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Chapter 117
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Aegis Group Chapter 118
ZAIN KEPT HIS GOOD hand on Andrea's lower back and jabbed the button for his floor with the other, glad to leave the lower levels behind. At this hour, the convention center had the eerie quality of the Mines of Moria. Shadows clung to the edges of the rooms. Too bad the trolls after Andrea weren't the same kind as those from Lord of the Rings.Andrea propped herself up in the corner of the lift, facing him. Dark crescents made her eyes look larger and sad. He had this completely irrational urge to...hug her. Hold her. Was this why so many of the Aegis guys fell into bed with their clients? She crossed her arms over her chest, blocking him out.Yeah, one of the other guys needed to be her protective detail. Not him."Why are you doing this? Why are you being so nice to me?" Even her words were weary.He lifted his shoulders."That's not an answer. I can't really hire you for a quarter, so what's the deal?""Why does there have to be a deal?""No one does anything for free
Aegis Group Chapter 119
ANDREA CLUNG TO THE slightly-fuzzy feeling clouding her brain. If she were to admit she was merely exhausted instead of drunk, she'd lose her nerve. So long as she could blame these moments on alcohol, she could power through.Once they'd devoured the pizza and breadsticks, she hadn't wanted to leave. Or maybe Zain hadn't wanted to let her go. Either way, they lay in the dark watching Captain America, but she could barely focus on the much-loved movie because of the man next to her.Zain sat against the headboard, his arm brushing hers every time he breathed or shifted. She didn't dare move. They'd done a single shot of some pre-packaged, fruity drink thing before the movie started. The new infusion of alcohol had her head buzzing and palms damp within moments. That, or it was just her nerves. Blaming it on the shot was far more convenient.He was a lot closer than he'd been before the movie began, a fact she couldn't stop focusing on. She didn't know if she should sit up, lie do
Aegis Group Chapter 120
SCREAMING.Burning metal.The smell of his skin frying in the sun.The pain shot across his shoulder, down his spine. He kicked his feet because they were the only thing he could move. The rest of him was caught under the truck. Or what was left of it."Zain? Zain!"Rustling fabric. A muted squeak.He knew that voice, but it was wrong. It didn't belong in this hell-hole.Zain's eyes popped open, but the darkness was overwhelming.Had he died?The bed dipped on his right.He rolled, reaching blindly for the source of the sound and grasped something soft. Curvy. Feminine.A high pitched yelp preceded someone landing on the edge of the bed.Andrea.He tightened his grip on her thigh, curling his fingers around the soft, inner part of her leg.It was a dream. All of it."Oh my God, Zain." She panted, her voice shaking with near laughter, pitched too high with strain.The nightmares were so rote now, he barely remembered them after waking up. They just happen
Aegis Group Chapter 121
ANDREA PRESSED A HAND to her head, partially to ensure it was still there.Talk about more than she'd bargained for.She didn't even care that she hadn't come. This-with him-was still the best sex of her life, hands down. Who knew doing it with the lights on made it better? And here she'd been super proud of herself just for putting a condom on the right way."What are you doing?" She pried one eye open.Zain was wrestling with the sheet, tossing the blanket onto the floor. She was too spent to care what went where, really, and she hadn't even had to do anything. How the hell was he still moving after that? He really was superhuman.Her whole body buzzed. A sensual warmth suffused her every pore. She'd never felt this-sexy. Maybe it was because Zain was hot as hell, and a bit of it rubbed off on her. Whatever it was, she could do with more of it."Will you stop?" She reached for him, exhausted by his constant movement.He grabbed her knee and pulled her to the edge of the
Aegis Group Chapter 122
"I'M LATE!"Zain opened his eyes just in time to get the comforter tossed over his face and a knee in his thigh. He grunted and shifted out of the way to avoid being trampled. The bed bounced and footsteps thumped the floor.He peered out at the clock from under the pile and caught a glimpse of Andrea's naked backside before she darted into the bathroom.How the hell had he slept past eight? It was after nine, for Christ's sakes.For the life of him, he couldn't remember what Andrea might be late to, but judging by the notes of high alarm, he figured there wasn't time for a shower or anything else before she had to report somewhere for something. He checked his phone briefly, noting there was nothing that appeared urgent or relevant to his day, and pushed to his feet.He stepped on something soft and foreign.Zain glanced down at Andrea's panties, still where she'd dropped them.Last night was a blur. A dream. An aberration, at the very least.He picked up the underwear
Aegis Group Chapter 123
"YOU DID GOOD."Andrea was going to throw up. She paced to the back of the meeting room as the rest of the Dark Matter and Grunge employees trickled out. Miranda followed her, coffee cups in hand."They kept staring at me. They all saw the fliers, didn't they?" Andrea stopped near the refreshment table, partly because there were still a few pastries left and Zain hadn't eaten, and partly because this was as far as she could go without walking through the windows."No. Not everyone. And besides, most of the people were drunk last night. They don't know what they saw." Miranda handed the coffee cup over. "You never came back to the room. I'm glad Zain at least let me know where you were.""I did too!""After I was in bed.""I'm sorry. I suck.""Did you?" Miranda's brows rose. "I mean, I wasn't going to ask, but I was curious.""Miranda!" Andrea snatched her boss' arm and pulled her closer."No one is listening. Besides, you're turning intense red-not just red. What happ
