Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(63)

"I don't feel like cooking tonight, cabbage."

"I'll cook," I said.

"No, I want to take my cabbage to dinner."

"Where would you like to go?"

"Dublin?"

"It shall be so," I said and transported us away from the compound.

*

"I told Maye we were going out to eat," I said as Ilya pulled a chair out for me at his daughter's hotel restaurant.

"Good. They won't shoot us when we get back, then."

"I hope you're right."

"The soup is good," he smiled and shook out my napkin for me.

"Then I'll have soup."

The broccoli-stilton soup was wonderful, as it turns out. As was the pasta primavera. I was full and sipping the last of my wine when Ilya took the glass from my fingers and set it aside.

"Cabbage," he said, taking both my hands.

"What, honey?" I asked.

"I want to marry you."

Several questions ran through my mind; one of them was-why? He already had me-mind, body and spirit. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"More than anything." He wore a nervous smile, suddenly, and I realized how much this meant to him.

"Then yes-I'll marry you anywhere and anyway," I said.

"Good. Very good. I will buy a ring soon. You will help."

"Okay," I said. "Just let me know."

He couldn't pay fast enough to get us out of there so I could take us home. Once we were back at the compound, I was undressed and in bed with him as quickly as he could make it happen.

*

Ilya

"What's wrong?" I asked. I woke to find Corinne sitting up in bed, arms wrapped around her knees and staring at the bedroom wall.

"Some of the creatures were moved last night," she said.

"Do you know where?" I was sitting beside her quickly.

"Out of the country," she said. "And into Iraq."

I cursed and slid off the bed. "Cabbage, we must inform Colonel Hunter. If those terrorists have creatures at their command, what might they do?"

We were more than familiar with the videos splashed across the Internet-none of which Corinne could watch-where soldiers, civilians and volunteers were beheaded with regularity.

We were back to the rogues there, and their funding, which had to come from somewhere.

We were back to stolen crowns and who knew what else.

"I think we should get dressed and go tell Auggie in person."

"Then come," I held out my hand and pulled her off the bed.

*

Corinne

I warned Auggie that we were on the way-I knew he was in his office early. James was there, too, and he locked the door behind him the moment Rafe and I appeared.

"They moved some of the creatures last night," I began. "They're on their way to Iraq to join the insurgency."

I'd never seen anger overcome Colonel August Hunter so swiftly. He had Matt Michaels on the phone almost as fast, and Matt was on his way in less than five minutes.

"James, bring coffee and anything else you can find," Auggie snapped. "They haven't had breakfast, yet."

Rafe and I heard other news from Matt after he arrived and accepted a cup of coffee from James. "The insurgents are either killing locals or paying them off to do whatever they want and take whatever they want," Matt said. "It's leaking into surrounding countries, too, as you might imagine."

"Because they have unlimited funding," Rafe nodded.

"That makes sense, and we know now who's behind this, I think. My question is why?" Auggie growled. "That part of it makes no sense at all."

"We have to figure this out," Matt said. "Before we find ourselves in a situation we can't handle."

"If those creatures are seen in Iraq, Auggie, they'll try to charge you with treason."

"Because we're the only ones they can tie this to," Matt stood to pace. "This is untenable."

I was beginning to realize that Matt was included in this attack, and he'd recognized it before I did. In fact, Auggie was just a steppingstone to get to Matt Michaels. Both were targets, just as the Program had been, but Matt was important in ways that even I couldn't explain.

"Corinne?" Auggie lifted his head, turning dark eyes on me. I understood what he was asking.

"You know they'll realize I'm still alive if I do that," I began.

"I think we can deal with that," Matt sighed.

"No," I said. "You'll be signing death warrants if you do that." He was thinking of placing agents in likely spots, all of them looking like me. They'd be easy targets.

"You think we can't handle weapons and give them backup?" Matt asked, his forehead creasing with worry. He knew, just as I did, that this would place valuable lives in danger.

"It'll make them think we have clones of you," Auggie breathed. "That's genius."

"Feel free to clone me," Rafe said. "Seemingly, anyway."

"That might work; they know you're together-or were," Matt agreed.

"I can't believe you're serious about this," I said. "They'll come out, guns blazing."