Page 34 of George’s Big Day

“I—”

“Are you aware that Captain George Hunt is an Army Ranger and is deployed on covert missions across the globe to ensure the safety of our nation and allies?”

“Of course I⁠—”

“Then you goddamn act like it,” Hawthorne said, his voice low and cold. “We do not sacrifice the happiness, safety, or well-being of the people who protect us, Special Agent Horace Gleason. They are not disposable.”

“It was the perfect opportunity to catch⁠—”

“Because you made it known that Mr. Sutter would be here to draw out those skinhead psychopaths. You set Mr. Sutter up as bait, could have cared less that you put civilians in danger, and finally, gave no thought to the pain you would cause Captain Hunt, who is supposed to be your friend.”

“I—”

“I find this all reprehensible.”

“And you killing the men I was going to take into custody, what about their lives?”

“They were on their way here to kill whoever crossed their path—and again, there are wives here, husbands, and children. I won’t shed a tear for them.”

“And you assume that what you learned from them is everything they knew? You’re so certain?”

Hawthorne took a breath. “After my people detained them, I sent Lee Tae San to talk to them. I can assure you that whatever they knew, we now know.”

“Lee works for you?”

He nodded.

“He’s been out of the contract game so long; we thought he was killed.”

“No. He works for me, and has since I became the Vault.”

Horace nodded.

“I need you to vacate this B and B at once.”

“What about that guy,” he asked, pointing to the sicario. “Who did he come here to kill?”

“He is not your problem,” Hawthorne said, turning his head slowly to Dante. “He’s someone else’s. Someone who should know better.”

Dante squinted at him. “You know about him?”

“Of course I know about him,” Hawthorne snapped. “And the fact that you don’t concerns me greatly.”

“I second that,” Colter chimed in. “What the hell?”

Dante threw up his hands as if done, at the same time the door opened and Jing Khoo leaned in.

Last Christmas, when she helped save me and my family, she became one of my favorite people. She worked for Colter, and as far as I could tell, was best friends with Isaak Skriabin, currently the most terrifying contract killer in the world. In retrospect, I should have rethought my guest list.

“Boss, we have trouble,” she told Colter.

“More trouble?”

“Yeah.” She sounded annoyed. “There were more cartel guys on their way to give your friend there, we suspect, some additional backup, and—” But she stopped talking, turned her head, and then leaned back in. “Hold that thought.” She then closed the door.

“What’s going on?” Hawthorne asked.

Colter shook his head. “Wait a minute. She’ll tell us.”