Raketa answered without speaking. The voice was modulated, like it had been before.

“You have killed your mother, your sisters, your boyfriend, and yourself. Stupid, stupid girl. I can no longer protect you.”

Gunner’s look of shock mirrored her own when the call disconnected.

“Protect me? It has to be Petrov.”

“What makes you so certain?” Gunner asked.

“The last time I saw him, he said something similar. ‘You’re here for your own protection.’”

Gunner nodded, but he didn’t look convinced.

“Talk to me,” she said, using the words he said to her so often.

“Why would he say you’ve killed your mother, et cetera? Wouldn’t that warn you away?”

“He also called me ‘girl.’”

“Is that significant?”

“I was in his office, telling him about Topor walking into the apartment where they kept me, whenever he felt like it. When I hesitated, he called me ‘girl.’”

Gunner still didn’t look convinced, and the more she told him, the less she believed it herself.

“What should we do?”

“I’ll talk to Doc.”

“Got a minute?” Gunner asked Doc, who was sitting on one of the sofas seemingly staring at nothing. No one else was around. Gunner wondered where they’d all gone, but now wasn’t the time to ask.

Doc nodded and motioned for Gunner to sit down.

“I know I fucked everything up today, but there’s still an op that needs to be carried out. At least I hope there is.”

“Nothing has changed Gunner.”

“How’s Pimm?”

“You’re not quite as deadly as you seem to think. He needed a handful of stitches, but you didn’t do any permanent damage.”

“Maybe not to his body…” he mumbled.

“There isn’t a man on our team who hasn’t been where you were this afternoon. The difference is to what degree. You and Pimm will figure this out. Maybe not right away, but eventually.”

“What about Shiv?”

“He’s pissed, but he’s also operating under the same stresses you are.”

“Kuznetsov? How come I’m the only one who knew nothing about her?”

“You aren’t, and it was by design. The bounty on her head is twice that of Raketa’s.”

“She wouldn’t give her up.”

Doc nodded, as though the news wasn’t a surprise.

“Do you believe Petrov is in Manzanita?” Gunner asked.

“Could be a trap.”

“She got another call.”

Gunner told him, word for word, what the caller said. Before he finished his sentence, he had a theory.

“How much do you know about Evasov.”

“Onyx and Monk are putting together a file as we speak.”

“What about Razor?”

“What about me?” he asked, coming downstairs with Ava behind him.

Gunner stood and walked over to her. “Long time, no see,” he said. He’d always have a soft spot in his heart for Razor’s wife, and by the look on her face, she felt the same way.

“I heard you had a rough day.”

“Pimm did. I didn’t.”

Ava led him back over to the sofa and sat down next to him. “I know you better than that, Gunner.”

“To be honest, I’ve never felt more ashamed.” The words were meant for Ava’s ears only, but he’d make the same confession to Doc and Razor.

“What do you want to eat, Avarie?” Razor asked from the doorway to the kitchen.

“Pancakes. Pizza. Pasta.” She rubbed her belly. “This little nugget likes carbs.”

“I’m happy for you,” he told her.

“I know you are. I’ve missed you.”

“What do you think your mom and Aine would like?” Razor hollered.

“They’re fine with whatever I want.” Ava moved closer to Gunner. “How’s Raketa?” she whispered.

“Stressed. Scared.”

Ava nodded. “I’d really like to meet her.”

Gunner hadn’t realized until right now how much the two women looked alike. Raketa was more petite than Ava, who took after her mother, but there were enough similarities that he might guess they were related if he didn’t know for sure.

“She wants to keep you safe.”

“But we’re both here, and so is Aine.”

“It isn’t my decision, sweetheart.”

“I know. I just—”

“Hi.”

Gunner looked up and saw Raketa in the doorway.

“Hi,” said Ava, standing.

Gunner could see Razor in the kitchen, behind Raketa, watching like he was.

Raketa came farther into the room; Ava met her halfway.

“I feel like I should thank you,” said Ava.

“What for?”

Ava smiled. “From what I’ve heard, you saved my life. Aine’s too.”

“I don’t really think so…” Raketa’s eyes met Gunner’s. She was way out of her element. That was evident.

