Page 70 of Code Name: Typhon

“I’ve picked up chatter about both building up their trafficking efforts. Human trafficking, that is. Guns and drugs appear to be old news these days.”

This wasn’t news to me. There was a big difference between increasing their efforts and becoming major players. They’d barely dipped their toe in the water. What I wanted to know more was how Nemesis knew I had anything to do with either organization.

“What do you want from me?” I snapped, barely containing my temper.

“My apologies. I thought you, meaning Unit 23, may have heard something.”

“We haven’t. This meeting is over.” I stormed out of the room, then out of the command center.

“Typhon?” I heard Hornet shout when I was halfway to my car.

“What?”

“Kima asked me to let you know she went into town with some of the other women.”

I spun around on him and, when he got close enough, grabbed him by the collar. “Kima asked you to let me know?”

“Typhon, what the fuck?”

I let him go and pushed him hard enough he almost fell to the ground. “Is that how you speak to your CO?” I shouted.

He stood his ground as if he was daring me to come after him.

“Stay away from Delfino. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” he spat.

If I had better control of my temper, I would’ve lit into him. However, as angry as I was, I knew it was best to walk away.

I got in the car and checked the time. I hadn’t been away from Eliza two hours, and I felt myself slipping back into the person I used to see in the mirror every day. I didn’t like it.

Before getting on the road, I pulled out my mobile and rang Z. “We need to talk. Where are you?”

“In my office.”

“I’m on my way.”

21

ELIZA

“There she is,” said Mike, coming in through the studio door a few minutes after I’d unlocked it. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”

“Come in,” I said when I noticed he still stood just inside. “I would never.” I beamed at him, then went wide-eyed. “Wait. You did receive the money, did you not?”

He chuckled. “Yes, lass, I received it.”

“I was away for a few days with, um, my friend.”

Mike walked over to where I was fussing with one of the kilns. “Quit trying to pull one over on me. I know love when I see it. Had fifty-five years of it myself.”

I stopped what I was doing and turned to him. “Your wife…”

“Past away two years ago in December.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Mike patted the side of the kiln. “If I had it to do over again, I’d spend less time with these and more time with her.”