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Moscow, Russia
Present Day

 

“If anything happens to them, it’s my fault.”

“How do you figure that?” asked Viktor Zorkin, the septuagenarian former KGB agent staring at his companion. “They’re half a world away.”

CIA Special Agent Dylan Kane couldn’t tear his eyes away from the phone gripped in his hand, the speaker blaring bursts of gunfire and static from a frequency jammer as they both listened to what sounded like a vicious assault taking place back home in Langley. He hated feeling helpless, especially when friends were involved, and today he couldn’t imagine feeling more so.

For one of those who could die this very minute was the love of his life, the other the girlfriend of the best friend he had ever known.

All because he hadn’t thought things through.

“I should have known.”

Zorkin grunted. “We all should have known. There was no way she was getting into the US.”

Kane frowned, stealing a glance at the old man. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, stop.”

Zorkin chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. “Sorry.”

Kane held up a finger. “Those are MP5s. They must have engaged the targets.”

Zorkin leaned closer. “As long as we hear two of those, we’re good.”

Kane closed his eyes, picturing two of the most important women in his life and what he imagined they would do in a situation he couldn’t see, but could only hear.

Then his heart leaped into his throat as the love of his life shouted, “Sherrie, look out!”

And one of the MP5s went silent.

And Kane’s head slumped as he knew his best friend’s girlfriend had just died.