Silver Fire (Guardians) by Victoria Paige

Beth,” Christopher replied carefully. “African nations are rife with warlords wanting compensation in exchange for peace. We do our part by providing food, water and medicine directly to the people in these mining towns and we need   private military contractors to help deliver those goods. Mercenary is a very derogatory and out-dated term, and are not who we deal with. We prefer to call them security contractors.”
    “I’ve heard rumors of excessive use of force,” Beth added pointedly.
    Just then, their cocktails arrived which saved Christopher from immediately responding, but his jaw had tightened and Sophie started having second thoughts about involving Beth. Stephen, though, was enjoying the exchange as he took a sip of his cocktail. Christopher did the same before clearing his throat and saying, “I cannot refute that at the moment. But if you give me your sources, you can be sure I will look into these allegations. The last thing Blackstone International wants is an incident tarnishing the company’s reputation.”
    “Nice try, Blackstone,” Beth said. “But I’d rather keep my sources to myself right now. Do you have the name of the security firms you use in South Africa?”
    “We use several,” Christopher replied. “As you know, Blackstone Mining has multiple operations on the African continent. I can have my secretary email you a list of security firms we use.”
    “Thank you, Christopher,” Sophie interrupted before her friend could ask another question. She shot Beth a warning glance, hoping her friend would take the hint.
    Christopher smiled indulgently at her. “Have you given further thought to the latest proposal I sent you, dear?”
    “I have actually, and I have not changed my position on this,” Sophie replied. “There is no reason to build such a device.”
    “I have given you my arguments, my dear. Zefinium is a better alternative to plutonium.”
    “But it causes mass destruction just the same,” Stephen interjected.
    “I’m also looking at it from a business point of view. The United States and other countries already have nuclear warheads. If they can be convinced to retire those and replace them with a zefinium alternative, we are talking about trillions of dollars.”
    Beth snorted. “The United States government is trillions of dollars in debt, they can hardly go spend taxpayer dollars to replace their nuclear arsenal.”
    “We are talking long term here,” Christopher replied. “If we already have the technology in place and tested, countries will be in a race to acquire such science. Who do you really think runs the US Government?”
    “Big business, big oil,” Stephen said.
    “Exactly. Do you think these businesses will allow the US to be at the mercy of say, North Korea?”
    “You argue a strong point, Christopher,” Sophie replied. “But I’ve looked at the schematics and I’ve noted my improvements on the design. A device as small as a carry-on suitcase can destroy an area as big as 24 square miles. It can easily fall into the wrong hands and the main threat to national and global security right now are terror cells scattered all over the world.”
    “So you have taken a look at it?”
    Trust Christopher Blackstone to hear only the most pertinent words, Sophie thought in annoyance. She had more than taken a look at it, she had manufactured three weapons-grade zefinium cores that were, at the moment, in storage. All she needed to do was build the fission reaction trigger and housing and Christopher would get his explosive device. She had no intention performing such a step. The scientist in her was satisfied with her father’s research; it was really time to lay it to rest.  
    Their first course had arrived, providing her a reprieve to sit on her information longer. But the devil in her wanted to see what monsters would come crawling out. “Yes, I have.” Sophie took a bite of the foie gras creme brulée—an amazingly rich and creamy dish of pricey