Master No (Masters and Mercenaries, #9)(79)

Lately, the only time he felt real at all was when he was making love to Faith.

He swung back and connected, sending the ball down the fairway. If anyone was watching, all they would see was two buddies and their caddies. The golf course was actually perfect for this meeting. There was a line of sight in every direction, and it would be difficult to hear without being in close.

He stepped back and allowed Theo to move in. “I would prefer actual eyes on the man. I need to be off this island before he gets here. I can pass a computer check and I’ve done a lot to conceal my identity, but if he sees me up close, the likelihood that he’ll recognize me goes up. No doubt about that. Pictures are different than the real thing.”

“We’ll have you out of here before the bastard comes to town. Walt’s been keeping an eye on who’s gone through your cover. He thinks it’s going to hold,” Brody assured.

Hutch thought so, too. No one had gone past the initial reports. They weren’t trying to scratch past the surface on any of the operatives. It was a good thing, but he had more to worry about than McDonald figuring out he was coming.

He had to figure out what to do with Faith. It had been simple at one point. Get the information he needed. Get away and then use it on the f*cker. Get his job back or die trying.

Dying suddenly didn’t seem like an option, and neither did a clean getaway.

He wanted Faith in his life, in his bed.

The Russian took over. “Des and I have done reconnaissance on the buildings in the compound. I’ve sent it all to you. I managed to get my hands on the schematics. There are a couple of buildings on the property that look to be interesting, but I think you’re right. I think the main workshop is where he keeps his office. No one goes in there. It’s locked with some fairly substantial technology.”

Theo took his shot and Brody took the club, placing it back in the bag.

“Hutch got in about twenty minutes ago, and from his text it sounds like he’s settling into our island house,” Brody explained. “Nick and I sleep here at the resort, but Big Tag found us a place on the south side of the island. It’s off the grid with the exception of an Internet connection that Hutch says uses a sat line he’s bringing himself. He’s staying out there.”

At least they had a decent base of operations. “Do I have a way out?”

Nick nodded. “Yes. We’ve got both a boat and a small plane out at the house. According to island records, it’s a beach house owned by a wealthy British family. It actually is, but the family happens to be connected to MI6, and they’re allowing us to use their setup, so it should be safe.”

“And we’ve got new identification for you. Passports. Driver’s licenses. They won’t be able to track you as you leave the island. You’ll be able to get back to the States and handle the information as you see fit,” Brody explained.

It was all lined up. All his ducks neat in a row, and he was worried that none of it mattered if he didn’t come out of this with Faith at his side.

And where did that leave Jamie? A stinking corpse with no vengeance.

I’m a stinking corpse anyway, dumbass. Do you honestly think I want vengeance more than I want you to be happy? Do you even remember me, brother?

He strode down the fairway toward where his ball sat. He could clear the hole in two. It was an easy par three, but he’d powered through to where he only needed a putt to sink the ball.

He and Jamie had enjoyed playing. If Jamie were here, he would have joked about everything. The game, their jobs, their girls.

“I think I should go to the safe house right away.” Theo stepped up beside him. “Erin was pissed that we left her behind with that crazy bitch. I’m actually scared about what she’s planning. She mentioned hanging me by my balls.”

Maybe he still had a brother. A few of them. If he let them in. “I’ll talk to her. It was my call. I need someone watching out for Faith. I’m almost certain her sister was behind the attempt on her life. I want a sample of that vaccine Kronberg shipped to her. Something’s not right.”

“Good luck with that,” Nick said. “There was a fire at the clinic a few days ago. Damon has been keeping an eye on it. He thinks it was arson. You should be getting his report sometime today. I would bet anything that vaccine is gone, and the next time Kronberg sends them a shipment, it will be exactly what they say it is.”

Shit. He was dealing with two fronts here. He strode to where the little white ball sat. If only the world were as simple as golf. He saw the target, lined it up, and sank his putt. In the real world, a lion popped out from behind a bush, ate his ball, and then turned on him. “She can’t be left alone with Hope.”

He sunk the ball. One under par.

Theo stood fifteen feet behind him. The boy needed to work on his game. “We’ll make sure she’s fine. We’ll take some up-close shots of the building tonight and get them to Hutch. At least he can tell us exactly what we’re dealing with. Damn it.”

His shot went wide. He strode over, trying again.

Brody came to stand beside Ten. “There’s something else. Liam O’Donnell sent me some reports and asked me to get them to you. He didn’t want them on your phone or laptop in case Faith saw them without you preparing her.”

His gut took a nosedive. O’Donnell had told him he was working on something. “What?”