Aegis Group Chapter 124
ZAIN KEPT HIS HAND on Andrea all the way up to his room. It was that or punch someone, and violence wasn't the answer."I'm okay, Miranda," she said again. Andrea glanced at him and rolled her eyes, gesturing at the phone.He swiped his key card and held the door for her, listening to the same statements made again and again.I'm okay.Security is searching.Zain is fine.Never saw his face.Zain plucked Andrea's phone from her fingers and spoke into the receiver."She'll have to call you back." He ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed."Now she's going to come down here, you know?" She rolled her eyes.He didn't give a flying fuck if Miranda or her whole posse showed up at his door. All that mattered was that Andrea was safe. He'd spent the better part of an hour practically frothing at the mouth while the hotel and con security had their heads up their asses. They meant well. They were doing their jobs. But his was protecting her. Watching her be question
Aegis Group Chapter 125
ANDREA'S SMILE WAS SLIPPERY, hard to hold in place. It was only skin deep. Could Zain tell? She'd held herself together pretty damn well since the ninja attack.A freaking ninja had attacked her.Her life was no longer real.This did not happen-except it did. To her. And somehow, she hadn't cried or broken down about it yet. But she was close. She was so tired of tears, of her only recourse against people being a good cry or the grin-and-bear-it act. It wasn't fair. But she felt better when he kissed her. As if her problems weren't quite so insurmountable. Because Zain could handle anything.The moment dragged on. He continued to stare at her as though he were looking into her soul, the little frown slowly smoothing out.He lifted a hand, pushing his fingers through the hair at her temple. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. He closed the small distance between them, the only sound in the room that of denim sliding against denim. He pressed her back against the wal
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Aegis Group Chapter 490: Epilogue.
Two months later. Ekko's Apartment, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.EKKO STARED AT THE table with the spread of food laid out.Was there enough? Did she need more? Would Coco and Paxton like it?She reached out and adjusted the tray of cheese so it was at more of an angle instead of perfectly aligned to everything else.It looked too neat."Stop." Silas took her hand and spun her toward him, capturing her against his chest with strong arms around her waist."It looks like I'm trying too hard." She smoothed her hands up and over his shoulders."Stop. It's just Paxton and Coco.""Your best friend and his fiancé, who I haven't met yet.""What?" Silas' face scrunched up. "You've talked to her dozens of times.""In the background of you and Paxton talking. That doesn't count." She pulled away from him and proceeded to turn dishes a little this way and that."You do realize Coco spends most days digging in elephant shit and stuff, right?""Silas." She scowled at him."What?" He gr
Aegis Group Chapter 489: Thursday. New York Hospital, New York.
IT FELT LIKE THE weight Silas had been carrying around in his gut had now attached itself to his eyelids. He floated in darkness, no longer asleep but not yet awake. Someone had called this twilight once, though he couldn't recall who. Something wouldn't let him go back to sleep. There was something he needed to do. It was urgent.What the hell was it?That nagging question hounded him as he ever so slowly gathered his strength.He wasn't aware of time or how long it took to wrestle one eyelid open, but at long last he peered out of his darkness into...more darkness.Well that was just dandy. What the fuck?He blinked that one eye again, letting his vision adjust. He was in a room and there was a light on, it just didn't do much.Machines beeped and whirled around him.That was a sound he could never mistake and it told him the first piece of his puzzle. From there the others fell into place, one after another.He was still in the hospital.He'd been hurt.There was a fight.
Aegis Group Chapter 488: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO CLUNG TO THE stretcher bearing Silas out to the parking lot.She hadn't realized how bad his injuries were. He was barely keeping his eyes open. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she kept pace with the two paramedics. Silas covered her hand with his as they came to a stop at the bumper of an ambulance.Paxton, Brett and Vito were sitting inside. They were worse for wear and grim, but seemed okay.All around them police were marching uninjured people they'd arrested to sit in a line next to a chain-link fence blocking the sidewalk. The night was lit up with swirling lights that made her head spin."Where's Chayan?" she asked. Her heart was tearing in two, aching for both men.A little distance away an ambulance took off, sirens blaring. She hoped it was the one with Pasley in it."Ma'am, I need to look at that wound," a paramedic said to her.She held tight to Silas' hand. "What about Chayan? Older man, little taller than me? Salt and pepper hair?"Silas had said he was fine.
Aegis Group Chapter 487: Wednesday. New York City, New York.
