Wednesday. FBI Holding Facility. Austin, Texas.EVAN WAS GLAD TO see that pasta wasn't on the menu again. He could appreciate that a good lasagna checked all the boxes for what they needed in the field, but it got monotonous after days of eating one variation after another of the same dish. The Tex Mex was a welcome change.Had Felecia ever had it before? Well, good Tex Mex.The halls of the FBI facility were mostly empty at this hour. The majority of those working here had gone home, leaving a skeleton crew behind to man clockwork, like watching Obran. Though the FBI agents had no real idea of who and what they were involved with. As far as anyone knew their team had apprehended a wanted criminal crossing state boundaries with his kidnapped son.It was crazy and plausible enough no one had asked further questions.Evan slowed his pace as he rounded the corner.He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.The others were nowhere to be seen. He was grateful f
FELECIA WISHED SHE KNEW how to say how she felt. That there was some way to tell Evan she'd begun to care deeply about him. But she didn't know the words and she was afraid of that kind of honesty. Staring into his eyes, she wanted to be better for him and herself.Evan leaned in. She held her breath, every bit of herself focused on his lips. He kissed her in that soft way of his. It felt as though they were melting into each other. Her insides warmed with desire. She tugged him closer.While she couldn't make herself speak her feelings, she could show him. Maybe he'd understand her without the words?It was worth hoping.She slid her leg up over his hip, wrapping herself around him.There was something special about this moment. While she might not have been completely honest with him, she knew they were both on the same page. They were sharing this feeling. They were in it together.Evan pushed up, rolling her to her back. His eyes blazed looking down at her. The intensit
EVAN SCOOPED A LIMP, almost lifeless Felecia up and laid her on the bed proper like. She'd gone totally boneless on him, not even bothering to crack an eye. He couldn't help but grin at her and briefly considered holding her. If it weren't for the painfully erect situation in his pants, he'd have done it.He laid her down on the bed, relishing that contented smile on her face as he straightened.How had she become so important to him in such a short time?After he removed his boots and belt he sat on the edge of the bed, just watching her. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago he'd watched Jamie with Tabby and wanted something like that for himself? Could that be what this relationship was becoming?He had to hope that the universe might work in his favor this one time. Felecia deserved a little good, and if he could be part of that he wanted to.She blindly reached for him, her little hand flailing around. He grasped it and chuckled as she pulled him halfway over her. One eye crack
Thursday. Obran's Stash House. Austin, Texas.CALEB SLOWED HIS JOG to a walk. His sinuses were acting up after jumping three continents in a week. He walked the rest of the block, never once glancing behind him.The house was being watched.There were two surveillance vans and who knew how many cameras.He didn't like this. But he'd always been more cautious than Kurt.A truck eased down the street. The dome light flashed on then off, the all-clear signal.Caleb stepped off the curb and met the truck. It barely slowed as he opened the door and got in. Before he'd shut the door they were off, putting distance between them and the house."Did you get in?" he asked Bodhi."No," the other man clothed all in black replied. "Cameras everywhere. They're hoping to catch someone trying to get inside.""Damn it," Caleb muttered.Why couldn't they wrap this up already? He didn't like being here.It was time to call the big boss. The others might not want to acknowledge it
Thursday. FBI Holding Facility. Austin, Texas.FELECIA KEPT HER HEAD up. She was grateful that among the clothes Kelsey had brought her was a dress that made Felecia look a little professional. She still felt like a child playing dress-up, but when she looked at herself in the mirror she at least appeared more poised."Zora's good people, but she's not going to trust you," Kelsey said in a low voice. "Just answer her questions. Keep it simple. Remain calm. She'll likely try baiting you to react.""You call this good people behavior?" Felecia said without looking away. She wanted Evan there with her, but she didn't think he'd have insight like this.Kelsey blew out a breath. "It's a lot to explain. She's a black woman in a position of power and we haven't exactly done a great job. You also know why she's not easy to trust."The mole.Felecia was glad Evan had slept with her last night. She wasn't keen on being alone, and it didn't seem like Evan's team was either. The mom
Thursday. FBI Holding Facility. Austin, Texas.CALEB STUDIED THE PLAIN looking building behind the tall chain-link fence. The place was built like a fortress. But every site had its weaknesses and this one was no secret. Like most modern buildings it relied too heavily on technology to sustain it, from programmed thermostats that maintained optimal temperatures in server rooms to the automated security systems.That was going to be their way in.Of the forty-eight people given orders to report to the ready site, only thirty-five were present. At least ten were still on their way. The remaining three had slipped off and left on their own according to others. Caleb would worry about them later, after this was over. Most importantly though, he had his two best techs on-site. With them here and their other people back at their headquarters he expected to take the entire facility offline right before they made their attack.Bodhi sidled up next to him. They stood on top of a near
