“Basement of McGowan’s building. Steinburg monitored McGowan's office computer. Disable it now!” O’Brien shouted into the phone as he lumbered after Rod, leaving his cruiser in the middle of the street with the lights flashing.

* * *

Wyl smiled. Tension filled the air like electricity. Everyone stayed on edge. “MacGowan, I fixed your precious code,” he announced. “You have five minutes to launch, or the program will self-destruct.”

“What? You take that off…now!” MacGowan shouted. “Declan…shoot his left knee!”

Declan pulled his weapon and pointed it at Ailbe. “I don’t think so, MacGowan. You’ve used me for the last time. Now that the code is done, I have no use for you.”

“Dec…what do you mean?” Ailbe edged toward Declan, his hands outstretched and his arms open. “I always put you first.”

“You’re a feckin’ liar, MacGowan. From our first day together, it’s always been about my connections, brawn, and protection for your precious scheme. Well, my brawn outsmarted your brains. And since you talked to Sterling like you planned to run off together, I have no qualms about eliminating you and taking the winnings.”

Ailbe stood in the center of the room and folded his arms, sneaking a hand inside his jacket. “I didn’t give you enough credit. We’re an unstoppable team, Dec, you and I. We'll live rich and happy for the rest of our lives.”

“You are confused about the meaning of team,” Declan said. “You can’t have me and have Sterling too. So I’m about to live alone and happy for the rest of my life. You will not, because your life is about to end.” Declan sneered, drawing aim at Ailbe.

Ailbe pulled his gun from his jacket and aimed at Declan. “We’ll see whose life is about to end.”

The door to the maintenance room flew open with a bang, and Rod rushed in. He scanned the room and found Wyl at the computer desk, safe. His glare turned to Ailbe, and he ran toward him, not caring about the gun Ailbe held.

“What the feck,” Ailbe shouted. “How the feck are you free?” He pointed the gun at Wyl. “I’ll just end things for the two of you, your precious husband first.”

Declan fired at Ailbe. “You feckin son of a bitch. After everything I did for you!”

Wyl jumped to his feet, his chair flying and landing on its back. He rushed from the computer table and cowered in a corner, avoiding gunfire.

O’Brien lumbered in, followed by three Gardaí officers and James and Glen.

“Hands in the air!” the officers shouted.

In seconds, Rod held Wyl in a tight embrace. “I’ve got you, babe.”

Wyl trembled in his arms, facing the wall, hands over his ears.

“Ahhhhhh,” Ailbe dropped his weapon and grabbed his shoulder. He rushed for the table, hoping to launch the sequence before the time ran out.

Police grabbed Declan, disarming and subduing him before cuffing him. Declan eyed Ailbe attempting to complete his plan.

“Don’t touch that keyboard,” Glenn shouted as Ailbe reached the computer table.

Ailbe’s bloody hand hovered over the keyboard, a confident sneer on his face as he glanced first at Glenn, then at Declan. His index finger dropped to the Enter key. The computer beeped an acknowledgment.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Gardaí rushed Ailbe and took him into custody.

“The gunfire is over, Wyl.” Rod soothed his husband. “You’re safe now.”

Wyl rotated to face Rod and wrapped his arms around him, squeezing hard. “The gunfire scared me so bad,” he gasped. “You saved me.”

“Nothing can hurt you now. I’m here,” Rod whispered.

“I’m sorry I played the game. Your expression ripped me apart inside.” Wyl’s voice still trembled from the ordeal.

“You said darlin’, remember? I kept my glare up as part of the game. I understood your ploy.” Rod stroked Wyl’s back.

Wyl pulled back to view Rod’s face. “Wait…how are you here? They tied you up and took you outside.”

Rod chuckled. “O’Brien happened along and found me in the middle of the road. He removed my bindings, and I immediately ran for the building to save you. As I ran, I heard O’Brien tell someone that Steinburg monitored Ailbe’s computer activity and ordered his men to disable it.”

Wyl stole a quick kiss from his husband. “All that work, and Ailbe won anyway. The computer beeped after he pressed the enter key.”

Rod tugged Wyl to his feet and over to the computer table. James and Glenn studied the screen.

Communication Failure flashed off and on.

Wyl gazed at his husband. “It’s over, babe. We won.”

* * *

After debriefing at the Gardaí station, they headed for the flat to relax. Rod’s cell phone rang as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. “I’m glad Ailbe didn’t destroy my cell phone, Rod said as he pulled the phone from his pocket. “It’s General Steinburg,” Rod pressed to accept the call.

“Rod, General Steinburg. Are you both safe?”

“Yes, General. It’s over. We foiled MacGowan’s scheme.”

“I owe you both a debt of thanks for a well-done job. The cyber program failed. The two cyber terrorists are in custody. And the program is confiscated. Excellent work, you two.”

“Thanks, General.”

Wyl grabbed the phone. “Wyl here, General. Can we come home now?”

“Wyl. Good to hear your voice. Yes, I’ll book a flight for you on Wednesday. That gives you a few days to rest from the ordeal in Ireland. You’ll stop in Washington. Travers will meet you at the airport. Take a day to recover from the jet lag. We’ll debrief in my office Friday morning, then you’ll be on a flight back to Texas.”

“Thanks, General. See you Friday.”

Wyl disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Rod. “Let’s go inside and have a martini.”

* * *

Thanksgiving Day. Rod and Wyl stood on the bluff, surveying Sterling Ranch, Rod behind Wyl, holding him in a tight embrace. Their horses, Sarge and Princess, grazed nearby.

“I told you we would do this at Christmas, but somehow, Thanksgiving is more appropriate.” Rod tightened his hold. “We survived several challenges in the past few months, but we are back home, and I have you in my arms. We have a lot to be thankful for.”

“When the gunfire erupted, my mind replayed the horror of my abduction in Italy. When you wrapped your arms around me after the gunfire, relief flooded through me. Your touch warmed me and let me know everything would be okay.”

“I hope they don’t call us again,” Rod said. “One government assignment is enough for one lifetime, don’t you think?”