Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,56

Arsenal teams.

She was worried about whoever the mystery woman was. So was he.

“I will unleash the fires of hell on these men,” Fatima said. “You will tell me who they are.”

“Let’s let Addy and her crew handle them. Save the fires of hell and your hounds for whoever has your father,” Kristof said. “I’m sorry it’s been so long, Fatima. When we are back in Moscow, I will see what I can do to help.”

“We’ll help,” Addy said. “I’d be surprised if it hasn’t already been handled.”

Kristof wasn’t surprised. Though he hadn’t interacted with Zoey’s bosses at The Arenal as much as he had her, their reputations within the underground and the private paramilitary arena where his former employer, The Collective, ran amok were legendary. Some swore Edge and Quillery had an unprecedented perfect mission record.

He was relieved they had Addy’s back, but he wished the problems they became embroiled in at every turn would ease up so the woman could rest. When was the last time she’d relaxed or made herself a priority?

“Stop scowling at me,” Addy said. “And sit your ass down before you collapse. You wouldn’t want my team having to carry you up that ladder when they arrive.”

Time had slowed to a crawl since they’d cleared the weapons from the hall and returned to where they’d started. Kristof hoped the team was nearby, but he didn’t ask Addy for a status update.

“Roger,” Addy said. “Weapons down. The teams are clearing the surroundings and making their way inside the bunker.”

“These men. You trust them?” Fatima asked.

“With my life. Every day. Without hesitation.” Addy glanced at the woman. “Why?”

“We are here because he trusted his man,” Fatima said as she pointed at Kristof.

He tightened. Fucking Dima. The man had been his trusted driver for years and had expressed a mutual distrust and hatred for Ivan and Kristof’s father. The betrayal would cut deep if he was involved in the kidnapping.

But it made more sense than Kristof wanted to accept. If Dima was in Father’s corner, then Ivan’s death made more sense. He’d served his purpose and was expendable. Easily replaced with a man Kristof had still trusted.

He’d need to get Maksim working on vetting the others within their secret group. How many others were playing both sides? Could they even figure out the truth beneath decades of lies?

“Addy and the teams coming for us are the best around. I’d trust them with my life without hesitation,” Kristof said. “Above anyone else. Even Maksim.”

Fatima’s eyes widened. She nodded. “Good. Then I will trust them to handle these men. My hounds and fires will wait.”

Kristof chuckled. Addy’s gaze narrowed when she looked from Fatima to him.

“Fatima unleashes her hounds and fires of hell anytime she gets upset or scared,” he whispered. “She’s had a hard life, one that has only gotten worse since her father’s injury.”

“You know her well,” Addy said, her lips thinned.

“I do.” Kristof ran a hand across her jaw. “You have an unusually expressive face right now. Ask what you really want to know.”

“It’s none of my business.”

“It is. Everything to do with me is your business should you choose to make it so. And yours is mine because I have chosen to make it so.”

Addy pulled away from the contact and glared at him. “We aren’t having that discussion. Not now. Not ever. Leave it be.”

He had no right to drag Addy deeper into his chaotic life. The war with Father would truly begin soon and could end in Kristof’s death. Two decades of planning might not have been enough. Dethroning a king with a massive army was an almost impossible task.

He’d long considered his death a worthy sacrifice if Father died as well. It was the least he could do for Mama. And Olaf. And Stacia.

But that was before Addy entered his world again. She’d entrenched herself within it and stood at his side for the past two weeks. Although she’d seen some of the worst he’d done, she’d stood her ground.

For him.

A part of him wanted to explore the connection they had though he knew she deserved a better man than he could ever be. Being around her, seeing her with her team, and witnessing what she’d become only made the longing he’d contained for years more difficult to ignore.

He wanted to heal the damage he’d unwittingly created years ago when he’d left her in that camp. Father and Peter had tried to destroy the Addy he remembered, but he knew she still lived