“Fuck the Agency!” Dylan didn’t want any part of that. “If we’d followed their last plan, we’d be in Sánchez’s hands by now.”
“The Agency authorized this operation. They’re paying for it. I can’t tell them to fuck themselves.”
Dylan opened his mouth to speak, but Tower cut him off.
“But Icantell them that their asset betrayed you and that you had to go to ground. I’ll tell them I don’t know where you are.”
“Good enough.”
“Listen to me, Cruz. No matter what, donotlet yourself be taken or killed. The political fallout would be disastrous.”
No pressure. “Understood.”
“I’m trusting you to get yourself and Ms. Marquez out of there alive.”
“I’ll get the job done.”
“I know you will. And Cruz?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Godspeed.”
“Thank you, sir.” Dylan ended the call, found Gabriela watching him. “He cut us loose. We’re on our own.”
* * *
“I need to eliminate Sander.”Dylan said this out of the blue.
Gabriela’s stomach knotted. “Couldn’t we just gag him and tie him to a tree?”
They had to do something. She understood that. They couldn’t allow him to give them away—or to reveal to SEBIN that they’d been here.
Dylan took a suppressor out of his backpack, screwed it onto the barrel of his pistol. “We can’t take him with us, and if we leave him behind, he’ll eventually tell his bosses everything he knows, including the fact that you’re an Agency officer.”
It was true—every word.
“I’ll make it quick and painless, which is more than el SEBIN will do. You don’t have to see it or be a part of it.”
“I’m not weak.”
“I know you’re not, but you’re not used to this.”
“Are we sure there’s not another way?”
Dylan shook his head. “He made this choice for us when he decided to betray us.”
It hadn’t upset Gabriela when Dylan had killed Pitón. In fact, she’d told him to pull the trigger. The bastard would have killed her. What Dylan was doing now made operational sense. But Sander was unarmed and a prisoner.
He was ready to hand you and Dylan over to Sánchez.
“Pop the trunk.” Dylan climbed out, taking his rifle with him.
Gabriela pulled the lever, watching in the rearview mirror as Sander climbed out, rumpled and angry.
“Were you going to leave me in there all night, you stupid bastard?”
“Do you want to piss or not?” Dylan gave Sander a shove. “Into the trees.”