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Chapter 128: Diha
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2022-11-24 14:23:06Related chapters
Aegis 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 : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 130: Diha
Tuesday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.DIHA STOOD JUST INSIDE her lab, looking up at Miles. There was something about being the focus of his attention that made her heart speed up, stomach tie in knots and her toes wiggle. He was an intense man.If it weren't for Harper and the others, she might have caved under a stare like that. She wouldn't exactly thank Harper for toughening her up."T-thank you, Mr. Green." Her knees were a bit weak. She'd been up far too long, and wouldn't have the chance to crash until much later.Her stomach growled, but she hoped he didn't hear over the other sounds of people talking and moving about the office.Miles' gaze dipped down. It was so fast she would have missed it if she weren't watching him. "Ms. Balakrishnan?""Diha, please?" She was rather impressed he hadn't stuttered over her surname once, but it was a mouthful.He paused, as if considering the request. Would he refuse? Was it odd to sugge
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 131: Miles
MILES SET HIS LAPTOP down on the empty corner of the desk, then leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He had to keep his head screwed on straight for now. There was simply too much to learn."Can you walk me through, step by step, how you arrived at your conclusion?" he asked."Sure." She moved her notebook and pen around the desk, seeming to search for just the right spot before leaving them alone. "Where to start? Okay.""Do you want some coffee or tea?" He mentally kicked himself for not offering first."No." She chuckled and glanced at him, those warm eyes of her glowing. "If I have any more, I'm not sure I'll be able to sit.""They only believe in the strong stuff around here.""I learned that lesson." She cleared her throat and turned toward him. "Like I said during the meeting, all I started off doing was going over the list of people who haven't been accounted for yet. It's my theory that one of the reasons Valentino is so hard to trace is because he doesn't always d
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 132: Aleksandr, Valentino
Tuesday. Brighton, United Kingdom.ALEKSANDR LEBEDEV PEERED THROUGH his scope. Not at the warehouse he'd begun his day watching, but a side street. He'd noticed the cluster of men during one of his routine visual sweeps. The three men he could see now through the open door of a van were clearly military. Like himself, they had a way of holding themselves and moving that spoke of lifelong relationship with death."What are you up to?" he muttered into the early evening.This job had come to him weeks ago. He'd begun preparations, shadowing the man and woman as closely as he dared.Truth was, anyone could take a few bills to kill someone. It took a lot more skill to not only assassinate someone, but to erase them from the earth.That was Aleksandr's specialty. He considered it professional courtesy for the hacker and his sister. They'd worked so hard to become ghosts, flitting about the world, doing the impossible. The least he could do for them was seal that legacy away.
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 133: Diha
Wednesday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.DIHA WANTED TO RUB her bleary eyes so bad. Why had she let Cat talk her into wearing mascara and eyeliner? Diha's make-up routine was subdued. A little eyeshadow, a brow pencil, bronzer and maybe powder. Most days she didn't bother with more than the brow pencil and some lip gloss.What was the point?Deep down, she knew why she'd let Cat talk her into more make-up after the last two days.The reason had been poured into a well-tailored suit and had fed her a delicious meal. Technically, she'd fed herself, but she'd gotten the food because of him.Hopefully Miles stayed out of her lab today. After being up for almost two-and-a-half days, she'd slept the sleep of the dead last night. Waking up had been particularly hard. She was just glad that she'd been able to arrange a late start to her day. Still, she was left feeling wool-headed. When dealing with Miles she needed her wits about her, and tod
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 134: Valentino, Miles
Wednesday. Crash Pad. Brighton, United Kingdom.VALENTINO PEALED BACK A corner of a newspaper and gazed out at the dreary morning.She couldn't see the men out there, but she knew where they were. The cameras still had them."Everything's done," Viggo announced."Good." She let go and turned toward him. "Now, we wait."It had taken most of the night to gather what she needed to execute the plan, but things were in motion now. All she had to do was sit back and enjoy the show."I still think we should get out of here after it's done," Viggo said.Valentino glanced over her brother.She didn't keep him around to think. That wasn't his role in all of this. Thinking had never and would never be Viggo's strength, but she didn't say that. She was no longer cruel.Instead, she ignored him and went to her computer.These days anyone with enough drive could frame someone. Between photo and video editing software, she could make anyone say or do whatever she wanted. Oh, th
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 135: Miles
Wednesday. Thames House Security Service Headquarters. London, United Kingdom.MILES SCROLLED THROUGH HIS email. He didn't have anything new, and there wasn't anything in particular he could do. But scrolling gave him an activity.Why had he opened his mouth? Why had he said any of that earlier? What was it about Diha that made him completely forget decorum and ramble on about everything he shouldn't?It was clear he'd made her uncomfortable, but he didn't know how to fix it or if he should try. What was done was done. In the future, he would be more careful about what he said to her. Just because he was attracted to her didn't mean anything to her. In fact, except for a few moments here and there, he was fairly certain she would have preferred to avoid his company.Too bad he had his orders.Bennett was pleased with their progress. He was certain the only reason that was because of Diha's progress. It couldn't be because of anything Miles had done or found out."Did you
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 136: Miles
Miles kept himself from looking at Diha. It was far too easy to let his mind wander when he looked at her. To wonder if his life might have been different if he'd met a woman like her earlier, before he'd gone and married his work.A woman like her didn't deserve someone like him.He should be glad when this operation was over and she went home. As frustrating as it was to not be in control of his life at the moment, being around her only magnified that. She had the job she'd always wanted, like him, and yet the little she'd said about her family and the rest of her life made it clear that her life was full. She wasn't damaged goods like he was.He turned the volume down and leaned back in his chair. It took effort, but he wrestled his thoughts back to the job.There were cameras covering the team and the building they were watching. Someone had rigged a camera up in the hall outside the condo which had gotten them glimpses of a man going in and out of the place, but never his
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
