Until the End by Juno Rushdan

Author:Juno Rushdan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2020-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

23

Cambridge, Massachusetts

8:05 a.m.

“Mendoza isn’t here,” Echo said, finishing his sweep of the upper level of the small cottage-style house.

Bravo holstered his weapon and walked to the French doors that overlooked the Mystic River. “The professor must be on campus already.” He stifled a sigh.

This circus kept getting more complicated, his choices constrained by rules that grated on his nerves. After losing the girl and a nine-hour car ride that compounded his frustration, what he wouldn’t give to smash in a nose or put a bullet in someone.

“Looks like this shitty gamble of yours didn’t pay off,” Charlie said, niggling the thorn in Bravo’s side. “Now we’re way behind the power curve because of your bright idea.”

Bravo spun on his heel and slapped Charlie backhanded. The stinging blow was delivered precisely and with such quickness, the man stood stunned and red-faced.

“Oh shit.” Echo cackled. “He bitch-slapped you.”

“If I hear another insubordinate word from your mouth,” Bravo said, his tone cool, his composure collected, “you will swallow teeth.”

Charlie reared up and took a step forward.

“Please make my morning worthwhile.” Bravo beckoned Charlie to test him, give him an outlet for the rage percolating inside him.

Echo jumped in front of Charlie and held him back. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, bro.”

“Neither do you,” Charlie said.

They had never worked with each other before, brought together and kept anonymous by Bravo’s current boss.

“Look in his eyes,” Echo said. “You’ll see nothing staring back. Bravo will grease you and not think twice about it afterward. We’re already short one dude. Just shake it off.”

Charlie yanked away from Echo, swallowed his pride, and tucked his tail between his legs. Like a good little foot soldier.

Bravo turned and stared at the calming water, refusing to let his temper rise an undignified notch further. Leaders needed to represent strength and inspire confidence. He was failing in the latter.

“This didn’t play out as I had hoped,” Bravo admitted, “but whoever is going after that package is using a large team that’ll stand out on the campus. We won’t be able to get to the drives first, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the game.”

“What’s the plan?” Echo asked.

“For starters, we raid Mendoza’s closet for the preppiest shit we can find.”

* * *

8:30 a.m.

“Lenny.” Kit stood up from the bench in the lobby of the MIT Alumni Pool and Wang Fitness Center and crossed the tile floor to reach him.

The thirtysomething professor broke out in a huge grin and hitched his gym bag higher on his shoulder. “Kit? What on earth are you doing here?”

He scooped her up in a big hug, lifting her feet from the floor, his arm wrapped low around her waist. So low his hand rested on her buttock. An intimate gesture.

Beyond saying Mendoza and her brother had been friends, Kit had neglected to mention how familiar she was with the professor, and Castle had been too distracted by her to ask.

If he had to guess, he’d wager those two had slept together.

They looked like a couple.

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