Free The Gates of Hell (Matt Drake 3) by David Leadbeater

slipped out of his seat and started down the aisle. The last thing needed on the flight was a fight between the two deadliest women he had ever known.
    “Hudson died in that hotel,” Alicia snarled. “They shot him whilst. . . whilst—” She shook her head. “Was thatyour intel, Kitano? I dare you to tell the truth.”
    Alicia stepped into the aisle. Mai rose to face her. The two women were almost nose-to-nose. Mai backed up to give herself room. An unskilled observer might think that was a sign of weakness on the Japanese girl’s part.
    Drake knew it to be a deadly indicator.
    He raced forward. “Stop!”
    “My sister is worth ten Hudson’s.”
    Alicia snarled. “Now I get me some Mai-time!”
    Drake had known Mai would not back down. It would be easier to tell Alicia what she already knew—that Hudson had given himself away—but Mai Kitano’s pride would not allow her to yield. Alicia jabbed. Mai parried. Alicia shuffled sideways to give herself more space. Mai came at her.
    Drake darted toward them.
    Alicia fake-kicked, stepped in and drove an elbow toward Mai’s face. The Japanese warrior didn’t move, but turned her head ever so slightly, allowing the blow to whistle a millimeter past her.
    Mai struck hard at Alicia’s ribs. There was a high whistle of escaping breath and Alicia staggered back against the bulkhead. Mai advanced.
    Hayden was on her feet, shouting. Ben and Karin were up too, both curious about who would win the fight. Drake stormed in hard, shoving Mai against a nearby seat and slamming an arm across Alicia’s throat.
    “Stop.” His voice was quiet as the grave but loaded with menace. “Your dead fucking boyfriend is not the issue here. And neither is your sister.” He threw a glare toward Mai. “Kovalenko is the enemy. Once that bastard is FUBAR, you can fight all you want, but until then, save it.”
    Alicia twisted her arm away. “The bitch should die for what she did.”
    Mai didn’t bat an eyelash. “You have done much worse, Alicia.”
    Drake saw the fire rekindled in Alicia’s eyes. He blurted out the only thing he could think of. “Instead of arguing, maybe you could explain to me which one of you really killed Wells. And why.”
    The fight went out of them.
    Hayden was right behind him “Hudson was tracked through a hi-tech tracer, Myles. You know that. No one here is happy about the way Mai gave away the device.” Her voice was steel. “Let alone the way she obtained it. But even I understand whyshe did it. Some top government officials are currently going through the same thing. Kovalenko is already playing his end game and we’re barely at second base. And if the leaks aren’t plugged—”
    Alicia snarled and returned to her seat. Drake found another stash of miniatures and headed back up the aisle toward his own. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, unwilling to make any kind of conversation with his best friend yet.
    But on the way, Ben leaned toward him. “FUBAR?”
    “Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.”
     
     

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
     
    Before they landed, Hayden received a call to tell them Ed Boudreau had been broken out of the CIA prison. The Blood King used an insider and, against his own inclinations, extracted Boudreau in a low-key, no-fuss operation.
    “You people never learn,” Drake said to her and wasn’t surprised when she had nothing to say in return.
    Honolulu airport flashed by in a blur, as did the swift car ride into the city. The last time they had been in Hawaii, they had attacked Davor Babic’s mansion and been placed on a hit list by his son, Blanka. At the time, that had appeared serious.
    Then Dmitry Kovalenko came along.
    Honolulu was a busy city, not unlike most American or European cities. But somehow, the mere thought of Waikiki Beach being not more than a twenty minute drive away tempered even Drake’s murky thoughts.
    It was early evening and they were all weary. But Ben and Karin insisted they head straight for the CIA