“I know Aine would really like to meet you too.”

“I…I…um…that would be nice.”

“I’ll go get her. I’ll spare you Peggy, though. I think she’s napping anyway.”

“You don’t have to do this,” Gunner said when he knew Ava was out of earshot.

“I do now,” she snapped. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come in here. I thought I could but…”

“Come on. We’ll go for a walk.”

Gunner took her hand and led her outside.

“Talk to me, Rocket Girl.”

She smiled.

“I’m not her sister.”

“No. You’re not. You share DNA.”

“That’s the way I’ve always thought of it, at least in the last few months. I’m not anybody’s sister. Whatever she’s looking for…I don’t know how to give her.”

“Two things. First, I don’t know that Ava is looking for you to give her anything. Second, you said that you don’t know how to give it to her. Does that mean you want to learn?”

Raketa didn’t answer right away. She walked through the garden, stopping every so often to smell the flowers.

“Things grow year-round in California. Nothing grows in Moscow.”

Gunner nodded, waiting to see where she was going with this.

“She cannot understand the life I’ve led.”

“There is no reason for you to share that with her.”

“But she will ask.”

Gunner shook his head. “She’s married to Razor. Not asking is part of her everyday life.”

“And if she does?”

Gunner walked closer and put his arms around her waist. “Tell her it’s something you don’t want to talk about.”

Raketa rolled her eyes.

“If that is your only fear, it’s unwarranted.”

She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“You have no reason to be concerned.”

“What about the sister?”

“She’s no different. In fact, Aine is the quieter of the two.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“You aren’t the only one who’s had a difficult life, Rocket Girl. Petrov is their father too.”

“They grew up with him. Did he beat them?”

She already knew the answer to that question. “They rarely saw him, or their mother. Like you, they were alone. Shipped off to boarding school.” Gunner looked over at the house. “You know all this, Raketa. If you aren’t interested in learning more or spending time with them, you don’t have to justify it to me.”

“I don’t.”

“Not a problem. I mean that.”

Gunner heard the front door open and was relieved to see Doc walking toward them rather than the twins.

“It’s set. You, Shiv, and McTiernan will meet with UR the day after tomorrow.”

“Where?”

“Los Angeles.”

Raketa put her arm through Gunner’s.

“You’ll be safer here.”

She shook her head.

“Do they know what we’re after?”

“Affirmative. And they know what we’re offering.”

“Give us a minute?” Gunner asked him.

“Take all the time you need. I believe Razor is making arrangements to take Ava, her sister, and her mother to the house in Cambria.”

“Roger that.” It wasn’t fair that everyone had descended on Doc and Merrigan, particularly with the baby. There were two houses less than three hours from Montecito where most everyone could stay, depending on which of the partners were needed elsewhere. Gunner wasn’t aware of any other ops going on, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any.

“Raketa and I can stay up there too,” he told Doc.

“Who do you want with you?”

“What are my choices?”

Doc laughed. “Razor is off the table, and so is Pimm. Otherwise, you have your pick.”

“Mantis and Alegria.”

Doc frowned.

“What?”

“Not a good idea.”

“Okay, so much for having my pick. Onyx and Alegria.”

“Good. I’ll set it up. Monk and Dutch will go with Razor. Striker and Mantis will set up in the Harmony house, and Mercer and Quinn can go home. That everybody?”

“McTiernan.”

“Right. He’ll go with Striker and Mantis.”

“That just leaves Shiv.”

“He’ll stay here with us.”

Gunner raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothin’.”

“He can buy a damn pair of earplugs.” Doc turned to Raketa. “Sorry, you two wanted to talk.”

“Where are we going?” she asked when Doc walked away.

“We have a place in Cambria. Not too far from here. We’ll head there tonight.”

“And so will Razor?”

“Two houses, sweetheart, and we’ll take separate cars.”

She nodded.

“It’ll be okay. In forty-eight hours, the deal will be made with United Russia and Azarpassillo, securing your freedom. Before Petrov can get wind of it, we’ll go after him. It’s almost over.”

“I hope you’re right.”

So did he, because right now, even he had a hard time believing what he’d just said.