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."He's reported in twice since the separation.We're giving him a window to return, and once he does, his memories will be wiped.""Okay," he said, voice even.Wetting his lips briefly, Emilio looked out the windowjust so he could see something other than her face."Are we anticipating problemsfrom their little cohort? Ice bitch and the general, and what not?""I always anticipate problems from Vivienne at the least," Seong said with cleardistaste."But it's of no consequence.Even if they interfere, they'll be dealt withaccordingly.""Aiight." Emilio stood up, flexing his hands and rol ing his shoulders as if he wasworking out the kinks."Let me know if you need me to handle some shit.I'm gonnago score some happy pills from the Med Wing.My suit took a lot of hits."She nodded and looked back down at her tablets.His boots thundered down the stairs as he took them three at a time.He sentCarhart a text after he got into the Gran Torino, and then gunned the engine.Hesped out of the parking lot, almost running over a guard, and showed just as muchdiscretion on the way back to Bedford.It was a little under an hour before Carhart arrived, and al Emilio had accomplishedin that time was pacing the living room and throwing back four shots of Cuervo.He'donly half-stripped out of his suit, and the upper part hung down from his waist,exposing the bruises that were spread liberally over his torso."I have a weird feeling about this," Emilio said as soon as Carhart entered theapartment.The general froze, taking a moment before he pushed the door shut behind him."Bex just reported in that Sin got away--""He did get away," Emilio interrupted.He took a long drag from his cigarette, andexhaled loudly."But I can't shake the feeling that something ain't right.She's toocalm.""Too calm? What do you mean?""I mean-- fuck, it's just a feeling, Zachary.She's too okay with the coincidence ofBoyd taking off, and us being separate from Sin.I expected her to be shitting kittens,not looking at me more relaxed than a fucking pothead listening to Kenny G." Emilioclenched his jaw, and sat on the arm of the couch.His body was coiled tight withtension, his shoulders hunched forward slightly as he stared into space."Something's weird.""Just calm down," Carhart said, but his hands bal ed into fists as the words left hismouth."No one has retrieved Boyd, and he's been gone for hours.If they knew theplan, Boyd would be dead by now, and Gerant is keeping me updated on al guardactivity on the Fourth.""They tried to get him before he left.I don't know if it was because they knew theplan or if it's because Sin wasn't around, but." Emilio stubbed his cigarette out onhis tongue, and flicked the butt carelessly onto his floor."She sent a hit squad forhim.Shapiro warned him to get the fuck out.""What did they do to Shapiro?""Dude is probably in the incinerator already.""Goddamn everything." Carhart finally crossed the room and dropped down onto thecouch.He pressed his elbows against his knees, and after a moment pressed hisface into his hands."I don't know if I can handle waiting it out.I wish I could just becertain that they're okay."Emilio exhaled slowly, and looked down at the general.The broad shoulders werehunched forward, his head tipped down and fingers fisted in short, blond hair.After amoment, Emilio raised his own hand, and untangled the strands from Carhart'sfingers, pushing them away.Carhart looked up at him then, his face pale and drawnwith stress."Do you think they'll be okay?"Emilio let his hand rest at the back of Carhart's neck.He let them rest there for amoment, before moving them in a gentle, circular motion."They have to be."Boyd paced, his eyes darting quickly across the dock.Only the crews of the Asasaraand other docked boats were visible.Now and then there looked to be sometravelers trickling in, looking down at tickets in their hands and up with strained facestoward the ships lined up in the water.The ship swayed gently beneath Boyd's feet.His jaw tightened and he walked faster.A thump beside him caused him to jerk his head to the side, his hand snapping tohis holster.Tayla's dark eyebrows rose sardonically."Chil out, cowboy." She dropped a secondheavy crate on top of the first, and half sat on the edge.Her gaze strayed out towardthe dock."Loverboy not here yet?""He'll be here." Boyd pulled his hand away from his gun with an effort.Tensionthrummed through his body, making his senses heightened for threats.Even now,he kept expecting an Agency squad to pop out between the buildings, and shoot himwhere he stood.Tayla shrugged and drew a lock of black hair tinged with blue behind her ear.Herhair had grown considerably since they'd last seen each other years ago, in thebasement of the pharmacy in Monterrey, but her clothing style hadn't changed muchat al.Her black leather jacket with too many zippers and a skul and crossbonespatch on the back creaked faintly when she crossed her arms.With the longsleeves, he couldn't see the winding snake tattoo on her upper arm that went withthe name she and Liani were known by: the Snakes.But it seemed that theirbusiness of illegal transport had only grown in the interim.She opened her mouth but her attention shifted to a man across the ship."Wally!"she yelled at him.She pointed at the crates beneath her when he looked over."We've more here."The man nodded."That the last of it?""Nah," Tayla cal ed out easily.She looked down in apparent distraction and pattedher pocket for something."Li's bringin' the rest."Wal y rol ed his eyes and flicked his thumb across the screen of the tablet in hishand."Chrissakes, let us handle the loading for once."Tayla snorted and shoved herself off the crates."Where's the fun in that?" Wal ysnorted in return but didn't answer, and Tayla grinned.She turned back to Boyd and,upon seeing his dark expression aimed once again out toward the docks, slammedhim hard on the upper back."You'd better hope he shows soon, mate, 'cause we ain't waiting if he's late." Hercheerful tone was incongruous with the meaning of the words, and the way it struckice deep in Boyd's chest."He'll be here," he said firmly.His arms tightened across his chest."And if he isn't?""I'm not leaving him," Boyd said flatly.He shifted his weight, feeling more worried astime went."I'll get off this ship and wait for him if I have to.""Right, wel.We're leaving in two.Cheers." She spoke lightly and, with a grin and aruffle of his hair, she strode off.She was already yel ing something at Wal y again,but Boyd stopping paying attention to her as soon as she left.He stepped up to the edge of the ship, bracing a hand against the wall to steadyhimself against the quiet rol of the sea, and leaned over to look both ways.Hesearched increasingly desperately for Sin's familiar figure, but he was nowhere to beseen." Fuck," Boyd swore and strode back and forth.Back and forth
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