IGNEY PACED IN A circle, looking down each hall in turn.Where were they? Had he miscalculated? Were they willing to lose the woman so long as they got the man?His orders were clear. Get both the man and the woman.The woman was a symbol. Too many young people had taken to the streets because they listened to others like her.The man though, he knew things.Killing the woman was personal. Chasing her had cast him in a bad light. But the man was more important in the grand scheme of things."Fuck," Igney muttered. He glanced at a pair of men striding for the doors. "You. Come here."The men never glanced at him. Because they didn't understand him?He whirled to face Alban. "Where are the others?""I don't know where Delem and Michil are." He grimaced. "I haven't heard from them since we split up to search the building."That wasn't good.Igney had heard a lot of gunfire. Was it possible the other men he'd brought with him were dead?If both Chayan and Pasley escaped, leavin
Aegis Group Chapter 486: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO'S ONE OFFENSIVE ATTEMPT was an utter failure. Her head spun and she was going to be sick.This wasn't good.She felt like a ragdoll being drug around, first by Igney then another man she didn't recognize. He spoke Daurian though which could only mean one thing.He was London DSS.Her body chilled. Was that from fear or the blows to the head? She didn't know anymore."Come find me, Pasley, or your little bird dies," Igney cackled into the radio.She tasted bile.Pasley had called her little bird back in the park.Igney cackled like a bad movie villain. The man was enjoying this. He was getting off on torturing them all.What about Silas?Pasley was with him.If Pasley told Silas, if he knew, they would come for her. Silas was determined to bring them all home and to keep her safe. But if he did, if he came to her rescue, Igney would kill them. Igney needed her and Chayan. Which meant he couldn't kill her here and now. It was an empty threat. Wasn't it? Did she dare belie
Aegis Group Chapter 485: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS PUSHED HIS GROUP hard as they traversed the second floor. The sun had fully set, plunging them into complete darkness where there weren't windows or other lights.This building was a damn maze, and every turn they needed was blocked by too many people to fight their way through.There had to be more than the fifteen or so they'd estimated. More like thirty.This wasn't good.What about Ekko? Where had the others gone to?He'd hoped getting down here meant they would find her and Paxton, but so far all they'd found were a few bodies. At least they knew Paxton and Brett were eliminating the other side. But no one had taken the ammo or guns. Why? When resources were this precious, why not take them?Could they have gotten free? Did he dare hope?Something thumped in the darkness. Like a heavy footfall.Silas cursed himself as he skidded to a stop. He didn't see anything, but his gut screamed at him. He pivoted and threw himself at Chayan, shoving the other man aside. Silas w
Aegis Group Chapter 484: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
THE DARKNESS FELT AS if it were swallowing her.Ekko clung to the back of Paxton's shirt like he'd directed. She couldn't shake the sensation that there were hands out there reaching for her. That Igney or one of the others were biding their time and waiting for the chance to kill her.Where was Silas? What about Chayan and the others?They'd been separated before she realized what was going on.Behind them a burst of gunfire spurred her on, shattering the silence.She knew it was Brett. Was he trading gunfire with someone? Those shots all sounded the same to her. She hoped he was safe. He was only one man and they had no idea how many were behind them."Stay close." Paxton reached back and pressed her hand to his back.Her head pounded with each and every step. It hurt so bad, but she didn't want to say anything. Her pain was minimal compared to what could happen."Will you cut that out?" Paxton yelled behind them.He side stepped and sort of skipped through a narrow gap betw
Aegis Group Chapter 483: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
SILAS GRIT HIS TEETH to keep from telling Paxton to hurry the fuck up. It wasn't like Paxton was slow. The knife on his belt tool was small and no doubt dulled after cutting through several sets of thick, plastic restraints.Sitting like this it felt as though there was a ten pound weight sitting on his guts. He didn't know what the knife had cut, but Silas knew from the woozy feeling and blood making his jeans sticky it wasn't good. He had to get the others out of here before his clock ran out."Which way did they bring you up?" Silas asked Brett instead of chafing at how long getting free was taking.Brett stood by the door, a discarded piece of wood held as a weapon. "We came in some doors, up a stair to our right then a long walk down here. You?""Different way." Silas grimaced. "Do we retrace our path, or avoid it? How many people were with you?"Brett grimaced. They'd been hooded when they arrived. "Hard to say.""Let's assume at least the three that came in here plus one o
Aegis Group Chapter 482: Wednesday. Unknown, New York City, New York.
EKKO STARED IN SHOCK, her head spinning as the men left the room again."S-Silas?" she whispered so softly she barely heard herself.He slumped sideways groaning.Had that man-that monster-just stabbed Silas?"Man, Silas, dude, talk to us." Paxton had scooted forward, his arms extended behind him, attention on Silas."I'm fine." Silas' voice was strained. "Brett, Vito, how are you two?""Alive," Brett groaned."Vito? Man?" Silas shook his head and sat up straighter."Fine."This was it.Ekko swallowed.They'd done everything and in the end, they were outplayed.The DSS would kill them. She wasn't sure why they hadn't already, but she didn't doubt that death was the final move. All of these people, they were going to die because she'd been arrogant. She'd thought she knew what she was doing, when in fact she hadn't a clue.A sob tore out of Ekko making her already aching head pound harder."Ekko?" Silas called out. "Ekko, listen to me, this is going to be okay. Pax?"A ch
