Sunday. Safe House. St. Petersburg, Russia.FELECIA STALKED AWAY FROM the office. She was glad for the spacious flat. Right now she didn't much want to run into anyone.They weren't going to help her. Sure, Evan might want to and the others seemed open to it, but she doubted they would go against this woman's wishes. She had to be their boss, someone with more clout.What was Felecia going to do?She approached a window, keeping to the side, in the shadows and out of direct view. There were curtains drawn across the glass, but they were on the sheer side. She peered down onto the street below.Her hours of lead time were gone. She knew her father had someone down there watching them. The team had not tried to hide their movements since they wanted to lay their own trap. Now the only one getting snared was her.The best-case scenario was for the Americans to capture her father when he came for her.Did she have other options?If she left on her own, she'd be tailed. T
Sunday. Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia.OBRAN DRUMMED HIS FINGERS on the desk. His man following the team who'd taken his daughter had reported no sign of movement at the flat in St. Petersburg. Obran would have rather not set foot in that city again.He'd grown up here, in the heart of the city. As a child he'd begged and stole what he needed to get by. His parents had either died or abandoned him. None could say. That city had forged him, made him grow stronger than the average person.The day he took the job of being a runner for a forger was the day that had changed Obran's future. Not at first. He'd spent several years being the errand boy, filling out his pockets with what he could steal. It wasn't until he was a teenager that he'd begun helping out.The rest was history.He'd taken over the business as a young man, learning how to grow with the needs of his clients. And along the way he'd fallen in love.It hadn't been smart, but it wasn't like he had a choice in w
Monday. Safe House. St. Petersburg, Russia.EVAN SIPPED HIS COFFEE as he padded around the flat. Thanks to the tablet he could watch the feeds without being chained to the desk like he would normally. There were benefits to having Kelsey set everything up for them, like added equipment they didn't normally have room for.Despite the quiet night he still couldn't settle. Each time he got comfortable some strange itch sent him to his feet, pacing around.Because of that kiss.He was torn between chastising himself and wishing things could be different.There was nothing in Felecia's behavior so far that was calculated. He didn't doubt that times had forced her into that role, but she wasn't playing that game now. At least, he didn't think so.What did he really know?Once again he wished they knew more about her.He hated the idea that she'd ever had to treat her body like a commodity.Men were pigs. Disgusting.Evan paused in the hall, realizing that he'd found hi
FELECIA WANTED TO CHASE away the dreams and shadows from her mind. She was desperate to feel something good. Something other than death and despair. She barely knew these people, but already she feared for their safety.Anyone near her was in danger so long as her father was out there. He'd killed to have her before, he'd kill again. But right now she didn't want to think about that.She wanted to feel. To be in control of her body and her desires.Evan's tongue stroked into her mouth causing her insides to hum with arousal.God, she wanted more of this with him. Just more.Kelsey had said to be selfish. This, what Felecia felt for Evan, it was completely about her. He made her feel safe, cared for, cherished. And they barely knew each other.The door clicked shut behind Evan, sealing them in here. Alone. Away from the world for a few moments.He took a step, forcing her back, all while his mouth made love to her. She could hardly breathe, her head buzzed and she didn't k
Felecia's chuckle turned into a sigh as he kissed across her stomach to her navel. Everything he did to her felt good. Indulgent.Evan hooked his fingers in the waistband of the yoga pants she'd slept in. She lifted her hips, giving silent permission to be undressed. He dragged both pants and panties down her hips, pausing to press more kisses to each hip.Her stomach muscles tightened as his mouth drifted lower.He wasn't going to...Evan stood back, taking her clothes with him and leaving her naked.For a moment they just looked at each other. He was a sight to behold clothed. What would he look like naked?He took a step toward the bed."Take your shirt off?" She didn't know what he intended to do, but she wanted more bare skin from him.He paused and pulled his T-shirt off. Under that was a dark vest made from Kevlar worn over a white undershirt. He winced as he ripped the Velcro straps free. Both vest and undershirt were shed quickly, giving her the first glimpse o
Tuesday. Safe House. St. Petersburg, Russia.THE EARLY MORNING HOURS crept onward and darkness still swathed the city. Evan glanced from the computer screens to Felecia sitting on the sofa. He'd made her a cup of hot chocolate in the hopes she might go back to sleep.She was so beautiful.Even as that thought bloomed in his mind he felt a swift jab of guilt.He pushed it aside and continued doing his visual sweep of the feeds. He'd checked in with Kelsey and confirmed everything was fine down there.It was quiet. Too quiet for his liking, but Kelsey said this was normal. This block didn't see any activity once it got late, which meant any traffic stuck out.Satisfied all was well, Evan picked up his coffee and finally allowed himself to be drawn toward Felecia. She glanced up at him and smiled. Her cheeks were still rosy, her eyes a bit glassy from pleasure.He eased down a little distance from her."Everything okay?" she asked."Yeah." He considered her for a mome
FELECIA LAY IN BED staring at the ceiling. She didn't think she'd get back to sleep and she didn't relish the idea of sitting up with Tucker. He was the one person who hadn't been overtly friendly with her. Part of her wished Evan would come back to her room, but she doubted he would. Besides, he needed some rest and she needed to not get too attached to Evan.He was unexpected. Everything about him wasn't as it should be which only made her like him more. He was a kind man. She suspected that wasn't a quality unique to her, that this was who he was deep down, under all the soldier's veneer. He was simply a good man.And then there was the knowing. She'd felt it, a certainty that he was important to her somehow.She needed to stay far away from him, and yet she knew she couldn't. For good or bad, they were bound together for the moment.Felecia rolled to her side and stared toward the big windows looking out on the city.If Evan stayed near her, he'd get hurt or killed. Those
Tuesday. Safe House. St. Petersburg, Russia.EVAN KEPT A TIGHT hold on Felecia as they crossed the hall and made for the stairs close on Harper's heels. Jamie was staying behind, laying down fire while Logan and Tucker repositioned themselves.The flash grenades had given the other men the edge they needed to even the numbers a little. There'd been maybe ten men out there, which meant there were around fourteen between them and the ground floor. And that was just an estimate. Tucker had sharp eyes, but no one was that good.Tucker, Logan and Jamie talked over each other, coordinating their efforts on the eastern stair. The men in the hall must have come up the western stair which would account for why there wasn't anyone here.Harper gestured for them to slow their descent. Evan grabbed Felecia's wrist and pulled her to a stop on a landing and tugged her down into a crouch."What about the others?" she whispered.He tapped his comm, muting his mic. "They're fine.""We
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