Page 51 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Well, I didn’t tell her everything that happened. But she catches on about things.” Landon rubbed the back of his neck. “She told me I was looking for love in all the wrong places.”
Kostya heard Gideon snort and Ryker out and out laughed.
“I’m pretty sure that’s a country song,” Sebastian said, playing up his Cajun accent.
“Whatever,” Landon smiled good-naturedly. “She made me promise to either go to church or to the local community center, so I did.”
Kostya thought he might like Landon’s grandmother. God knew the kid needed some direction.
“So did you go to church?” Mateo asked.
“No, I went to the community center. I tried to find something I could sign up for that had mostly women in the class. I hit the jackpot with the pottery class.”
“Is that where you found your sculptor, the one who could help with the Semtex?” Linc asked.
“Yep, Ellen runs the class and she’s amazing. We’ve gone out for coffee three times now. I finally took her out to dinner. She’s a bit older than me, but I like that. Maturity is good, after Angelique.”
“How much older?” Mateo asked.
“Eighteen years older,” Landon answered.
“So you basically went from one end of the spectrum to the other in less than a month, is that what I’m hearing?” Gideon asked.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, this kid is going to be the death of me.
“Ryker, is the truck warm enough?” Kostya asked. He prayed it was.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“Landon, get out there and help get the scientists settled into the SUSI.”
The young man grinned. “You got it.”
* * *
“I got ‘em,”Gideon called out. “They’re arranging an NH-90, as soon as the snow clears. They’re expecting a lull in less than eight hours.”
“So, they’ll land in Russia?” Kostya asked the sixty-four million dollar question.
“They’re going to let me know.”
Kostya gritted his teeth. He didn’t care if this needed to go up to the Admiral; he didn’t want to see Iris die. Hell, he didn’t want to see anyone die. Someone better damn well get them a helicopter here in Russia.
“Seb, where are we?” Kostya asked.
“We’ll be hitting the southern tip of Lake Julia in ten more klicks.”
If they could just get past that, then they could bypass the supplies coming in from St. Petersburg since that road would be coming from the south, and they’d be heading from the west.
“Who were the two up front in the SUSI when we were on this leg of the trip?” Kostya asked into his mic.
“Nolan and me,” Mateo answered. “It was night, and the snowfall was brutal. I don’t think either of us could tell you if there was any place big enough beside the road where we could pull off. I think we’re screwed.”
“I was in the passenger seat,” Nolan said. “From what little I could see, there were drop-offs on my side.”
“That’s decided it then, we’re going to pick up the pace. I want us to get past the southern tip ofOzero Yulya-Viyek”Yarvibefore the backup transport from St. Petersburg shows up.”
“I’ll give it my best shot, but I’m not sure how much more this Vityaz has to give,” Mateo warned. “I’ve even been rubbing her dashboard and singing to her.”
