I looked toward the door, where the shadows of Marine operators were now taking up positions. “Now,” I said, my hand instinctively going to the data drive in my pocket. “We finish what we started. Carson’s network is bigger than just her. And they just tried to kill two American operatives.”
I pulled my torn shirt together as best I could, but the compass rose, my past, was still visible. “They’re not just traitors,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper, cold with a promise of what was to come. “They’re a target list.”
We walked out of the maintenance building and into the secure perimeter of the Marines. Colonel Mitchell, a man I recognized from Pentagon briefings, met us. His eyes immediately went to the tattoo on my arm, and his expression was one of profound respect.
“Ghost 7,” he said, saluting. “Staff Sergeant Ramsay. Pentagon sends its compliments. Agent Carson and her assassination team are in custody.” He turned to Ramsay. “Sergeant, that data drive you secured contains evidence of the largest espionage ring in modern history. Your name is cleared.”
Ramsay just nodded, still processing. “But the news isn’t all good,” Colonel Mitchell continued, his face grim. “We’ve lost contact with three other Ghost operatives in the last 72 hours. Two in Southeast Asia, one in Eastern Europe. Carson’s network has been hunting all of you.”
The news hit me like a physical blow. Three more. Captured or killed. “The investigation is expanding,” Mitchell said. “This isn’t just espionage anymore. It’s a war.” He looked at me. He looked at Ramsay.
“Ghost 7, your cover is blown, which means your mission profile just changed. Staff Sergeant Ramsay, your analytical skills have been… noted.” I knew what was coming.
“We’re building a new task force,” Mitchell said. “Off the books. Its only mission: to hunt down every last member of Carson’s network and recover our missing assets. Dead or alive.” I looked at Ramsay. He’d started the day as my target. He’d ended it as the only person on earth who knew my full story.
“Interested in some overseas travel, Master Sergeant?” I asked. A slow, grim smile spread across Ramsay’s face. “After today, hunting spies in a jungle sounds almost relaxing.”
“Don’t be so sure,” I said, my eyes drifting to the coordinates on my arm. The coordinates that reminded me of the cost. “The war in the shadows is over,” I said. “Now, we bring the war into the light.”
