Generation 18 (Spook Squad 2)

“Are you intending to ask Sam to join the Federation?”

“No. We can’t afford to, not until we know more about her.”

“Keeping her as a partner would be a surefire way of discovering more about her. Certainly better than trying to get rid of her.”

“I’m not trying to get rid of her,” Gabriel said, a note of frustration in his voice. “I never said I wanted her out of my life. I just don’t want her as a partner.”

“But you said it once yourself—Samantha’s work is her life. Get rid of her as a partner, and you risk getting rid of her completely.”

And if that happened, it would be a shame, because even from the beginning it had been obvious that they had the potential to be a whole lot more than friends. But he would not go there with a partner, not again. He’d made that mistake with Andrea, and it had damn near torn his world apart.

The study door opened, and he turned around. Lyssa, looking pale and drawn, peeked in.

“Gabriel,” she said warmly. “How nice to see you.”

He smiled. Ever the lady, even at three in the morning. Not that he saw her much in the early hours of the morning—if he had, he might have noticed the changes in her behavior a whole lot sooner. Might have suspected something odd was going on. “Liar. Hope we didn’t wake you.”

Her smile was as pale as her face. “No, I was puking my guts out and heard your voices. Is everything okay?” She glanced at the two of them anxiously.

“Everything’s fine, Lys.” Gabriel glanced at his brother and saw the worry etched on his face. He knew then that Lyssa was in more trouble than Stephan was letting on. Knew that it wasn’t just their relationship that was having problems. He very much suspected that something was wrong with Lyssa’s pregnancy. And it seemed he wasn’t the only one refusing to confide in his brother—but that was his fault. If Gabriel wanted to change the relationship with his brother, then he would have to be the one to bend first. Only he wasn’t sure that was even possible after so many years of keeping everyone at arm’s length.

“Can I get you anything?” she continued softly.

“Yeah. Go back to bed and get some rest.” Gabriel met his brother’s gaze. “I can contact Karl later this morning, if you like. See what he recommends.”

At the very least, he should have something to stop Lyssa’s vomiting. If she lost any more weight, the child she carried would weigh more than she did.

“I’d appreciate that.” Stephan rose from the sofa and placed his half-finished whiskey on the table. “I’ll see you out.”

“I know the way by now. You take care of Lys.”

Stephan gripped his shoulder, squeezing lightly. “See you tomorrow, then.”

Gabriel nodded and walked away. On the front steps, he stopped and looked up at the stars. He wasn’t ready to go home, nor did he feel like going to the office. The breeze tugged at his hair, throwing dark wisps across his face. Sometimes the answer to a problem could be found only when the mind was free from the clutter of thoughts.

It was a good night to surf the breeze, to relax and just enjoy the freedom of the skies. Changing shape, he let the wind tuck under his wings and rose swiftly into the starlit sky.

—

Sam dreamed again of Joshua. This time, he ran ahead of her, up the moonlit slope—a phantom she could see but not hear. When he reached the crest, he flopped on the grass, staring up at the stars.

She lay beside him, puffing like an express train, but Joshua breathed so softly she could barely even hear it.

“The Southern Cross,” he said, pointing to a kite-shaped formation. “A symbol of freedom.”

“Not our freedom.” Only at night were they free to roam, and only then when the moon was down.

“People died on that symbol. And they will die again.” He hesitated, and she felt his shrug. “Soon.”

She stared at him. His face was remote, cold. She hated that expression. Feared it. “What do you plan?”

“Revenge. Freedom for us both.”

“They will never let us go.”

He smiled, but there was nothing pleasant about that smile. Just as there was nothing pleasant about the fire that sprang to life on his fingers. She knew exactly what that fire could do. “They will have no choice.”

She shivered, then sat up and rubbed her arms. “I don’t want anyone to die, Josh.”