"Baby?" Seth calls out; he puts on his million-dollar smile, flashing those perfectly white teeth. "Miss me already?" I chuckle and flirt. Then I shift my eyes at Paola, who doesn't care, then back at him. "Always." "Where are you?" He moves his head around the phone screen, trying to get an angle. "Why do I see blood on the wall and you? Are you okay?" I love how he worries about me even when I'm covered in blood. "I'm in Vegas. And don't worry, it's not mine. But listen, Seth, the story you told me about that woman who tortured you in Japan?" Seth's face went pale, and he got quiet. "Terry, babe, I don't want to think about it. That woman is dead. Please don't bring her up." It breaks my heart to hear his voice sound so painful. I promise I won't have him suffer anymore. "Seth, I understand, but that woman...she's not dead." "What do you mean?" His thick and neat brows furrow in confusion. "I was told she died." "By who?" I ask. "My old boss." "That's a lie." "Baby, I swe
Documents and confidential information appear on the widescreen as I carefully look at each one, all about Eva and the Order. On the top right corner are mugshots of the executives and Eva; Sully and Paola have been marked as deceased in big red letters.Only two executives are left until we reach the top of the food chain.I hear the sounds of machines as I look over at Kendall's side; sparks of blue light appear on or off as she works on another one of her crazy gadgets. I went through my head, figuring out the purpose of the island Eva purchased. She calls it Paradise Island, a small island off the coast of the Caribbean. Our air support captured the island unseen, and it only captured a small hut and no visual of Hugo or Eva."What the hell is on that island?" I mumbled. I rub my head before my brain can be fried from all this thinking.The elevator ding and I turn my head as Gunnar steps out, pissed.I pinch my lips.He glared at me. "Don't. Even."I hold my hand up. "I'm not doi
I drove up to the Reid's house as I shut off my bike's engine. Effie had texted me that they were all back home. It was already past bedtime, and I planned to pick up Poppy and take us home, but it seemed too late. I just had a talk with Odin about the hidden laboratory and concocted Eva's plan for using the drug. Odin had sent out scouts to check out Paradise Island.Five went in. Zero came out.We had lost visual and audio contact with the scout team. The last image was a person; Kendall had it closed up, and high-quality footage, as we saw, didn't look human. It had crazy bloody eyes and foam coming out from its mouth, and it attacked one of our team who had the camera. It was the same symptoms as Myles. Before the camera could lose visual, we saw not one but lots of them. It's the reason why the scout team lost their lives. It was a tragic scene to watch. It's like watching a horror film.A lot has happened within a day, and I want to get home to my daughter and man. I must rest m
"Cap, we are ten miles towards the island," Gunnar announced through the headset while he flew the helicopter.Kendall and I strap the parachute pack on our backs, wear wetsuits, and prepare to fall into the water to reach the island."Ken, you got the smokers?" I ask while I strap my boots tight and sheath the small weapons in my belt."They are here," she put the bag next to her. "What did Seth say when you left?"The thought of this morning had me smirking. "He wouldn't let me go.""Were you guys naked?" Kendall wiggles her brows and grins as I hear Gunnar groaning through the headset, knowing he doesn't want to listen to this conversation. "You know, in ancient times, before a big battle, the soldiers would make love with their lovers as a way for them to return.""No," I assure her, rolling my eyes at her assertion. Her words are unpredictable; I couldn't even argue with her. Although I don't want to go through details of how his hard rock cock was poking me in the back. "I had t
As the lift door opened, my eyes tried to adjust to the darkness of the secret lab. The only light source we had was the light of the lift."Lights on," I command.I switched on my head's light strap as I stepped forward. My boots stepped on broken glass, followed by crunching sounds behind me, led by Gunnar and Kendall. I check my surroundings, always being cautious, aiming my gun at wide-open spaces of the lab. This place seems more extensive than on video."Fuck, this place is a total wreck," Gunnar proclaims. "It's like a hurricane hit here.""Kendall, got on a reading?" I ask her.Her infrared gadget tells us it is beeping if anybody is done here. "I see four live bodies, but they are strapped on the other side of that door straight ahead.""There are more?" Gunnar says softly.We approached forward towards a keycard door. I stepped back, let Gunnar implant a C4 paste on the handle, and pressed the button. As we took a step back a few feet while the bomb beeps, it gave out a soun
I approach the hospital's automatic doors, watching the staff pass by me in a rush. People are waiting to be checked in or just waiting.It's busy today, but standing here and observing wasn't my purpose. I walk over to the receptionist, a middle-aged African woman with short curly hair, a lovely dark complexion, and wearing Snoopy scrubs. She is sitting behind the counter typing on her computer. When she looks up and plasters a cheerful smile, although behind that expression - working in a hospital can make anyone feel cranky, and this woman seems she has not slept since her shift.Better not"Hi, are you here for an appointment?" She asks with a forceful smile."Um. No, I'm here to ask if Dr. Keith P. Swanson is available?"The receptionist, whose name on her ID badge says Anita Cook, looks at me as if I made up the name. "He's not here.""Oh, do you know when his shift starts?""Dr. Swanson hasn't worked here for 26 years. He retired right after a scandal with a patient of his."Sc
