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Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 122: Miles
Eighteen Months Later. Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.MILES GREEN STARED STRAIGHT ahead at his reflection, arms pumping at his side while guitars shredded his ear drums. It would take about fifty miles or so to run his anger out. He was committed to the task. It wasn't like there was anything else he could do. Until the internal review was done, he was effectively sidelined from doing anything meaningful.Once more he cursed his past self. If he'd just looked away. If he hadn't noticed the woman's tears. If he hadn't gone by the book.He'd never been able to handle a woman crying. It was his weakness. He didn't know where it came from. The only thing that made sense was that there hadn't been many tears in their household growing up. He didn't know how to handle them. Logically, it was a load of bull, but it was the only answer he made.If he went back, he'd have made the same damn call because it was the right thing to do. And he
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 123: Diha
Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.DIHA BALAKRISHNAN SMOOTHED HER hand down the long, blue kurta she'd worn today. It was her favorite gift from her more fashionable sister. The short sleeved garment was a rich, shimmering navy blue with a cascade of gold embroidered leaves clinging to one shoulder and falling in a pile down her left side with a few dotting the hem swirling around her calves. She'd paired the garment with yellow leggings and her brand new red ankle boots. It was flashy for Diha, who was not normally one to call attention to herself."Say it with me." Cat, Diha's lab assistant and friend, hooked her arm in Diha's. "You are a badass and you kick ass."Diha peered sideways at Cat as they waited for the crosswalk sign. "That's a lot of, well...""Ass?" Cat grinned at her."I should never have let you talk me into this." Diha pressed a cool hand to her heated cheeks. It was September in London and while it wasn't cold, i
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 124: Miles
Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.MILES STRODE DOWN THE hall. There were only two women this side of the security check-point. They had to be the first wave of the American team he'd been warned about. A list of names scrolled through his head, but only one stood out right now.Diha Balakrishnan.Before this moment, he couldn't place the name. But now that he saw her, he had a vague memory of a shy, mousey woman.Funny, when he thought about that operation before this moment, he couldn't place her there. But seeing her here filled in that hole.He was struck with the strangest memory. The team had been gathered to hash out some details. They'd taken a short break and he recalled turning and his gaze landing on her. She'd been pouring herself tea. She was the only person at the table who hadn't spoken, and he'd sat there wondering if she spoke at all. What purpose did she serve? What use was she? To be part of the team she'd been on
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 125: Diha
Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.DIHA BALAKRISHNAN WINCED AS the door thudded shut behind Miles Green.That had not gone well. It had at first, but they'd taken a wrong turn. Where? Why? How?Cat sighed and hopped up onto one of the desks, staring wistfully at the door. "I would not kick that out of bed. You did not adequately tell me how good looking that man is. Damn, Diha, you do know how to pick them."Diha turned as a blush rose up her neck and into her face. The last thing she needed was Cat seeing that and poking at her over the blush.Besides, Diha didn't have it in her to admonish Cat's mouth. This time. She was only speaking truth.Miles Green was a handsome specimen of man. Everything about him telegraphed strength from the strong, square jaw to his wide shoulders and the way he carried himself. The accent and his 007 job only sweetened the package. Then there was the permanent stubble. It offset the clean-cut image s
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 126: Diha
Diha gave Cat a level stare. While it was one thing for Evan and Felecia to work together-they were married now-workplace relationships would only make the team dynamics more complicated.Cat ignored the look and began unpacking the chaos for her desk.The other four Aegis Group team members drifted in, filling the small office. Though each man was distinct in his own way, they were all of a certain type. Big. Imposing. Dangerous. In the beginning she'd been intimidated by them, but not anymore. During the short time they'd worked together, she'd found endearing qualities about each."Diha, hey." Evan Ivanov approached her desk. "I was supposed to give you this before the flight, but I missed you."He handed a small, colorfully wrapped box to her. No doubt something from Fiona. Diha smiled and pocketed the gift to open later when she was alone. No need to give Harper ammunition against both of them."Zora around yet?" Jamie Silva peered into the corners, as if their illustrio
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 127: Valentino
Monday. Crash Pad. Brighton, United Kingdom.VALENTINO TAPPED AT THE keyboard and frowned.On the surface, nothing had changed. She could still see all parts of the network. Nothing was denied to her that she'd had access to prior. And yet, she had a hunch. A feeling.Something wasn't right.It had begun when her mentor had reached out with a new job. He never did that. She could count on one hand the number of people who knew about their relationship. It was a secret they'd both kept, like her real identity. Normally, jobs came through her point of contact, Skilton. She'd have much preferred to not work with Skilton. The man was a pompous ass. But the chain of command made sense, just like computer code. There was always a beginning and an end to every string of commands. Interjecting her mentor was just weird.She could have let that go. Sometimes things had to go out of order for the sake of expediency. But the abnormalities just kept adding up.The train hack.What
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 128: Diha
Monday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.DIHA SCROLLED THROUGH THE data, letting her gaze drift, snagging on whatever word stuck out to her.There was a large amount of information on the train derailment. Almost too much. It had taken Diha most of the afternoon to first organize the files in a way that worked for her, then set her program to sort and index. Now, hours later, she had something to work with.When Zora had brought her onto the team, Diha would never have imagined what her job would entail. It was so much more vast than simple cyber security. She was a virtual detective and analyst rolled up into one. And occasionally she still reset a few passwords for old time's sake.The key here was to look at things differently. Capable MI5 intelligence officers had gone over everything dozens of times. She couldn't do things the same way they had. She needed to twist and turn things to see them in a different light, and from there arrive
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 129: Valentino, Miles
Monday. United Kingdom.VALENTINO STARED AT THE transaction dated five days ago.It was the second payment of three. The first one pre-dated the train derailment job. She'd seen payments like this one done before.Having someone on your team assassinated was tricky business.Were they coming for her?Her gut said yes, but she didn't know for certain. Not yet. Not really.Her mentor would no doubt know it was her who'd downloaded the files by now. The fact that he hadn't called her made the unease grow.Someone within their hierarchy was being knocked off. Valentino refused to sit back and let that person be her. They'd been through too much to get to this place in life for her to lie down and take it.No, Valentino would fight whatever came there way. It was the least she could do for her brother.She glanced at Viggo's profile. The LED light from his phone cast a harsh light up, making the scar on his neck and cheek look more severe than they actually were.He'd
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
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Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 374: Quentin, Epilogue
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.
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 373: Candi
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
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 372: Quentin
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
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 371: Quentin
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
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 370: Candi
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.
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 369: Candi
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?
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 368: Nadine
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
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 367: Quentin
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
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 366: Candi
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
