been warned by some HR department my wife started that I need to ask permission before I insult or give out inappropriate nicknames.

Do you consent to being called Torture Tits? ”

“As long as I can call you Asshole, we’re square.”

I glanced over at Derrika. “You sure you still want to work here?”

“Don’t be dumb, of course she does. I’m the number one boss,” Zane answered for her. “So back to Torture Tits. I don’t know what her plans are, and Penny over there looks like she needs to meditate. But the two of you are taking forty-eight hours of R and R off-property.”

“We have?—”

“Non-negotiable, Derrika,” Zane interjected. “I see the bruises. I know what you did for us, for me, for your team. You’re taking time off to heal and spend time with your man.”

“Okay.”

“You get me? This is your team. I know you’ve been on your own for a long time, and I don’t just mean you working by yourself.

You’re not alone anymore. If what happened yesterday starts fucking with your head, you tell us.

Jonas isn’t the only one who has your back.

And just so you know, Jun De Chen isn’t just sitting in a holding room with a few bullet holes and Icy Hot on his dick.

He got a lesson about what happens when someone hurts someone who is mine.

Get that, too, Derrika. You might be Jonas’s, but you’re also mine.

And I take care of the people who are under my protection. ”

Derrika sucked in a wobbly breath. “I get you.”

“Good. Now get the fuck out of here, and like MiniMe says, ‘Safe sex is great sex, so wear your latex.’”

“Ha! I told you she was talking to you,” Cash triumphantly crooned.

I shot him a middle finger, but I did it smiling.

“Whatever, Stinky Pinky.”

“I did not stick my pinky up?—”

“Oh my God, Cash, shut up,” Penny interjected. “Just lick your fingers and play along,”

“That’s…” Cash stopped and carefully studied Penny. “Brilliant. Thanks, Penn.”

Penn?

Oh fuck .

“Time to go home, baby.”

“Yeah. Time to go home,” she repeated, but did it while staring at a red-faced Lore.

We quickly said our goodbyes and rushed up the stairs and out of the house.

Home.

I was finally taking Derrika home.