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Chapter 63: Evan
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Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 64: Felecia
Friday. Unknown.FELECIA.That was a good name.She studied the combination of names.Felecia. Helen. Boyko.What would her life be like as Felecia? What life did she want to create for herself?She leaned her head back against the thin pillow. She could count the metal bars of her headboard through the down and fabric.As Felecia she'd have half a dozen pillows and a big, fluffy comforter she changed with the seasons. But she wouldn't spend all her time in bed. No, there was a wide world out there to be seen and one couldn't do that lying around in bed all day.Too bad her bed was the only comfortable surface provided to her during non-working hours.No, Felecia was a name for a woman who did things, saw places, bought her own damn clothes and got to go out to restaurants.Who knew?Maybe she'd even have friends or a boyfriend.She sighed and tucked the passport back under her mattress. Later, when the lights were out she'd hide it behind the loose brick whe
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 65: Evan
Friday. Staging Van. Kiev, Ukraine.EVAN STARED AT THE monitor, hands clenched.They'd been in this van for days watching this door and the corner.Obran had a routine. At roughly nine in the morning he appeared along the street. They'd never been able to determine where he came from, he was just suddenly there. He'd stop in the café on the corner where surveillance had snapped their picture, then he disappeared down an alley and into this door, rarely to be seen again until the following morning.Obran moved around the city like a ghost.This was the first time they'd seen Obran twice in one day.The side door to the van opened. Logan and Harper climbed in."Anything?" Logan asked."Nope," Tucker replied.They'd taken over watching the site in shifts, two-man teams rotating every so often. It was almost claustrophobic with all five of them in the van now."This might be our chance." Tucker turned around and faced them from his vantage point in the front of the v
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 66: Evan
A thin coat of dust covered the ground, disturbed only in one line. The kind of line the passing of feet over many days might make.Evan glued his eyes on the trail and followed it."Single file," he said softly.Their little platform widened. An old metal gate stood open. There was paint on the walls from kids and broken tiles on the floor."An old platform?" Jamie asked."Looks like it," Harper replied.Jamie kept going. "The closest metro stop isn't even a block away. There are probably a dozen entrances to this place."That made sense, not that it helped them find their guy."Which way do we go?" Harper asked."Evan's got the trail," Logan replied.Despite the taggers and other refuse left from squatters, it was all old. There'd only been one path taken through here lately, and it was easy to follow.They left the platform and entered another long hall. Here a few lights lit the way, but it wasn't welcoming. What drew Evan's attention was the open maintenance
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 67: Obran
Friday. Obran's Flat. Kiev, Ukraine.OBRAN FELT HIS PHONE vibrating against his thigh.He wasn't expecting a call. The rest of the evening should be quiet.The vibrating continued.Not a call.The perimeter alarm.Sometimes he was convinced his daughter lived to vex him. Didn't the brat realize he was doing this for her own good?She was his only family left.He had to protect her from people who would use her for their own gain or revenge.By the time he'd realized how deep he was in this world, he couldn't unmake his family. Trying to stay away from them hadn't helped either. The only thing that worked was protecting them. And he'd do that until his dying day. Even if his brat of a daughter was so fucking ungrateful.He glanced up and down the mostly empty subway car before pulling his phone out and tapping the alert.The screen went to the main feed in the workroom. His daughter stood facing a man Obran didn't know. A man who shouldn't be there.The blo
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 68: Felecia
Friday. Unknown. Kiev, Ukraine.FELECIA'S HEAD WAS SPINNING despite sitting down.She was free. To an extent. She doubted these men would let her just walk out of here wherever here was. They clearly wanted something from her father. Who didn't?They also didn't know she spoke English.It hadn't been an intentional move on her part, least not in the beginning. She'd been so shocked when the door opened and strange men walked in. Her father rarely brought people to the workshop. It was both to protect the workspace and to keep her a secret. By the time she'd regained her balance, they'd begun talking about her and she'd listened.They were Americans. That much was obvious even if they hadn't admitted it. The accents alone betrayed them.What did they want with her father?A nagging suspicion bit at the back of her mind.She hoped she was wrong.Felecia peered around her at the flat where they'd taken her. It was sparse. The furniture had likely come with the place.
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 69: Felecia
A sense of longing and sadness swept Felecia.Was she still alive, too? Could she be out there?"Do you have that picture?" she whispered.Sometimes Felecia found it hard to recall what her mother sounded like and the memories of her face were getting fuzzier, harder to recall. Dad refused to keep pictures around, saying they were like ghosts haunting him.He'd taken everything from Felecia. Her family. Her life. Her freedom."Yeah." Evan dug in his pocket and brought out his phone. He tapped the screen a few times then showed it to her.Felecia sucked in a breath, emotions pelting her from all sides as she looked at the two faces captured on the screen.The flash was too bright, washing out their faces a bit, but the resemblance was clear. Her mother stood with one hand braced against the bricks in front of Felecia's grandparent's house, the other around Felecia. Mom wore a dress, likely one of grandma's, with an old shawl around her shoulders. Felecia's clothes were hid
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 70: Evan
Saturday. Safe House. Kiev, Ukraine.EVAN SET THE LAST bag with the others. Jamie, Harper and Tucker had confirmed that in the short window they'd pulled back to regroup Obran had vacated the space where they'd found Felecia.A mental picture unfolded in Evan's mind. It was the moment he'd looked up at her large, dark eyes. She was a beautiful woman. No amount of dirt or blood could hide that. Part of him couldn't blame Obran for locking her up. She was like Helen of Troy or some other fabled beauty. He'd known what she was suggesting last night, albeit the delivery was clumsy. It had broken him a bit for her to think that was necessary and he hated the surge of desire he'd felt for her. She tugged at his protective instincts in the worst way.With effort he shut away the thoughts of Felecia and focused on Obran.They'd taken a chance and they'd missed him.With their cover blown the next step was to vacate the safe house and relocate. Remaining where they were only posed
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 71: Felecia
FELECIA HADN'T BEEN ABLE to sleep. She'd been too nervous. There was too much to think about. Even now despite how hungry she was it was hard to eat for all the knots in her belly.One of the details she'd considered long and hard was the language barrier.She understood them even if the language came slower to her. The longer she let them believe she didn't speak English, the more damage she'd do to the tentative trust they'd established once the truth was out. She was worried that even twelve hours was too long.She licked her lips and spoke slowly, the words cumbersome on her tongue. She met the gaze of each man around the table before ending up at Evan again. "Most of the time I listen to English. I do not speak it well.""Good. This will make things easier," Logan said between bites of toast. He at least did not appear to be phased by this revelation. "We still need to know about Obran. He's your father?"She nodded and nibbled at the food. It was regrettable she couldn'
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
