Hardy and Natasha explained the dead agent on the floor was most likely working for General Popovich, and had been sent to kill the Premier and possibly the President. Once they had finished, the Premier grabbed Hardy’s right hand. “Once again, I am in your debt.” He looked at Natasha. “Thank you. My wife and I owe our lives to both of you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Hardy gestured toward the body. “I’m sorry this man managed to gain access to your bedroom. I’m—”
The Premier held up a hand and shook his head. “It’s not your fault. You have no need to apologize. I will take that matter up with my head of security. It was his responsibility to make sure all members of my security detail were loyal to their country and not to Popovich.” He glanced at Natasha before staring at the floor, where she had been writhing in pain, only minutes ago. “No,” he got Hardy’s attention, “your actions were honorable. I have seen your allegiance to your country, Mr. Hardy,” the Premier trained his eyes on Natasha, “and I have witnessed your fierce loyalty to your friends as well.” He put a hand on Hardy’s shoulder. “I know the both of you have sacrificed a great deal to bring our two countries together.”
Hardy sensed bad news. His chest muscles tightened.
“Because of that, it pains me to have to tell you that your efforts have been in vain.”
Hardy shot a quick look at Natasha. “Sir?”
“I don’t understand.” The President took a few steps toward the men. “What are you saying, Yuri?”
The Russian leader gave his counterpart his full attention. “I’m sorry, James, but I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.” He nodded at the dead agent. “I’m afraid I cannot trust my own people to protect my wife and me. I have a responsibility to my country, but I also have a wife to care for.” He stared at his wife. “And, right now, she is my main concern.”
Desperate to make the summit happen, the President pointed a finger at the floor. “I can have two dozen men here within the hour, dedicated to keeping you and your wife safe.”
The Premier turned. “Thank you for the offer, James, but it is not the same. I need to be able to trust the men, who are caring for us. I’m sure your men are quite good at their job; however, I do not know them.” He pointed with his chin. “I’m sure that you, above all people, can understand that.”
The President nodded. He would never be able to go to another country and feel safe without his own people looking after him and his family. “I do, Yuri.”
Hardy remembered Natasha’s words from their earlier conversation. ‘He has a great deal of respect for you…I wouldn’t take that lightly,’ and he took a chance. “Sir, if I may…”
The Premier clasped his hands behind his back and faced the man who had saved his life. “Go ahead, Mr. Hardy.”
“If I’m hearing you correctly, your reluctance to continue with this summit is out of concern for your family’s welfare, because you can’t trust your own men and you don’t know the President’s agents.”
The Premier gave a slight nod of his head.
“Sir, I can have a team here in a few hours that would be at your side day and night for the duration of the summit. I know these people and they would risk their lives to keep you and your wife safe.”
AR-1 was a team that had been assembled to provide support to Hardy when he was on missions. In addition to their skills in marksmanship, covert assaults and search and rescue, the members had unique specialties. Tom Henderson was the team leader and his specialty was long-range sniping. Eva Draper was the team’s medical specialist and Tyler Pendleton was an expert in explosives. Hardy had worked with AR-1 on many occasions, since coming to work for the President. They were highly skilled and well-trained operators who had come to his aid several times. As a result, he and the members of AR-1 had become close friends, who would do anything for him.
Hardy jerked his head toward Natasha. “That would give us the chance to find Popovich and bring him in.” Not getting an immediate rejection, Hardy sweetened the deal. “This would also be a perfect opportunity to see how agents from our respective countries work together, using the resources of both nations to track down and capture an enemy of the state.”
Studying the floor, the Premier was silent. He walked to Hardy and stood face-to-face with him. “How well do you know this team of yours?”
“I have worked with them on numerous occasions and they have never let me down. Their dedication to the mission is second to none, sir. They are professionals in every regard.” He glanced at the President, who nodded his agreement.