I glance back at the picture, and I can see the hate my mother put so much to cross an X over her father's face. It must have broken her heart once he told her she was nothing. I always felt that while I was in the Order. I was nothing but a pawn, an item to be used however they pleased. They didn't treat me as a person. I took one small picture and stuck it inside the back pocket of my jeans, then put the rest back inside the folder. I handed it back to Dr. Swanson. "What about the birth certificate I found?" I pull out the paper from my pocket and hand it to him. The older man unfolded it, made a glance, and handed it back. "I had it classified in the system before I erased it to give you an authentic document." I fold the paper back into my pocket and sigh. "How did she find out her lover is also her father?" I ask as he takes the Manila folder back. "She already knew." My brows furrow at his response. "She knew?" Dr. Swanson nodded. "Then...my mother fell in love with him
My mind is adrift from anything that had happened on that day. I couldn't focus on anything. Since meeting Keith, my uncle, and learning about my mother and finding out she is the same woman who not only abandoned me but made my whole childhood life hell.This past week hasn't been my week. I've been hanging out at the agency, giving combat lessons for the rookies, and I wasn't myself. I was hard on myself but more on those who weren't a part of it. I lash at people, and they avoid me as if I'm on a murdering spree."Cap? Cap!"I snap my way at Kendall and everyone in the room. All eyes were on me as if I had grown a second head.Kendall was giving a seminar about the Order's compound detailing all the security cameras from the streets and buildings, the main office, and where the recruits are holding children. We had permission from Odin to infiltrate the compound, so having this meeting will give us a better and safer plan. It will be a month before the raid.Forgotten about this me
"Your child didn't die," I state, watching as her expression becomes more agile. "You abandoned her.""No...""God wasn't calling for her because it was her duty. You abandoned her because your lover left you.""No! Shut up!" Eva screeched and held her head as if her brain was about to burst."The child you hated, the one you were about to kill, is alive and well."Eva became distraught, shaking her head - sun denial."You're lying...my child died because God needed her-""No, stop with the bullshit, Marjorie," cutting her off. "She's alive and well.""H-how...how do you know of this?" She staggers back, terrified. "No one knew about my past...No one!"I scoff, seeing how stupid she looks. Thanks to Kendall's discovery, I wouldn't stumble upon my birth certificate that day. Now that she's at her weakest, I must end it."You created the Order for what? Because you wanted the attention from the man who doesn't love you.""Shut up!""He doesn't care for you because he already has a famil
"There you are," then smacked me hard with her shotgun.I fell back on the floor and quickly moved to the side when she took a shot.I dash past her, heading to the emergency exit while she continues to shoot at me. I ran down a few stairs far down but stopped to catch my breath. Sitting on the bottom steps, I panted and then lay my back on the cold wall when I felt a warm, stinking pain on the back of my arm.My other hand reaches on my back and pulls to find fresh blood.Luckily, I've been shot in the arm, but it's a flesh wound; otherwise, if I didn't dodge, it would be the end of me. I wasn't quick enough because the virus was making me lose strength."Shit," I hiss. Then, I reached my pouch and applied medical treatment to myself.It was a quick fix, and I applied the wrap when I heard Eva roaring and looking for me."You can't hide forever, Little Sparrow," Eva taunted as she pulled another gunshot on me. "Soon, the virus will take over your body, and once I kill you, I'll be kn
The windows shattered as we entered the penthouse. I fell off Little Gunnar, pulled my gun from my holster, and aimed at Eva, the only one not bothered by our sudden entrance. The mayor, his two guards, and Pete hide from the impact."Get up," I grit through my teeth. Eva did not listen or move but sipped her cup of water. Not even caring, I charge toward her and grab her by the color of her red jacket with a gun to her head, "Are you deaf? I said get up." I snarl and shove her,"Who are you?" the mayor, Jimmy Murphy, called out as he emerged from the couch. "What is the meaning of this?"Unaware of what Eva had planned, he wasn't expecting her visit."My name is Sparrow, Mayor Murphy. I work for The Daggers under the leader and owner, Odin King. I can explain later and have the window fixed, but stay away from this woman," I say, pointing the gun at her head."What are you talking about?" He paused and looked at me. He seemed perplexed. "Your Sparrow? Do you know she told me about th
