“We enjoyed it too, guys,” Rod said. They turned to the car.
Rod glanced at Wyl as he drove them back to the flat. “The evening went well.” Dealing with murderers still bothered him.
“The bait went out, and we allowed ourselves to be hooked,” Wyl said. “I hope you’re more confident about the mission.”
“As long as you’re with me. I’m beginning to adjust to the whole game thing. If I focus on that, it’s easier.”
“It’s like chess, babe. Each holds the upper hand at some point. We must be the side to take the queen.”
“No pun intended,” Rod coughed a nervous chuckle.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
After breakfast, Wyl grabbed his laptop to check his email. A new message from Ailbe popped in. He clicked to download the attachment and open it.
“Interesting,” Wyl said.
“What is?” Rod asked. From the kitchen, breakfast dishes clinked as he loaded the dishwasher.
“Ailbe’s course project. As I review the parameters, the project is geared toward one unified goal. Ailbe mentioned the students worked on their individual assignments at first. When I scroll through the twenty individual projects, they dovetail in a logical sequence.”
“You think the murdered student figured out the same thing?” Rod said.
“Yes, and I think he told Ailbe, and I think Ailbe told Declan, and I think Declan took care of things.” He glanced at Rod’s face. A wrinkled brow and narrow eyes stared back at him. Rod’s lips flattened in a grimace.
Rod shook his head. “I don’t like this at all. Nobody said anything about people getting killed. When we went through training in D.C., we learned about weapons. I never thought a cybercrime would involve murder.”
Wyl stood and wrapped his husband in a warm embrace. “Relax, babe. We’re not the ones targeted here.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Rod pushed out of the hug. “They snuffed out a young student's life to protect a scheme.”
Wyl stood in helpless silence as Rod stared out the front windows. Noiseless traffic flowed on the street below.
Seconds later, Rod turned to Wyl. “If they are willing to kill to keep their plan going, what makes you think they won’t murder us if they find out we’re trying to stop them?”
Wyl walked over and grasped Rod’s shoulders. “I don’t have an answer, babe. Remember, General Steinburg mentioned criminals hacking into the Irish banking system, and money is involved. Huge sums. None of it led me to expect a murder, but we both understood the element of danger existed.”
“Yes, but a huge difference exists between an element of danger and death!” Rod emphasized the words. “After we met, I went into a panic when you didn’t show up on campus for two weeks, and I panicked when you fled from the Dusty confrontation. I can’t handle the thought of you in a life-or-death situation. My dream made it worse.” Rod threw his arms up and twisted out of Wyl’s hold.
“Rod?” Wyl used a soothing voice. “Calm down.”
“No!” Rod jabbed the air with a pointed finger. “I didn’t sign on for this. Not once did General Steinburg mention murder. Not once did murder come up in my training at Quantico. Not once did you mention murder when we talked about this mission.” Tears welled up in Rod’s eyes as his voice whined with emotion. “I can’t stand the thought of losing you.” Rod tried to stifle a sob. “The thought of you murdered is more than I can handle.” Rod put his hands over his face as sobs won.
In three long strides, Wyl tugged a sobbing Rod into his arms. He stroked Rod’s back as Rod’s shoulders shook.
“Babe,” Wyl whispered. “I won’t be murdered.”
“Why not?” Rod whined, wrapping his arms around Wyl and burying his face in Wyl’s neck.
“As James and Glenn pointed out, two experienced British agents are working with us. The Irish police force is at our disposal, and the United States government is backing us up. How much chance do you think a couple of amateur criminals have to eliminate us?”
“But those amateur criminals murdered a student.”
“Yes, but the student never realized his threat to their scheme. He didn’t have the support we do, the training in spotting criminal activity, or the backup of security forces from three strong nations. He fell an easy target. We are not, or will ever be, any of those things.”
Rod’s breathing eased, and he sighed as Wyl’s words soaked in.
“You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. When was I ever not right?”
Rod chuckled. “How long a list do you want?”
Wyl pushed him to arm’s length. “You have a list?”
Rod stroked Wyl’s face. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Wyl pulled him in for a kiss and thumbed wetness from Rod’s cheek. “Now, are you okay?”
Rod wiped his eyes. “No, but I'm better. Thanks for the pep talk. I didn’t mean to shout at you.”
“You need to tell me when you’re worried so we can deal with it.”
“Sometimes it’s hard.”
Wyl winked at Rod, his arm still around his waist. “I like it when you are hard.” A sly grin crossed Wyl’s face.
Rod shook his head. “Show me what you found in Ailbe’s email.”
