“NO!”
Harold blinked at the group of Dragons, all standing firm and glaring at him.
“Well it’s a good thing none of you have a say in the matter.” He pushed his glasses up his nose giving them a contemptuous look. “Reese is my Dragon and I will do what is necessary to get him back. You will back me up.”
Aveline’s eyes narrowed at the smaller man. “You are not fit for the field…” she raised his hand stopping his tirade, she had heard it before. “Harold this isn’t staking out some wannabe drug dealer in the park. These are terrorists disguised as US Agents.”
“Who want me alive, so I can give them what they want.” He stood his ground, refusing to back down. “I’ve taken on worst threats than Greer, and Root is a whiny child who doesn’t like it when she doesn’t get what she wants.”
“And she wants you.” Harvey pointed out, the only calm dragon in the group. “She’s killed people, Harold.”
“But she won’t kill me. Nor will Greer.”
“What is so special about you that you can walk into the lion’s den and demand they obey?” Brandt asked with a sense of curiosity normally reserved for Ethan. He glanced over at his brother, who was calmly sitting behind Harold. The bastard already knew more than he was letting on.
Or already had this argument, and knew it was futile.
“It’s what I created, and no I’m not sharing that information, it is irrelevant to the situation at hand. Let’s just say, even if I wanted to turn it over, I couldn’t.” He glanced over at Ethan, then back at the rest of the team. “And before you mention, Mr. Hunt’s skill set as impressive as they are, we agreed unless Reese knew what was going on he would inadvertently give up the gig, so to speak, especially if he was in Dragon form.”
Connor nodded in understanding, smell was a very important factor for Dragons, and Ethan wouldn’t smell like Reese’s Mate. “So what is your glorious plan to drive me wife batshit?”
Aveline glared at her husband, then continued her staring match with Harold.
“I’m going in with Harold.” Ethan stood and moved next to him, showing he was backing Harold’s play. “Connor, Aveline you’re going over the fence as Assassins. Brandt, Julia you do what you do best, create chaos. Benji, I know this goes against your instinct but follow the instructions on the computer. Beckett and Harvey, I need you two to be behind the hangers catch the stragglers.”
Harvey nodded. “Okay there’s something you need to know and I would appreciate it if you didn’t kill my mate.”
“WHAT?!”
Now he knew how Harold felt.
Becket was the first to turn on the lawyer. “When exactly in the all of this chaos did you find your Mate?”
“When I pushed Mike off the building and jumped. He was the agent sent after us.”
“Michael Westen.” The moment Harold had seen Westen’s reaction to Harvey’s dive off the high rise, but the fact he pointedly looked at the cameras as he went by, was enough to get The Machine to investigate him. “He knows more than he lets on, and he may be our way in.”
“How?” Brandt demanded, still not liking being left in the dark. When his phone beeped and information about Westen started scrolling across the screen, he glanced over at Benji who was busy reading the same information.
“He’s a true patriot, much like John. He is also a damn good Agent, his career is impeccable on paper, the amount of small comments made in the margins, is enough to know he has a tendency to buck the system and do what’s right. I think the only reason he hasn’t been ‘killed’ in the field, or Burned is that he’s really good at his job.”
“What’s up with all the Spies lately?” Connor shook his head, glancing over at Harvey. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes.” Harvey sighed, fidgeting slightly in the clothes he was wearing, they were itchy and annoying. “Every instinct I had wanted to grab him as I flew off, but I had Mike to think about. He knows more than he lets on.”
“Oh I think he’s smack in the middle of it.” Harold was sure, Westen knew about The Machine or a theory about it. The way he looked at the cameras, with an all knowing smirk. Hell, he was half tempted to check into Westen’s family line, and see if it connects to John’s, the two of them could easily be brothers.
“You think he could be an inside asset?” Ethan asked, making note to have Brandt give him the rundown on the new Agent.
“I think he already is. He just doesn’t realize it yet.” Harold glanced back at the Dragons, giving them a once over. They were a loyal group, not just to John but to him. It was an awe inspiring concept, that such graceful yet deadly creatures would do his bidding. “The main goal is to get John, I really have no qualms about what happens to anyone else, well except for Mr. Westen.”
Harvey gave him a look. “Is there anything that will come bite us in the ass?”
“I’m sure there are many things that will likely go wrong.” He put on his coat and hat. He was truly missing Bear, but knew the dog was safer with the kids. He wasn’t quite sure how Beckett got Castle to stay out of the situation, but he was thankful he really didn’t want anyone hurt while helping him.
“I’m not happy.” Aveline gave Harold a pointed look. “But I’m going to go along with this, as I know how stubborn you are. If, more like, when the fighting escalates you will listen to one of us, who know what we’re doing.”
“By that time I’m hoping to have freed John, and let him wreak holy hell on those who dared put me in danger.” Harold gave her a small smirk. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll just sit back and let you explain the errors of their ways.”
She rolled her eyes and huffed, but couldn’t help the smirk.
“We have to take in consideration the other dragon.” Connor pointed out. “We’ve smelled him over the past few weeks, and if he is part of this whole thing, he’ll be there.”
Harvey snorted. “And who do you think John is going to go after first.”
“Root.” Harold answered. “He didn’t like her the first time she kidnapped me, and only reason he didn’t shred her then was we were in a public space, and he hadn’t told me about the Dragon yet. He’s going to kill her, and then deal with the other dragon.”
“I don’t like this Root and I haven’t even met her,” Aveline snarled.
“So let me see if I get this right.” Brandt leaned back against the wall, arms crossed across his chest. “We’re going to let Harold walk into an obvious trap, with Ethan posing as a guard. Meantime the two Assassins and going full frontal, while Julia and I wreak havoc and destroy things. Benji is going to stay out of trouble running comms, while Beckett takes out screaming humans, and Harvey chases down his Mate.”
Ethan chuckled lightly. “Well when you put it like that what could go wrong?”
“Everything.” Brandt shook his head. “Let’s do it!”
