Gunner could feel Raketa’s body trembling next to his, but
doubted she was nervous about facing the full force of the K19 team. If he was being honest, he was jittery from the time they left Pimm’s family’s house until they drove through the gates of Doc’s compound. Even then, he knew he’d feel a lot better once they were inside and got this deal rolling.
He’d studied Striker on their way here, looking for signs of self-doubt, but the bastard was as cocky and annoying as ever. The CIA was probably glad to see him go when he resigned to join K19.
“Come in,” said Merrigan, holding baby Laird in her arms. Gunner hoped he didn’t start wailing during the meeting, there was something about babies crying that worked his last nerve worse than Striker did.
Raketa fawned over the baby while Gunner surveyed the room. Everyone was here.
Mantis and Pimm had flown them in. Mantis took a seat on the other side of the room rather than the empty one next to Alegria. Onyx was on his co-pilot’s right while Dutch and Monk were head-to-head over something, and Eighty-eight was walking out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee. Neither Shiv nor anyone else from MI6 other than Pimm was here, which puzzled him. Shouldn’t they be privy to this deal?
Gunner approached Razor who was looking at his phone.
“Good to see you too,” he said when Razor looked up but his expression didn’t change.
“Sorry, man. You probably aren’t gonna feel that way when you find out Ava and Aine are here with me.”
Given everyone but the contractors K19 kept on the payroll was here, it didn’t come as a surprise that Razor brought his wife and sister-in-law with him. He hoped that Raketa realized the same thing.
“What about their mother?”
“Here too. So is Quinn.”
Gunner nodded, his eyes meeting Raketa’s from across the room. “Where are they?”
“Upstairs.”
“Roger that,” he said, walking to where Raketa stood. “Shall we take a seat?” he asked.
“I’d rather stand.”
“Come with me for a minute.” He took her hand and led her out of the main room and into the kitchen.
“Your half-sisters are here,” he told her once they were out of earshot of the rest of the group.
She nodded. “I expected they might be.”
“They’re upstairs along with their mother.”
Raketa took a deep breath.
“You’re under no obligation to meet them today. I’ll understand if it’s too much. So will they, along with everyone else.”
She nodded and leaned forward so her head rested on his chest. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.
Gunner put his arm around her, loving that she was confiding in him.
“Let’s get through this meeting and then see how you feel.”
When they went back to the main room, Shiv was walking through the front door. Gunner made eye contact with him, and Shiver acknowledged him with a head nod.
Gunner felt as though something was off between them and hoped they’d have a chance to talk privately today.
He bristled when another man, one he didn’t recognize, came through the front door.
“Who’s that?” he muttered to Razor.
“Striker’s replacement at the company.”