Digitalis (49 page)

“What about the other?” the Kid asked.

“This changes nothing,” a voice spoke from the shadows.

Colton pivoted, stunned to find the assassin emerge from the shadows.

“Oh snap! Where did he come from?” the Kid balked.

Griffin punched to his feet. “This?” He pointed to Azzan. “This is who you’re putting on the team?”

“Yes. Mr. Yasir served undercover in the Israeli Special Forces; then, as you know, he joined the Mossad.”

“He’s an assassin,” Griffin hissed. “They work alone. He doesn’t know the first thing about teamwork. He’s not even an American.”

“And that makes me deficient how?” Azzan held Griffin’s gaze, a defiant challenge gleaming in his eyes. “Besides your arrogance, what do you have that I do not?”

“Man, this is awesome.” The Kid laughed.

Griffin flashed a fiery glare at the youngest member of the team, who snapped his mouth closed.

Hands in his pockets, Lambert tilted his head to the side. “When Max suggested you might object to his recommendation, I told him you were above things like that.” There would be no doubt who ultimately controlled this team—and it wasn’t that he was power hungry. Colton could see in Lambert’s eyes the man had spent long hours considering this decision. “I reassured him this team would make the integration of these two men seamless.”

Colton eyed the assassin—Piper’s cousin. Piper would love to know her cousin was here. But he had to admit Griffin had a point. Assassins were trained to work on their own, trust no one, look to themselves and no one else for help. Conflicted, he dropped his gaze.

“You do not have to like my choices, Mr. Riddell, but I do expect you to work together.”

Griffin stabbed a finger at Azzan. “Start right there with Teamwork 101.” Without another word, he strode out of the warehouse.

Max, Canyon, and Marshall huddled around Azzan, shaking his hand. Squirt joined them, receiving the same congratulations.

Colton offered his hand to Azzan.

“You hesitate.”

A slow nod.

“Good. I could tell you were a thinker.” He didn’t lessen his grip. “I wouldn’t have accepted the offer if I wasn’t committed to this, to the team.”

In the eyes that mirrored his wife’s, Colton saw the uncertainty, the hesitation, even if Azzan never uttered a word. So maybe this man wasn’t all “guns blazing” the way Griffin had suggested. Azzan had a solid head on his shoulders. And he had experience.

“Griffin will come around.”

Azzan cocked his head and quirked an eyebrow. “Not easily, I expect.”

“Nothing’s easy when it comes to him.” Colton squeezed his hand. “Welcome to Nightshade.”

An Army brat, Ronie Kendig married an Army veteran. They have four children and two dogs. She has a BS in Psychology, speaks to various groups, is active with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at
www.roniekendig.com
or
www.discardedheroes.com
.