Page 37 of Reclaiming Izabel

“How do you explain the cell phone records?”

“That proves nothing.”

“Doesn’t it?” I growled. “Tell me, Harrelson, what did Hamza offer you?”

“I’m telling you, Maddox! Your intel is wrong. What would I gain? I’ve washed out of rehab twice. Losing Fire Team, my family…does any of this make sense?”

“Guilt, Harrelson. Guilt that your treachery killed your wife and kids.”

“And yet, I would have died if you didn’t shield me.”

That was what bugged me about the entire thing. Marcus would have died, too.

“Get me out of these restraints.” Spittle flew and Marcus’s face mottled with fury as he shook in his chair again.

“The VP’s chief of staff. How well do you know her?” Viktor asked as he walked out from the shadows.

“Allison?”

“Allison Tierney,” Viktor said silkily. “Rumor has it Vice President Colbert is being groomed to run for president.”

“What does Ally have to do with anything?”

“She had operational knowledge of the mission.”

“She was present at the briefings, yes.”

“Do you know that some of Colbert’s biggest supporters are the oil companies operating in Africa?”

“Same for every other fucking politician.” Marcus squinted his eyes. “I know who you are, Baran. What you do. I heard rumors of a shadow force operating unplugged from the DoD and CIA. That’s you guys. Am I right?”

I stepped back, giving Viktor the floor. Apparently, there was a political angle none of the team was aware of.

“You mentioned Youssef Hamza,” Harrelson stated as the name of the terrorist registered. “Wasn’t he…?” He turned to me. “Sudan?”

“Yes.”

“This is about Sudan,” Marcus swallowed hard.

“He became the puppet master behind every modern terrorist network.”

Harrelson bowed his head, giving it a shake before he glanced back at me. “I gave the order that killed his family.” His lids slid shut and tears escaped the corners of his eyes. “Dianne, Adam, and Joe—they’re really dead because of me.” His shoulders shook as he was wracked with sobs.

Viktor and I exchanged glances.

What’s next?

Viktor gave Harrelson a few minutes to collect himself before he spread the photos on the table.

“These are pictures of Tierney and the CEO of Exetron Oil,” Viktor said. “Terrorist groups in Africa have been giving the company problems.”

Ignoring the photos on the table, Marcus glared at me. “Tell me Hamza is dead.”

I nodded, and it was only then that Marcus gave his attention to the photographs. “Ally mentioned their problems with the terrorists in passing.” He sniffed as a shudder rippled through him. The revelation had shocked his system and his lips were bloodless.

I leaned in closer as I picked up how my former commander used Tierney’s name with familiarity.

Apparently, so did Viktor. “What exactly is your relationship to Tierney?”

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