LOGINShare
Chapter 326
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Aegis Group Chapter 327: Epilogue, four months later
CARSON SAT IN HER car out in front of the guy's house and gripped the steering wheel.This was the past all over again.Everyone except Ryan was home, and she had a bomb to deliver.She glanced at the folded up piece of paper in the seat next to her and her stomach clenched.She wasn't sick with whatever was going around the office unless she could be sick with a baby.A baby.A real one this time."Oh, god." She sank down further into her seat and looked up at the tree shading the lane out front.Last week those leaves had been green. Now they were turning colors. She'd held the ladder when Ryan had to trim the branches a few weeks before that. Somehow lawn care had fallen to the two of them. She didn't mind pitching in and helping around the guy's house. She slept there as often as she slept at her apartment. Weeding the flower beds was therapeutic. She liked the sound of the mower and the smell of the grass.They'd just found their rhythm. Things were normal. Perfect.She
Aegis Group Chapter 328: Epilogue 2
NINE MONTHS LATER...CARSON HAD VISIONS OF what bringing her baby home would be like. How everything would be perfect. Her maternity clothes would be gone. Jessica had bought her that adorable maxi dress Carson wanted to wear home. She'd be comfortable. Family would be in the wings ready to fawn over the child.Reality was anything but."Welcome home." Ryan beamed at her, already settling into the role of excited new dad with gusto."Is she still asleep? Did you check her?" Carson had hoped her waddling days were over, but after two days of being in labor, most of her still hurt."She's fine. You're the one I'm worried about. Come on." He took her hands and guided her through their tiny living room, down the hall and into the master bedroom.Their big, comfortable bed beckoned. After being in the hospital for a week between the delivery and recovering from her emergency C-section, the mattress was a slice of heaven. She was looking forward to lying down without having to dodge
Aegis Group Chapter 329: Dangerous Betrayal Prologue.
Volume 7: Dangerous BetrayalALEC ESPOSITO KNEW AN impossible op when he saw one. He'd been on plenty of impossible ops during his days as a SEAL. Foolishly, he'd thought civilian life would be easier. Somehow his private security days were a lot more harrowing.Sitting in the conference room of the Aegis Group Seattle office, he could feel the bite of danger just watching the intel unfold. His housemates were there with him, focused on the screen laying out the numerous reasons why they should not be focused on this op. And yet, they'd all promised to go. Because every military branch and diplomatic mission had failed one woman for ten years. It was a miracle the almost sixty-year-old documentary film maker was still alive after being in the hands of Al-Qaeda then ISIS. Their latest intel said that Jules Neilson had traded hands again and was temporarily in Damascus, Syria.There was another woman in that city. One Alec had a far more personal connection to.Vara Price.His hea
Aegis Group Chapter 330: Wednesday. Streets of Damascus, Syria.
ALEC GUNNED THE MOTORCYCLE'S engine and didn't slow down heading into the turn. The wheels skidded and the ungodly motorcycle-cart contraption went in a wide arc onto the next street. This late at night there wasn't as much foot traffic, which was a blessing and a curse. He glanced down the road behind them at the truck barreling after them."Hold on, Jules." Alec gave the bike everything he had and prayed it would be enough. "Ryan? Zain? Anyone-do you copy?"Still no fucking answer.Everything was going to hell. If they made it past tonight without getting their brains splattered across the pavement, he'd call it a win. He had no idea where his team was or if they were alive.His focus was Jules. It had to be. He couldn't risk thinking about anyone else until he'd secured her. How he was going to do that was a mystery.If Alec didn't make it through the two security checkpoints in the next twenty minutes he'd be stuck in this area until morning. The curfew was about to drop and t
Aegis Group Chapter 331: Wednesday. Nour Delivery Service, Damascus, Syria.
VARA PRICE STARED OVER her cards at the three men studying their odds."I'm out," the one on her left said and slouched back in his seat.The man across from her took a long, slow drag on his cigarette, studying her. She smiled back, content to wait them out.She liked playing cards with her new hires. How a man handled the cards told her a lot about who they were. How they assessed danger and risk. Too much time spent making decisions, and she knew they weren't long for her team. React too fast and she knew they'd walk into a dangerous situation with no idea they were about to lose their head.Her life and the success of her mission depended on these men, and they didn't have any clue what they were really doing. The old pang of guilt stabbed at her, but she was beyond letting that emotion get the best of her. What they didn't know might save their lives.A commotion in the hall outside the communal room drew the attention of the other two men. The third pulled his cigarette from
Aegis Group Chapter 332: Wednesday. Nour Delivery Service, Damascus, Syria.
RAFAT NOUR DIDN'T BELIEVE in coincidences.He stroked his chin and stared out the window onto his domain.This had never been his goal in life. He'd taken over the family shop selling rugs in his teens, expanded their store, opened others and had built a nice business before the conflict began. His business had died then, but not his means to make money. Smuggling had become a way of life. He worked with the government and military to move goods they couldn't get through normal channels, not with so many sanctions on their country. Rafat did good work.But this business had an expiration date on it. In the future, the very hand of the government that allowed him to work freely would crush him in the name of honest commerce. Which was why Rafat had plans in place.Plans that were now slipping through his fingers."Sir?" A man hovered in the doorway leading to Rafat's office."The soldiers didn't find anything?" Calling them in had been a calculated move on his part."No, sir.""
Aegis Group Chapter 333: Wednesday. Nour Delivery Service, Damascus, Syria.
Alec still couldn't make up his mind who he should be trusting."Over here." Vara turned right. There wasn't a whole lot of building left that way."Where are we going?" Alec asked."Out of here.""We can't go out there." Alec reached out and grabbed Vara's elbow, turning her around. The sizzle of awareness sank into his skin and he held on tighter.Their eyes met for the first time since the shadow shrouded moment when she'd first discovered them. That didn't really count because he'd been blinded by the flashlight. Now, he fell headlong into her whisky brown eyes flashing with emotion. Frustration was the most obvious one with the set of her jaw."You can't stay here. Rafa's people will notice you and after tonight you do not want him to notice you." She spoke in a rush, her voice low."We can't go out there." Alec couldn't keep running and carrying Jules. She was too frail and too tired. His mind was also focused on her, the shape of her lips, the little scar on her chin, all
Aegis Group Chapter 334: Wednesday. Vara Price's Home, Damascus, Syria.
VARA SAT ON THE sofa watching the street. Or more accurately the windows across the street. With the streetlight down the way she had a perfect reflection of the entrance to the tunnels. She doubted anyone had followed them. Nothing about the inspection had seemed odd to anyone besides the new hires or Wyatt, for different reasons.Her new recruits wouldn't be a problem. But Wyatt? He'd been with her so long she thought he had to have guessed that some of what she did served another purpose. They'd never talked about it, because truth was she couldn't trust anyone. Not even her right-hand man. And especially not this blast from her past.She resisted the urge to glance at the stairs.Was Alec still a SEAL?She hadn't kept track of him. Her heart couldn't take the awareness. Even after all these years looking at him hurt. One glance and she was in the throes of first love turning into first heartbreak all over again.The door upstairs creaked shut. She heard the rustle of fabric on
Latest chapter
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
