Page 3 of Lethal Salvation

“I’m setting up a team and I want you to be second in command of it.”

Her interest was piqued. She hadn’t expected this and was intrigued. Jack never did anything by halves. After leaving the SAS, he could have gone in so many different directions, but he’d set up Eidolon and gone on to be the Queen’s personal protection and all-round royal clean-up crew. They took their orders from her and cleaned up messes left by her government or in some cases jobs that just felt personal to her and them.

“I’m listening.”

His lips twitched. “This team will be completely off the books. For all intents and purposes, it won’t exist. You’ll answer to me, but there’ll also be a certain amount of autonomy.”

“What kind of jobs?”

“Since the royal tour, we’ve become more ‘seen’, for want of a better word. Eidolon must be more careful in what we take on.”

Duchess felt an excitement begin to trickle through her veins, a knowledge that this was a pivotal moment for her in some way. “So, this new team would take them on?”

“Yes. Eidolon will obviously still do what we do, but some of the hotter, dirtier jobs will be for the new team.”

“What kind of operators and how many?”

“I was thinking ten or twelve to start and a mix of operators. What I’ve found is there’s a certain contingent of society that’s being overlooked.”

“I don’t disagree but who specifically?”

“The grey people.”

Duchess felt herself smile at his words; she knew exactly who he meant but wanted confirmation. “Explain?”

“Those people who are connected and skilled but perhaps morally considered a bit grey, or technically would end up in prison for their crimes, when the truth is, their pasts aren’t black and white. Then there are the ones who’ve been fucked over by the systems they work within, and their skills are about to go to waste or end up used for things not worthy of them.”

“Sounds like a ragtag bunch.”

“Yes, but an elite ragtag bunch nonetheless.”

“And you want me to lead them with someone else?”

“Yes.”

“Why me?”

“Come on, Duchess. You were running the section, not Frank. Everyone knew it, except him. You’re a natural leader.”

“So are a lot of people.”

“Maybe, but you also have integrity, and you trust your gut. You’re calm and controlled, but not afraid to ruffle feathers and kick asses when you need to.”

She was all those things, but it was nice for someone she respected so highly to see it too. A warm feeling crept in to sink beside the excitement. “Who would be in charge?”

“Niall O’Scanlan, but you know him as Bás.”

Duchess drew in a sharp breath, her lungs seizing in shock for a second. “I’m sorry, I thought you said Bás.”

Jack kept her gaze, his features coolly blank of emotion. “I did.”

“He’s a ghost, Jack, and what’s more, he’s a lone wolf. He doesn’t work with anyone, at least not by choice. Nobody even knows who he works for.”

“I do and we’ve worked with him.”

Duchess blew out a breath and sat back, a little taken aback by this development. “Wow, I’m not sure what to think about that.” Looking up she tried to read him and failed. “Has he agreed?”

“He has but only if you’re his second.”