Chapters (96)
- Cover
- Berkley titles by David Ricciardi
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- CHARACTER LIST
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- EIGHTY-FOUR
- EIGHTY-FIVE
- EIGHTY-SIX
- EIGHTY-SEVEN
- Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- What’s next onyour reading list?
“Listen to me, Jake. We get reports of stray weapons of mass destruction two or three times a week. If you had proof that this bioweapon existed, or even if you’d seen it yourself, I’d have a counter-WMD team there in twenty-four hours, but all you’ve got is a wet box and some Darood militiamen talking about black magic.”
“You’re wrong about this, Ted. Put your ego aside and weigh the risks.”
“Ego? I’m not worried about my reputation, Keller. I just don’t want more bodies piling up while you pursue this fantasy, so stand down while I try to unfuck your mess and keep Black Flag from imploding. Take some personal time and think about your future—think long and hard about whether or not you can be a part of this team.”
SIXTY-FIVE
CLAP WAS IN the next room with his arm in a sling. He had lost teammates before and he would probably lose more. It was the nature of the work, but it never got easier, especially when he saw a friend’s final moments pass by just a few feet in front of him and Clap had given the order that got him killed. He could keep doing hits on bad guys and helping good guys, but his downtime mostly consisted of hard drinking and thrill-seeking to keep the adrenaline pumping and the bad memories from returning. Though he still loved his wife, his marriage was on the rocks because he rarely went back to the States anymore. It felt too foreign to him, too detached from his reality.
When he was still in the army, he’d once spent a week with a charitable organization in Montana that helped active-duty special operators get their heads straight. It had been like hitting a reset button on his entire life, allowing him to return to duty but also reconnect with family and friends and once again feel joy. The experience had been cathartic, and he’d donated to the group every year since he’d left the army, but a lot of years had passed since he’d gone through the program at Big Sky Bravery. It might be time to call the team and see if they could take him in for a tune-up.
“I’m sorry about your men,” Jake said. The guilt was visible on his face.
“I’ve never seen anybody talk to Ted Graves that way,” was all Clap could say.
“Probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”
“It couldn’t hurt to get a remote starter for your car.”
Jake looked at him curiously.
“I’ve wired a lot of ignition systems for Ted over the years. It’s one of his favorites.”
The two men locked eyes for several seconds until Clap grinned.
“I’m just breaking balls. We’re good.”