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“He’s dead.”

“I’m supposed to cherish all life, but I won’t mourn his passing.”

“You shouldn't. Before he died, he confessed to human experimentation on villages in Evenkiysky and Sakha. So you were right, Penelope. Those villages your doctors found were part of his weapons test. And therewasa cover-up, though it didn’t reach as high as the Kremlin. President Puchkov had no idea what was happening. Lazarus, the satellite, everything, it was all part of a scheme to push him out of power.”

“I have had my difficulties with the Russian government, but President Puchkov was better than his predecessors by far.”

“Things might get more difficult in the future for you there. Be careful.”

“We will. Thank you for letting me know.”

“It’s the world who needs to thankyou, Penelope.”

They hung up, and Jack leaned against the open patio doors. Four acres of land spread behind them, rolling fields dotted with farms and grazing sheep. Trees were beginning to shed their leaves, marigold and persimmon and spice scattering on the winds.

Ethan came up behind him, wrapping one arm around his waist as he kissed his cheek. “Hey, love.”

Jack threaded their fingers together and leaned against his husband. Ethan passed him a cup of coffee. The scent of hazelnut rose between them. “How’s Scott?”

“Settling in. Once he finds a place to live, he’ll bring Liz and Stacy over. He’s still shaken. But he’s doing all right.”

“Glad to have him back?”

Ethan smiled. “I wish it weren’t on these terms, but yes. And he and Welby are even happy to see each other, in their own way.” Jack chuckled along with Ethan. Quiet enveloped them again, the peace of the countryside.

“Have you seen the news?”

“What now?” Jack groaned.

“Acting President Yaluyevsky has issued a statement condemning the United States’ choices during the ISS outbreak. He says Russian property was illegally destroyed without consultation, and the United States, ‘acted dangerously, without regard for international treaties or respect for life.’ He’s accusing them of attacking Russia, and concealing what really happened up there.”

“Oh,that’srich.” Jack sighed. “Elizabeth has tanked in the polls. We’re a few months out from the election, and I don’t think…” Jack trailed off. Elizabeth was the head of his new political party. She’d been leading in the polls before everything went sideways, trying to win a term in her own right.

“Yaluyevsky recalled all Russian diplomatic staff and has ordered the closure of their embassies and consulates in America. He says it’s time for Russia and America to ‘disengage’ and for all current treaties and agreements to be placed on hold subject to a thorough review. He’s already cancelled the economic partnership agreement and a handful of weapons treaties.”

“Everything Sergey and I worked for, everything we accomplished, all of it is gone. All of the rebuilding between our countries.” Jack turned away from the patio. He stared into the coffee mug as if he could divine the future from the swirls of steam.

Ethan hesitated.

“What? What else?”

“General Yaluyevsky and the Iranians have signed an oil export agreement. They’ve jointly announced the dispatch of a Russian naval group to the Persian Gulf. It’s bearing down on the Strait of Hormuz now. It’s going to be very crowded down there, with everyone on a hair trigger.”

“Fuck,” Jack breathed. “God damn it.”

“Ambassador Faisal al-Saud released a statement on behalf of the Saudi royal family. He said they will not allow Iranian aggression in the Gulf. They will confront Iran, and any of her allies, and will secure the Gulf region in concert with their partners and allies.”

“I notice he left out naming the United States?”

“He did.”

Don’t do it, his mind whispered.You don't have to get involved. Stay in England. It’s time to take a break.

“Faisal and Adam are married now, aren’t they?”

Ethan nodded. “But they don’t publicize it. They’re private. Faisal is moving up in the royal family, too.”

We worked together once and changed the world. Made things better.