The Premier smiled when he realized the young man did not truly understand what was being asked of him. “Mr. Hardy, I do not need to know their qualifications. I only need to know if you trust them, personally.”
Hardy shot back, “With my life, sir.”
The Premier pursed his lips and nodded. “That’s good enough for me, son. My wife and I are alive because of you. I will take your word that these people will do what you say they will do.” He addressed the President. “James, I will stay for the summit. I will also agree to this joint mission to find the traitor, Popovich.” He pivoted his head toward Natasha. “That is if you are feeling well enough to conduct a mission, Agent Volkov.”
“I am, sir.” New bolts of pain shot to her brain when she nodded, but she suppressed the discomfort.
The corner of the Premier’s mouth curled upward. He knew she was hurting. He also knew she was not going to let the pain dissuade her from her patriotic duty. The notion to send another agent with Hardy popped into his mind, but he quickly disregarded the idea. Hardy and Natasha had built a strong bond. Another agent would only complicate the mission. He let Natasha have the final say, and nodded his head before turning toward the President and raising his eyebrows. It was now the American leader’s decision.
“It’s settled then. Agents Hardy and Volkov, you have a ‘go.’”
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
The President gestured toward the door. “I will show you and your wife to my room. You can sleep there, tonight.” He acknowledged Natasha. “Agent Volkov…” He stopped short. “Natasha,” she smiled at his verbal slip, “would you be willing to share a room with my daughter, until we can make better accommodations for you?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all, sir. She’s a terrific kid.”
“If you and your wife,” said the President, “will follow me, I will—”
The Premier raised his index finger. “James, I would like a moment alone with my agent, please.”
The President escorted the man’s wife and Hardy out of the room, closing the door behind him.
The Premier stared at the floor for several moments, occasionally glancing at the dead man to his left. When he focused on Natasha, his eyes bore a hole through her skull.
Seeing the fire in his eyes, she was unsure what he was going to say, and was growing more uneasy, while the seconds passed. This is worse than being crushed by Agent Fuller.
The Premier folded his hands behind his back. His eyes narrowed and his eyebrows lurched downward. “Agent Volkov, this has gone far enough. Tonight, my wife’s life was put in jeopardy. Popovich was able to smuggle one of his men onto my security detail. That man nearly killed her.” The gravity of his words hit him. I almost lost my wife. Blinking his eyes several times, he refocused his thoughts. “When you land in Moscow, get your team together. I want all of you working on this. This situation must be resolved. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” said Natasha.
His head down, he glimpsed her out of the corner of his eye. “Agent Volkov, I’m authorizing the Nemesis Protocol. You’ll have the full resources of the government at your disposal. I’ll contact the director of the FSB and you’ll coordinate your requests through him.”
Natasha was silent, his words resounding in her mind. This was the first time the Nemesis Protocol had been activated, having been created only a few months ago. At this moment, she was the most powerful government agent in her country—nothing would be denied her or her team. As realization of the power she held washed over her, she felt an equally strong responsibility to use that power for the good of her nation. “Just so I understand you, sir, what are the operational parameters?”
“All options are in play. I will stand behind whatever decisions you make. You have absolute authority.” He approached and stood in front of her. “I have complete faith in you, Agent Volkov. You’ve proven your devotion to your country. When law enforcement was hunting you for false crimes, your allegiance never wavered. I’m confident you will make good decisions.” He gestured toward the door. “In case I don’t see you before you leave for Moscow, good luck, Natasha. Make Mother Russia proud.”
“Thank you, sir. I will.” She left the inner bedchamber and crossed the main part of the bedroom. Striding down the hallway, her mind was already making plans. She and her team had been training hard for this moment. Months of hard work and preparation were going to be put to the test. Her team would be going operational. She thought about the implications of the Nemesis Protocol and working with an agent from another country. Hardy had been difficult to work with when she first met him. She chuckled. I guess I wasn’t the easiest either. A smile crossed her lips. I wonder how he’ll get along with my team.