“And give up that harem of women of yours? I don’t think your constitution could take it,” Zack shot back. His eyes softened. “You okay? You have no idea how glad I am to see you. This has been a real clusterfuck.”

Nick adored his older brother and had worshipped him most of his life in the way that younger brothers had done since time immemorial. “Your babysitter told me what you’ve been up to all night, mounting your own suburban counterinsurgency. I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive, even for you. I love you, man.”

Zack controlled the well of emotion that threatened to overtake him as he shifted the Explorer once more into drive. He reached out and grabbed his brother’s left shoulder and said, “I love you too.” He let the words hang for the only second he could spare, and then he asked, “How did you link up with Sam? I sent her out of here to get help.”

The Explorer sped away from the pavilion, navigating a clear path around the survivors and wreckage. The taillights of Griffin’s vehicle were still visible. Bastard hasn’t left the gate yet. There’s still time.

“She made it out to the main road, like you told her, but they had a guy waiting, and I had to neutralize him,” Nick said apologetically. “Sorry. I had no choice.”

“How? That poor girl—who’s tough as nails, by the way—had to kill one of them. With a shotgun, no less.”

“Knife, although I made it as quick as I could,” Nick said.

Zack sighed. “Okay. Changing subjects. Remember that lunatic I told you about, my old team chief at the agency, the one who looked like he belonged as an angry extra in Point Break?”

Nick paused. “You mean the one who you said you didn’t think you could beat if it ever came down to it? That one?”

“Yup. To quote Doc Holliday, he’s my Huckleberry,” Zack said.

“Do me a favor, Zack. Never say that again. It just doesn’t sound right, at all.”

The SUV had torn a path straight for Hidden Refuge Drive, and both men had a perfect view of the fleeing SUV and the gate that slowly closed behind it. The Explorer bounced from the curb onto Founder’s Circle and accelerated.

“Fine, but let me tell you one thing. No matter what happens tonight, that monster is going to die. You hear me? He is a malignancy on society that needs to be eradicated. He’s responsible for the death of an innocent man and the death of the retired deputy director of the Clandestine Service. That’s who he shot back at the hub,” Zack said.

“Oh, man. Your old boss?” Nick asked.