Thursday. FBI Holding Facility. Austin, Texas.EVAN STARED INTO FELECIA'S eyes and knew he'd made a decision. One that might change the course of his life.He was going to help her, likely even go with her wherever she went, and that meant closing the door on everything he'd been and done up until now. It was a scary idea, and yet as he looked at her it felt more right as the seconds ticked by.Felecia licked her lips. "Evan?"He opened his mouth, not sure what to say.The lights flickered once then went out."Evan." Felecia clutched his hand and stared at the ceiling."It's okay. It must just be a power outage. There are back-up generators." He almost believed himself.They stood there staring up into blackness for a moment.A humming sound started up followed by beeps from near and far."See?" He squeezed her hand. "Generator's coming on-line."The light flickered back on."Come on," he said and opened the bathroom door.Evan peered out, but the people he
Thursday. FBI Holding Facility. Austin, Texas.FELECIA WATCHED EVAN TURN his back on her and walk away.She understood why he had to do this. It was his job. He couldn't stop being who he was just because they wanted to have boring movie nights together. She wouldn't want him to be anything except who and what he was."Hi, Jacob. My name's Kelsey. We're going somewhere safe, okay?"Felecia was glad for the other woman's calm. She certainly didn't feel it."Come on. Get up." She helped a trembling Jacob to his feet.Poor kid had no idea who their parents really were. By his age she'd had some sense for danger. She hoped this was all he ever experienced."Stay close behind me," Kelsey said looking them each in the eye. "We move fast. Do as I say. It'll all be okay. Got it?""Yeah," Felecia replied.Jacob merely nodded."Let's move. Come on." Kelsey held her flashlight and handgun in front of her, leading the way across the room to the other door.Wasn't there sup
A week later...QUENTIN WISHED HE COULD savor this moment. He slapped the cuffs on the pint-sized asshole who'd had Candi's life in the palm of his hand that fateful night. Was it just a week ago?This should be more satisfying.It was, in a way.Eleven perfectly timed arrests effectively cut off all the heads of Metis. According to Nadine's notes, there was still one unknown head of the organization out there. But they were not alone. Metis itself wouldn't be ordering the death of anyone else. But it didn't bring Nadine back. It didn't restore the time Quentin had lost with Candi. It did make the world a little better, and in the end that's what mattered. Nadine's final acts were all about sacrifice and justice.Quentin stepped back as the FBI agents continued doing their job.He'd been granted permission to be here. As CIA, he had no jurisdiction nor the ability to make an arrest. Still, putting those cuffs on the little asshole felt good.Nadine would be pleased.
Sunday. Clementine Baker's Home, Washington, DC.CANDI CLUTCHED Q'S HAND in both of hers. "Is this it?""Yeah," he whispered.They stared at the moderate sized home in a DC suburb. Now and wind pelted them. Her teeth chattered. And yet, it felt good. The bone chilling cold reminded her that she was alive."Are we going to knock?" she asked."No. Come on. The FBI lookouts know why we're here."Q led her through the yard and a side gate. A uniformed police officer sat at the first-floor window watching them. Q nodded. Candi lifted a hand, but let it drop to her side without actually waving."This way."Solar lights chased away the shadows, making it less ominous. In a few hours, the world would wake up to a blanket of new snow. A clean slate.Candi didn't know how to feel right now.On one hand, they'd found Nadine. They'd done what they'd set out to do.But, Nadine was dead. Her final act had been to save Q and give them the means with which to combat two threat
Small hands shoved Quentin sideways a second before bullets erupted into the night.Quentin yelled. It was mixed rage and fear. He staggered sideways, only for Nadine to shove at him again."Move, damn it," she barked.They dove behind the shelter of a single boulder. This side of the creek the ground was rockier.Quentin yanked his sidearm out of his holster and sucked down air.Unlike the men at their back, Quentin didn't have unlimited ammunition. Not unless he took theirs."Give me a gun," Nadine hissed.He still couldn't trust her. "No.""Damn you," she growled."Come out and it'll be quick," a voice called out.Nadine laid a finger across her lips and stared him down.He opened his mouth, but she spoke first."You can't think I'm that stupid," she said. With her other hand she pointed back down the way they'd come.She wanted him to go to the creek?"I think you know what your options are," the man called out.Quentin's head knew he couldn't trust Na
Saturday. Harper's Ferry, VA.QUENTIN KEPT AN ARM right around Nadine and held to the broken stub of a branch. The ground beneath them had started to crumble. He wasn't convinced that they'd keep their perch if he let go.Damn it.Every time they made a move someone was in their path. And it wasn't always the same pair.Were all six circling him and Nadine? Did that mean they'd captured Candi? Or had she gotten away?He'd heard a couple of shots off in the distance. Could it be...?No.He had to keep his mind here and now.Quentin strained to hear anything. A leaf on the wind. The crunch of a boot. Something.To Nadine's credit, even her breathing was soundless.Could he trust her to not turn on him?He didn't think so.She leaned toward him until she could whisper ever so faintly in his ear. "Now."He understood her meaning. They were both watching and waiting for an opening. Words were unnecessary risks.One thing was certain, he could trust Nadine to h
Candi's heart raced as she watched the man kneel by the bag and yank the zipper.She lunged left, behind a tree and drew her weapon.Overhead, there was no mistaking the whining whirl of helicopter blades. It might not be anyone friendly, but DC was about a half hour away by air. They'd called Q's contacts about forty-five minutes ago.Could that be help? More enemies? Something else?She didn't know, but she had to hope. She had to believe this wasn't how it was going to end."Hey!" the man barked. "Get back out here.""Keep the cash and let me go, no one has to know." She clicked the safety off the gun.Candi had mostly blocked out the fact that she'd shot and killed someone after being kidnapped. Now, it was on repeat in her mind.Could she do it again?If she got to tell Q she loved him-again-she'd pull the trigger.Her hands shook.The leaves rustled underfoot, allowing her to track the man's movements. She shifted around the tree, keeping it between them.