Bullets kept shooting from behind as I stayed hidden and had my head down to avoid getting my headshot."Fuck," I growl at the outcome. "This isn't good."The lengthier I wait, the more Eva will be suspicious of Pete. I don't think he can act like Poppy. If Eva knew Poppy was a fake, she would have him killed and detonated the bombs early.But why wait in the morning?I know it's already midnight, and the sun will take six hours to rise. Eva already convinced the mayor to lock down the city because of terrorist activities.She claims to use the smoke bombs fuse with her particular virus to pretend she has the cure.Unless...terrorist attacks...virus...oh fuck!That bitch will make me the terrorist, hence accusing me of starting a war. I'll be a public enemy to the country.I need to stop this disaster before innocent people die.Bullets kept flying over my head, and I was getting pissed that Eva had this all planned out from the start. I am infected with the virus, and once I am uncont
It's a race against time, and I feel my body fighting against the virus. I checked my watch as many times as possible, just watching the numbers on the seconds go down in a flash.The whole purpose of this virus is to give Eva the advantage of being a savior once she reveals that she has a cure. But also to prove that she is someone. Being rejected and unloved by the man she never considered a father made her who she is today.I exited the freeway and entered the streets of L.A. I put my bike to a halt, letting the engine run. I opened my helmet shield and glanced down at my watch to see the tracker on Pete. He and Eva were still moving, and I was just about a bit away. I shut the shield and drove in that direction. My earpiece beeped as I tapped the answer button on my bike."Ken, I'm close to Pete," I tell her."Cap, you are never going to believe this."I noticed the concern in her tone. "What?""I've searched the locations of the gas bombs in each of the cities you mentioned. Gues
Red.The color is a standard color you see on a traffic light to stop. The color you see on fruit, like apples and cherries. On a vegetable like tomatoes. Valentines can also symbolize romantic love and physical passion, making our hearts race toward someone we love. Red is the color of heightened emotion, strength, and power.But red can be a negative thing that you see. The color red is linked to passion, love, desire, power, anger, or rage.That is what I'm feeling right now. When Eva stepped off the boat, my whole body went on lockdown. My heart is palpitating, and my blood is boiling to the point I'm seeing red.Seeing her for so many years wearing that damn red outfit, I wanted to hit something. I hated her wearing red. It's okay for other people to have red on them or receive red roses, but red on Eva fits her perfectly as she is the devil herself. Flashy and cunning like one.My stomach churned. I wanted to throw up, but now it's not the time to be disgusted. I have to focus a
"Are you sure you don't want to join you? It's better to have back up close to the target." Kendall states and asks for god knows how many times.I plug in my earpiece as I scan my eyes around the dock. We have parked the disguised transportation truck into a small base for Kendall to monitor the pier. Although I was supposed to go alone, those two insisted that I couldn't argue with Odin, even with his worries that he sensed something would happen and that the whole Daggers would be hiding and in position in case this trade went south. When I told them the plan of using Pete, dressed as Poppy, for the trade, Kendall and everyone thought it wouldn't work, but knowing Pete, his master of disguise and a Dagger member, he could pull it off. Eva is cunning and sharp; she can sense something off in a snap with one wrong move.The plan is to use Pete to trade him with the vaccine. If my calculations are correct, she will hug her and say sweet words about her worries and affection. Pete migh
I arrived in front of his salon, where his apartment was on the top floor. I pressed the doorbell, and the door flung open. Pete surprised me with his presence; he had his expensive kimono bathrobe and his face plastered in a green facial mask. He taps his foot."Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Terry Young," Pete squinted his face, his pissed-off face, after opening his apartment door. His eyes scan me up and down, then inhale sharply. "Still sexy as ever."I clear my throat. "May I come in?"He stares at me for a minute or two, having second thoughts. "You did say you have to explain, so come inside," he said, walking away from the door and allowing me to step in.I sighed, and after I had closed my door, I looked around and saw that his apartment seemed normal and not in the ordinary except for all the colorful and furry furniture and artworks of naked people.I exhale in relief, yet a bit worried.What is Kendall talking about? There is nothing creepy about his place."It's been
If I don't return Poppy to her, hundreds of children will be killed.I dropped my phone on the counter and stared at it for a minute, thinking about what she had meant.It's not like she knows I'm her daughter. She only knows me as my male counterpart, even with her hackers, who can access my background records because there are none. Once you are joined in the Dagger program, you are listed as "nonexistent." We are only given our code name.I closed my eyes and thought of a way to handle the situation before tomorrow night.Opening my eyes, I grab my phone and speed-dial the number."Hello?" Greeting in a chorus tone."Pete, it's-""Terry!!" I pull my phone away from my ear as he screams. "Oh my gosh, I know that sexy tone anywhere. How long has it been since we talked? Five years? Three? Hmmm..."I shake my head. "It's only been two years.""Ah yes, a two...years..." he stays quiet for a second, then causes an outburst. "TWO YEARS! I didn't get your call after that. That day when yo