been removed, evidence of their deaths wiped clean. Ethan had not been brought in to investigate. They already had their answers.
By six in the morning, the house had been cleared. Computers and screens were loaded into a van, whisked away to the Brethren clubhouse.
Fuse’s insistence Brittany see a doctor had fallen on deaf ears. She’d insisted on packing her belongings with a goal of returning to Phoenix that afternoon. For now, she’d go back to Fuse’s, where at least a dozen men gathered in the family room for a debrief.
“How the hell did they locate the house?” Kell Kirkland’s displeasure at the breach couldn’t be more clear.
“I believe that’s obvious,” Wrath answered, his jaw tight. “We have a leak.” He’d vocalized what the others had been thinking. “Nothing else makes sense.”
“Who?” Deke asked. “Your men have been with you for years, Wrath. Before that, they were in the teams. Not one has ever betrayed a mission.”
“Which means it’s one of mine, Kell.” Mitch’s pen hovered over the pad of paper before him.
The room quieted for a moment before Kell answered. “Any idea who?”
“Not yet, but I won’t rest until he’s been exposed as the piece of shit he is.” Rarely did Mitch display heated anger. His words and actions were carefully guarded within the stoic, disciplined ex-Army Ranger.
“Let us know what we can do to help, Mitch. If you need extra eyes, you’ve got them.”
“Thanks, Kell. I’ll let you know.”
Wrath rested his muscled arms on the table, too many questions whirling in his head. “Will your man be all right?”
Mitch pinched the bridge of his nose, giving a brisk nod. “Tranquilizer dart. Hell, I haven’t seen one of those since a mission in Africa years ago. With only three men outside, no one noticed his absence until Gunner notified Deke and me about the intruders. Fuckin’ Russians never should’ve gotten that close.”
Wrath shook his head. “Don’t beat yourself up, Mitch. We all believed the location was secure. None of us thought more than three guards outside was needed. A leak is the only way they could’ve found us.”
Mitch ran both hands through his hair. “True. Doesn’t make it any easier.”
“All right. We’ve got some good news.” Kell handed out sheets of paper to each man, waiting until they had a chance to scan the contents.
“Is this a joke, Kell?” Fuse set down the paper, disbelief showing in his eyes.
“Not according to the data we’ve been sent.”
“Admiral Grayson sent the same information to me a couple hours ago. The sponsors of the bill have pulled it from a vote. Seems the FBI had a long talk with both senators. They are in the process of doing a quiet investigation of them, but are keeping what they’ve learned to themselves.”
“No surprise there,” Rock said. “Traitors?”
Wrath lifted one shoulder. “My guess is they’re going to follow the money.”
Fuse rubbed fingers over his brow. “The money?”
“You already know the FBI often follows the money to discover if someone’s receiving above normal funds.” Kell leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. “I’ve got a friend in the agency who owes me a favor. One of the senators has been under investigation for years. He’s the one who wrote most of the bill. The FBI is about ninety percent certain he’s on the
Butovo Bratva’s payroll. Possibly a Russian mole who’s been in the U.S. since a teenager. Their investigation is ongoing. The warning is clear. It’s doubtful any other bills favoring Russia will be presented anytime soon.”
“Does that mean the threat is eliminated?” Ghost asked.
“For now,” Wrath answered. “This mission is over.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Fuse braced his hands on the wall of the shower, head bent as he attempted to clear his mind and decide his next actions. The hot spray relaxed his muscles, even if it didn’t calm his racing heart.
The assignment was over. Brittany had secluded herself in the bedroom on the other end of the house to pack. She couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He couldn’t blame her, not after all the mixed messages he’d been sending.
In the beginning, he’d been clear there was no future for them. Anything beyond casual sex was impossible. After all these years, Fuse had been certain the feelings of years ago were long dead.
“You’re a damn fool, McCall.”
Finishing the shower, he dressed and headed for the kitchen. It was a little before noon and he needed a drink. A whiskey would be great, but he’d have to settle for a beer. If she