Wednesday. MI5 Safe House. Brighton, United Kingdom.DIHA BLEW OUT A breath as Miles shut the front door behind the policemen. She sagged into the armchair, the tension leech out of her.She'd never been the focus of a question-and-answer session with cops like that before. Her experience was always as an expert, advising and informing. It was unsettling to be on the other side. Doing it alone had made it worse.They'd separated her and Miles from the very beginning.She hadn't liked that.Of course she understood the reasons why. They'd fled a crime scene. There had been shots fired, though she couldn't remember Miles shooting at the man. If he had, she'd missed it in the rush of everything else.She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself.Funny how tonight had gone from extreme highs to lows, one right after another.She'd been terrified and thrilled to be out in the field with Miles. There was the high of what they'd found coupled with that look Miles had g
Diha's mind went quiet.What was he trying to say?She opened and closed her mouth as his words replayed themselves a dozen times."Oh." She blinked at him, some of the meaning finally sinking into her abused brain.One brow arched and Miles chuckled. "Oh?""What am I supposed to say?" She waved her hands, unsure what she should do with any part of her body right now. "I don't know what this part is.""What was the last part of your sentence?""What sentence?""I quote, I'm going to need you to kiss me or...?"Diha's jaw dropped and her mind went blank."Or what?" Miles asked.He was most definitely smiling at her now, and unless she was mistaken, he was enjoying her discomfort. That realization sparked her anger. She was done being the butt of jokes.She crossed her arms over her chest and stared back at him, channeling a bit of Zora for confidence. "I don't know what I was going to say. It was the heat of the moment.""Would you have kissed me if I hadn't ki
Wednesday. MI5 Safe House. Brighton, United Kingdom.DIHA SPUTTERED A LAUGH before she could consider Miles' question. "No."Did he want her to be?She froze.Was the only reason he was into her was because he thought she was some sort of virginal woman?"Oh, thank God," he muttered and pulled her to him, backing toward the bed."That's a good thing?" She struggled to think through the arousal."Honestly?" He looked down at her, his smile bright and hungry. "I wouldn't know what to do with a virgin.""I'm fairly certain sex works the same regardless of virginity.""Quite right." Miles froze."What?"His smile faded into a shell-shocked expression."What?" she demanded."I don't-I mean, there isn't... I don't have... Fuck." He hung his head and his shoulders slumped."A condom?" She sputtered a laugh. He looked so horribly sad.He peered up at her, a hopeful light in his eyes. "Do you...?"She planted her hands on his chest and pushed.He sat down on
Diha's eyes were still squeezed shut. "Hm?"Miles chuckled, the low rumble sinking into her skin causing her to shudder again."There's something I want to do." His sly tone penetrated the lust fog.She managed to summon the strength to look down at him. She'd grown accustomed to the sexy, 007 spy Miles. The casual, more personal Miles was growing on her. But this? This mischievous, almost boyishly sly version of him was completely new. It was like a secret part of him and she was getting to see it."What?" she managed to get out."I think I'll show you."Diha opened her mouth to demand details, but the sound turned into a yelp as he stood, lifting her with him. She clung to his shoulders, oddly very aware of her flats falling off her feet."On second thought, I might just stay like this," he mumbled from between her breasts.She laughed. It bubbled up out of her and she laughed. Okay, so some small part of her really wanted to be put down, but locked in this moment wit
MILES STARED UP DIHA'S glistening body. There was no going back now. From the moment he'd really seen her a few days ago to now, she'd unknowingly reeled him in, and now he was hooked. It had been easy to ignore his attraction because of her shy, quiet demeanor. But now that he'd heard the delectable noises she made in the throes of passion.And then there was her.He was a man. He'd noticed the gentle curve of her body under the flowing garments she wore and wondered what she was hiding.Now he knew.Curvy was a tame word. She had that hourglass figure with proportions that should be illegal.He carefully rearranged her legs so he could push up. Even that movement was uncomfortable considering how fucking hard he was.Diha's eyes remained closed. She was breathing deeply though she had released her death grip on the comforter.He crawled up to lie next to her on his side. Part of him wanted to take her now, make her come all over again. The other half wanted to draw this
Miles had forgotten how much she'd been pushed to do."Come on, you can't fall asleep yet." He took her hand and tugged her upright.The frown Diha aimed at him said it all.Diha didn't want to budge, but she did anyway.Miles stood on shaky legs and helped her to her feet."I, um, guess I should do things," she muttered and turned.He didn't let go of her. Instead, he tugged her back around and grabbed his shirt that had wound up partially hanging off the footboard. He dropped the garment over her head. She chuckled and slid her arms through the holes then looked down at herself smiling.That smile was gold.It was delighted, sated, happy. Seeing it made him lighter and more than a little hopeful.While he would have enjoyed a naked Diha, he also knew her well enough by now to also know she wasn't comfortable flaunting herself. Maybe, if he was lucky, that would change someday, but today wasn't that day."I'm going to get my things from downstairs. Be back, okay?"
Thursday. MI5 Safe House. Brighton, United Kingdom.DIHA SMOOTHED HER HAND over the braid hanging over her shoulder. Normally she just braided it and left it, but today she couldn't get it right. This was the third time she'd braided it again, and she still wasn't happy.Her gaze flicked to the mirror.She hadn't been able to look at herself without memories from last night assaulting her.Even now she could picture that moment when Miles had leaned into her and she'd felt him growing hard all over again. She swallowed and fanned her face.Maybe she should have foregone makeup today, but she hadn't wanted to. Granted, it didn't transform her, but she felt a little bit more prepared to deal with Miles wearing eyeliner and bronzer.Her.Deal with him.That was a joke.She was in over her head and knew she was in trouble. There was nothing she could do about it.When she'd set out on this trip, all she'd wanted was to be noticed. That was it. That was what she'd pre
Diha felt as though she were dodging and weaving. While he claimed he was going to be professional, she'd seen that look from him before. Last night. Right before he did the most wonderful things to her.She swallowed.He'd asked her a question.Dinner.Right.She knew where he was going and that was a bad idea."I don't know," she said slowly. "Probably working and eating.""Think you could take a short break? There's a little place not far from the building. It's busy at lunch, but not at dinner."She opened and closed her mouth.He was serious. No part of her doubted that.She should say no. That was the safe thing. The thing that would preserve her from heartbreak when he stopped being interested in her. And yet, part of her wanted to feel special to a man like him. Even if just for a day."I can maybe make that happen," she said."Perfect."The rest of breakfast Miles spent catching her up on emails from his side, including the short report about the hote
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