Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,13

the email account two weeks ago had disappeared. Had she checked or had she betrayed him? Would she give him information about her mother once she was free? If she hadn't betrayed him, then how far would he go to gain the information he needed to climb to the top of Stratus and locate the Fates? It could be her mother had little to no connection to the organization, but the coincidences were too stark. She had to know someone in Stratus. Someone in Stratus had to have approved her daughter's punishment and placement in his cell.

There were many questions and few answers. He wasn't ready to make contact with her yet, and he wasn't going to rush the prep work. He was... rusty. The skills he'd refined to a surgically sharp edge had dulled. Granted, his physical fitness was the best it had ever been. The training regimen at the Rose was second to none. His exposure to the Arizona sun had deepened the naturally dark complexion of his skin. He fit in on the Florida beach. In fact, he'd been raised not too far from here. A lifetime ago. But somehow, he'd fucked up in Tahiti. Somehow, he'd been made, and the fuckers who took him were a step ahead of him. How? The question remained unanswered and gnawed at him, giving doubt in his skills a place to reside.

He slowed his pace when he reached the public beach where he'd parked. The run past the house just before sunup and the return run as the sun rose into the sky had given him a first-hand view of the grounds facing the beach. The windows on the north side of the house were opaque when he ran past after sunup, but clear when he'd jogged by earlier. He needed to obtain the blueprints for the house, which had proven difficult. The plans filed with the city weren't this house. An administration oversight perhaps? Possibly, but it didn't seem likely.

His gut told him Pilar's mother was involved with Stratus. Perhaps, if he was lucky, the woman held some sway at a management level. Regardless of her position, there would be information to be gathered, and from the data collected he'd be a step closer to the top of Stratus. During his captivity he'd vowed to take the organization down. It was a vow he wouldn't fail in executing no matter if it took the remainder of his life. Thankfully his objective and Guardian's aligned. He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. There would have been a parting of the ways if his organization had tried to prohibit his actions.

He walked off his five-mile run and headed past the dunes toward the parking lot. His watch vibrated on his wrist. Annoying. He opened the SUV and grabbed a bottle of water, downing it all. Tossing the bottle into the passenger side floorboard, he got into the vehicle, started it, and drove onto A1A to take one more look at the front of the estate. His watch vibrated again. He rolled his eyes, swiped the face of his phone, and keyed in the number.

"Operator Two Seven Four."

"Sunset Operative Six."

"Standby Sunset Operative Six." The woman's voice had never changed. He honestly wondered if Guardian had some leading-edge tech—artificial intelligence or some other new age system.

"You don't have to call in." Anubis' voice held a hint of humor.

"Yeah, I know, but I figured if you wanted me to check in at this ungodly hour, I'm going to make sure your ass is up, too."

Anubis chuckled. "I've been up. Physical training starts at four-thirty."

"I didn't realize you needed to get up early to ride a stationary bike, or are you logging miles on a treadmill this week?"

"Ha-ha, fuck you very much. You want to know how fit I am, come on up here, and I'd be happy to take you down and humble your ass."

"It would take more than you, my friend." Tempest smiled because he knew he was right. His past gave him an edge. One he wouldn't be losing. Not again. Not ever.

"In your dreams. Do you need our assistance?"

Tempest narrowed his eyes and flicked a quick look at the phone. "No."

"You don't have to go at this alone."

"This?" As far as he was aware, only he and Fury knew his objective was Stratus and the Fates. He'd been checking in with Anubis daily, so obviously the man knew he was active, but...

Anubis made a noise akin to a snort. "Fury briefed