Petrov nodded. “Eventually.”
“Has your daughter seen the light?”
She scanned the horizon, remaining pensive for a moment before responding. “She’ll come around eventually. Patience, remember?”
CHAPTER 24
Washington, D.C.
CONRAD MICHAELS WELCOMED several members of the national security council into his temporary office and gestured for them to sit at a table in the corner. He shoved a newspaper under his seat. The headline was embarrassing enough, and he didn’t want to dwell on the past. The meeting he’d called was all about the future.
“I want to know about the situation with Verge,” Michaels said. “Where are we at with that?”
General Isaac Kauffman, the man Michaels had appointed to lead the council, pulled several documents out of his attaché and spread them out on the table. “The details are still trickling in, but it doesn’t look like it’s as bad as some members of the press previously reported.”
Michaels clasped his hands together and shifted nervously in his seat. “I’d heard oil production might be down for weeks and that millions of barrels of oil would be lost.”
“Those are lies, probably issued by OPEC officials to give them a legitimate sounding excuse to boost the price of their product,” Kauffman said. “From what I understand, Verge should be back up to full production by the end of today.”
“It only took them two days to repair a pipeline blast?”
“Al Hasib didn’t sink their teeth in the way they’d hoped.”
“How come?”
Kauffman slid a folder across the table to Michaels and remained quiet. Michaels sifted through the pages and slammed his fist down on the table.
“I swear I will take down Brady Hawk myself if I have to,” Michaels said.
“Based on your current situation, Mr. President, I’d advise against making that comment again . . . to anyone.”
“He’s always mucking up my plans and making my life more difficult.”
“Perhaps if you hadn’t said what you said . . .”
Michaels glared at Kauffman. “Did I hire you to give me your commentary on everything happening within this office? I’ll answer that for you since you seem a bit confused right now. The answer is no. I hired you to keep me apprised of national security matters and nothing else.”
Kauffman nodded sharply. “Understood, sir. I’m just trying to help you see that this situation could’ve been avoided.”
“Again, that’s not . . . your . . . job.”
“In the meantime, Young seems to be covertly using them.”
“That’s illegal. How is he getting away with that?”
Kauffman shrugged. “Not sure, but he’s making an end around somewhere.”
“I never thought that bumbling dolt had it in him to do anything worthwhile. It’s why I asked him to be my running mate in the first place.”
“So, he’s your insurance policy?”
“On so many different levels. It’s why the senate hearings aren’t going to result in any charges against me. No impeachment hearings. No censures. Everyone on Capitol Hill knows we’d be screwed if he permanently sat in the Oval Office. He’s a joke.”
“At the moment, what he’s doing is nothing to laugh at. In fact, while his methods may be suspect—”
“Illegal,” Michaels interjected.
“All right, illegal it is, but somehow he’s still maneuvering the pieces around the board to hold Al Hasib at bay and thwart one of their biggest attacks in weeks.”
“And he’s going to pay for his actions. I’ll see to that.”
Kauffman cleared his throat and pulled back the file he’d given Michaels. “You might want to consider a different approach once you retake command as it relates to national security. Brady Hawk certainly seems to be on your side. I wouldn’t view him as an adversary if I were you.”
“You’re overstepping again, General.” Michaels pointed toward the door. “You can show yourself out.”
CHAPTER 25
Paris, France
SAMUELS ADJUSTED HIS BOW TIE and then checked his blazer for any remaining strands of lint. He picked off a couple before determining he was clean. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on the cart and pushed it down the hall.
“Just stay calm,” Hawk said. “Alex and I will be here if you need us. You know what to do.”
The operation was simple by any standard, but the importance of what Samuels was doing weighed heavily upon him. To remove the entire leadership of The Chamber in one fell swoop would be a big step in eliminating the clandestine group. While Blunt and the Firestorm team had yet to ascertain the full extent of The Chamber’s end game, they knew it was nefarious and detrimental to the U.S. and her allies.
Just breathe, Samuels. You can do this.
The last few weeks had been a blur. Blunt had plucked Samuels out of a job he enjoyed, enticing him by playing to his patriotism. The intrigue of meeting his sister also helped. But Samuels had yet to get to know Alex like he wanted. They might have been related, but it was apparent they came from two different worlds. He considered that maybe that’s what it was like for most siblings. It was just an entirely new experience for him. Samuels realized there wasn’t much opportunity for conflict in his house as an only child.
He knocked on the door and was met by a pudgy Russian man.
“I have a cart for Ms. Katarina Petrov,” Samuels said, reading a card though he didn’t need one.
“What is it?”
“A bottle of Krug, Vintage 2002.”
The Russian man’s eyes widened. “That is her favorite. Who is this from?”
“It’s from a gentleman who just checked in downstairs. Would you like me to take it into the room?”
The man shook his head. “I’ll take it from here. Thank you.” He handed Samuels a note for ten Euros and pulled the cart farther into the room.
“Have a good day, sir,” Samuels said before turning and walking away.
He waited until he heard the door click behind him before glancing over his shoulder. Samuels didn’t say a word until he was on the elevator.
“Success,” he said over his comlink. “Now we wait.”
“Good work, Bro,” Alex
