Domenico set the phone down on the hook and smiled. He pulled out a bleeding edge cellphone and sent a text message. A mafia owned warehouse in Florence responded. Dom said only one word, "Ship." The other end hung up. Dom started to gather information from his office. A laptop he used while working, a completely different more rugged cellphone. Dossier's on current members. He had information on Svetlana, Howard, Antoine and Imran, he didn't know who the other heavy was who had left. Hung himself even. It was all blank to him there. But that was okay. He'd learn more about who came in and who left later. The big Italian carefully inventoried all the things he needed to bring and needed to pick up.

His butler peeked in, "Sir? What news?" Domenico smiled, "Scimitar is calling me back. Give the staff a few days off while I'm away. Say a 5 day vacation. But I still want this place maintained while I'm out." Lawry nodded, "Of course sir. We'll keep everything good and ready for your return. Ummm but if you should not?" Domenico hrmed, "Open fault Alpha 9 7 Delta 6 in the Vatican Bank. You'll find all you need to know there." Lawry nodded, "Yes sir. Good luck sir." Dom nodded, "I won't need it." He gave Lawry a handshake, then turned, grabbed all of his things, and headed for the door.

A limo waited for him outside, the driver, a Mafia made man, looking to make his bones, but tasked with driving cars until he is ready to be called up for a hit. He drives Domenico to the Rome Airport, from there, Domenico borded a private jet. Taking to the air he flew in style. Wine, good looking female flight attendants, good food. Ahead of him already a C-130, stolen and with semi-legal numbers, is flying to the island base. The pair would arrive almost exactly at the same time several hours later.

----

On the base itself Howard and Antoine sat on a hill overlooking the base. Howard running his thumb over the edge of his hunting knife, looking out over the base and the water beyond. Antoine sat on a rock, swinging her legs and watching the scenery. They had been sitting in a companionable silence for awhile. Just two ghosts, two phantoms, able to appear and disappear like the wind at will. They knew the trials each had gone through, and didn't need to rehash old info. They had fought beside each other, or around each other enough. They knew each others strengths quite well. Howard was that deadly long range thunderbolt that many people dreaded. And Antoine that deadly close range dagger and pistol that you worried might be around the next corner, or be right in your shadow.

After awhile Antoine looked to Howard, "Think it could have been, or could be different?" Howard looks over at her, "How do you mean?" She nodded, "You and me? The team?" Howard hrmed, "Different with the team? We're almost perfect as we are, we keep bringing in new blood, and we just get stronger." He smiled, "Between us? I don't know. Never really thought about it up until now. You're my co-worker Antoine, I don't usually date my co-workers you..." She cuts him off, "Would you though?" Howard hrms. Thinking it over, "Might consider it." She gave him a big grin, scooted over and gave him a companionable hug, then snuggled up beside him.

The pair sat there like that as they watched the base and the sea.