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Chapter 195
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Aegis Group Chapter 196
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?""My name is Hassan. I told you that." Zacharias could smell the stench of his own fear. A predator like Nador could no doubt smell it on him, too. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. He pulled against the bonds holding him to the chair.Unlike Luke, who got a cinderblock cell to stew in, Nador had Zacharias in what looked like a torture chamber.His calculated risk coming here was just that-a risk. And the trap had snapped shut on him instead of Yael."He called you Zach." Nador clenched Zachiaras' face in his big, meaty palm, forcing him to look up at the mercenary."My name is Hassan." Zacharias stared Nador right in the eye, putting all the truth behind the statement that he could. "Ask yourself, what does he gain by pitting us against each other? He's trying to deflect your attention, get you to ignore him. What's he planning down there?""It's all too neat. First you. Then him." Nador let go of Zacharias and took a step back. Nador folded his
Aegis Group Chapter 197
Abigail slowed the glorified dune buggy to a crawl and checked her bearings again.Nador's Libyan compound was almost three hundred and fifty kilometers from the Aegis headquarters in Egypt by road. She was able to shave off nearly forty by avoiding roads altogether with the Sand Viper ATV.She should be nearing the compound soon, and that meant patrols.Hopefully they didn't miss her, or she'd have to be spot-on with her targeting.Abigail double checked the straps on the passenger seat. She'd only brought gas and the backpack with her. While she'd have preferred to stash the pack in the back, C4 and gasoline shouldn't mix. At least not with her still in the driver's seat.She needed to swing to the north a bit. She'd drifted too far south and risked missing her target altogether. Turning the wheel, she shifted the ATV into gear and shot forward.This whole plan was crazy.It might not work.But she hoped it did.At least if she failed, Luke's team wouldn't be far be
Aegis Group Chapter 198
ABIGAIL KEPT HER GAZE lowered and focused on noting the exits, the windows, all the ways she could escape. The main building was built out of stone that would survive the harsh desert climate. The interior was utilitarian-tiled and simple.The guards led her through the entry and into a large room that boasted a desk, a seating area, and several fans moving the warm air around. Zacharias wasn't here. A single glance told her that. He might be elsewhere, but he wasn't here. There were at least a dozen armed men around, plus Nador. He stuck out by the simple fact that he wasn't covered in dust.Based on what she'd read, she'd almost expected to be delivered to his bedroom, along with a couple other women. By all accounts, when Nador was not busy killing, he was fucking. She hated him on principle."My men say you have an offer for me?" Nador circled his desk, his arms folded across his chest. He wore tan slacks and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up around his mammot
Aegis Group Chapter 199
LUKE PACED HIS CELL. Waiting. Listening.Three bombs and at least one other altercation.The yard was abuzz with activity. People yelling, trying to put out the blaze that had taken over the main building. The acrid smoke was drifting into this wing already.Where was Abigail?Did he try to escape? Go in search of her? Or did he stay put?She likely had a plan. The guys would be somewhere out there waiting for a signal. Was that what the bombs were? A signal? Then where were the guys?The worst thing a kidnapped client could do was attempt to rescue themselves. It royally fucked up whatever plans their team made to extract the clients. He knew he needed to stay put, to play his role, but damn it. It felt wrong. Something was off. The guys should have been there already. Shouldn't they?Voices echoed down the hall, louder. A door banged open.Luke leaned against the bars, holding onto them as though they were all that was keeping him upright.A few moments later, the d
Aegis Group Chapter 200
ABIGAIL COULD BARELY LIFT her hand. Her fingers were numb. Her head spun, and not in the fun, dreamy way Luke had made her feel since meeting him. This was a bad, slowly suffocating sort of sensation. Oxygen deprivation was an awful way to go.She'd had broken ribs and a collapsed lung once.This was worse.If she had to guess, her windpipe was constricted, either due to swelling or some sort of internal damage from Nador's attempt to strangle her. The blows had to have cracked a rib, probably messed up a lung, further compounding whatever problem she'd had from The Pit. No matter how deeply she tried to breathe, it hurt, and she wasn't getting enough air.She was dying.Slowly.But she was dying.Abigail sat back and watched Luke fuss under the hood of the Jeep with only the desert stars and moon to light his way. They had a full tank of gas due to some enterprising individual who'd stashed the back with gallons of fuel. Luke would make it out of here.Her?It was pr
Aegis Group Chapter 201
ABIGAIL KNEW WHAT KNOCKING on death's door felt like. She was pretty sure she'd had one foot through the door for half her life.The voices around her were foreign and unknown. The English registered, but not the words. She kept her eyes shut, testing one finger and then one toe at a time, taking stock of what hurt, what didn't, and gathering the shreds of her memory.Amman. The Smiths. Luke and Ethan. The bomb. Running. More Luke. The Pit. Baron. Zach. Always Luke. The mercenaries.She could account for almost all of it, except toward the end.Her last memories were from the desert and being on the road with Luke.It was the perfect way to go, in a sense. Except for the part where Luke would be left with her body. But that appeared to be anything but the case now.A voice drew nearer, unfamiliar and brisk.Abigail waited until it came and went, leaving her with only the chorus of whirling and beeping to fill the air.She peeled one eye and then the other open.Hospit
Aegis Group Chapter 202
LUKE'S PALMS WERE SWEATY as he held the apartment door for Abigail. He couldn't remember the state in which he'd left it before heading out for the craziest gig of his life. It felt as though he hadn't been home for months. She stepped inside the darkened two-bedroom and he followed her in, glancing around.No boxes. He hadn't left a pile of gym clothes lying around, no stray shoes or socks. All in all it wasn't too bad. He could have vacuumed, and his clean laundry was piled on the coffee table, but otherwise it was decent. It only got better right before his mother arrived on one of her unannounced visits."It's not fancy or anything-""It's nice." Abigail walked to the overstuffed sofa and slowly sat down. Her face didn't betray any pain she might be feeling, but he could see it. Two weeks ago he wouldn't have, but he'd begun to read her non-expressions for what they really meant."You want anything? A drink? Something to eat? I could order food.""No, everything's fine. T
Aegis Group Chapter 203
ZACHARIAS PACED THE EMPTY office suite.Fifteen minutes.Where the hell were they?He adjusted the cuffs on his shirt. The suit didn't fit quite right, but he didn't have time to see a tailor. An off-the-rack suit would have to do. For now.But punctuality was clearly more than his new clients could manage.He took another back and forth tour of the meeting spot.Night swaddled the city in darkness, broken only by the street lights. This part of DC was quiet at night. All the better for a meet. If his customers would just hurry the fuck up.He glanced again at his phone.No messages.No signal.The damn Koreans were grinding his patience down to nothing.A car turned down the street. The streetlights gleamed off its dark exterior. The car slowed and turned into the lot next door."Is that them?" Zacharias asked over his shoulder."Yes, sir. Perimeter has verified their identity."Money could buy a lot of things. Decent help was one of them."Finally," Zach
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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