Saturday. Harper's Ferry, VA.CANDI CROUCHED BETWEEN THE rotted out remnants of a tree and a dense holly bush. This was as close as she could get to the house without being seen.Where had Q and Nadine gotten to?Candi had run out of the house, unable to hear anything beyond the blood pumping in her ears. She'd pushed ahead, convinced those men were right behind her. The only thought in her head was that she couldn't lag behind or else Q would have to leave her.Only, it had happened the other way around.She didn't know when or how Q got separated from her, but when she'd paused to turn around and look, he was gone.Her teeth chattered together. Had something been on the news about a cold front? The winter had been awfully mild so far. It would be their luck for snow to settle in today.Please, no...Where were they?She cautiously peered out through the branches.All but one of the men who'd arrived at the house had gone into the woods.Was this a bad idea?
Friday. Harper's Ferry, VA.THIS WAS A DISASTER of her making.The stitch in Nadine's side felt like a knife was being plunged into her. That, or her scar tissue was warning her about the turning weather. The warm spell was most certainly over."This way," Quentin whispered.Her heart twinged.This was her fault.She was going to get this boy killed. And for what?Over the years, she'd lost her focus. She'd become a leaf, being blown about with no respite. She'd done things to stay afloat, things she regretted.Like involving Quentin.He didn't know it yet, but she wasn't leaving this forest alive."Shit," Quentin muttered."What-?"She never got the question out. Her foot slipped on the underbrush then she tripped on a root. Only, the ground wasn't where she thought it should be. She pitched forward and just kept going. Her shoulder hit the steep incline first, then the rest of her. Limbs tore at her clothing. Rocks scraped her skin. Something rubbery smacke
Friday. Safe House, Unknown, VA.QUENTIN HELD TIGHT TO Candi's hand. He kept glancing at her to make sure she was really there and he hadn't imagined her dramatic return. He had the urge to leave Nadine here and run away with Candi, somewhere it would be just the two of them forever.Instead, he secured the front door then stood in the entry staring at her."And here I thought you'd finally grown a brain," Nadine said dryly.Candi held up her other hand, extending just her middle finger in Nadine's direction.Quentin's phone buzzed. He knew before he pulled it out that it was Wesley. Quentin turned the screen toward Candi. She shrugged and didn't offer any insight into what he should say or do.He clicked the answer button and put it on speaker."Wesley, hey.""Is she there?" Wesley's voice was flat, emotionless.Quentin glanced at Candi. "Yeah."Wesley sighed heavily. "Damn it.""You're on speaker," Candi said."Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to help
Friday.CANDI SLUMPED DOWN A bit more. Wesley gripped the steering wheel like he was on a race course. From where she sat, she could see the speed wavering between five and ten over the speed limit.He couldn't wait to get away from Q.Her heart nearly seized up just thinking that.She wrapped her arms around her more tightly, as if she could hold herself together with strength alone.It felt like history repeating itself.She had to leave because of Nadine for her own good.While Q remained where he was.Candi understood his resolve to carry through with his job. She really did. But her heart couldn't help but feel abandoned. Again.Q had chosen Nadine once over her, and now it was happening again.Yes, Candi knew it was different. This was about doing the right thing and protecting themselves."You're awfully quiet," Wesley finally said."Know your audience," she mumbled.He glanced at her. His sunglasses hid his eyes and made it impossible to guess at wh