All Chapters of Aegis Group Dangerous Ladies: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Monday. Safe House. Arlington, VA.HALEY WAS HOLDING TIGHT to her professional mask. For some reason the moment it was just Konstantin, Zasha and her she'd felt...sideways? Different. Her insides were wobbling like Jell-O that hadn't set. All because she'd been silly enough to fall for the man she shouldn't. It concerned, and yet she didn't want to change anything.She was grateful that work had woken her up while the others were still asleep. That had allowed her to get a head start on things like a shower and breakfast, all while wrestling with her own mental state.While she should be thinking through what she'd read in her email update, instead she was stuck on how she felt about Konstantin, this job, Zasha.Was love enough?He clearly felt something for her. Did she want to risk her heart on the hope he'd love her back? And then what?She methodically plated the food for breakfast and scraped the pans.From the sound of it, Zasha was now out of the shower. Finally

Monday. Washington, DC.HALEY GLANCED AT KONSTANTIN, but he merely stared straight ahead. Thanks to the earbuds, she'd heard his half of the conversation and most of what his father had said.She couldn't begin to imagine this complicated relationship or how it affected him.Haley was a daddy's girl. She'd grown up wanting to be just like him, much to the confusion of her mother. Haley talked to her mother maybe once a week. At least every other week. But her dad? They talked all the time. Usually once a day at breakfast, sometimes more. If she ever needed anything, her parents would be there. Not to mention her brothers and sister. Then there were the other girls and her Aegis Group family. Her life was full.Konstantin didn't have any of that."I take it that didn't go as well as you'd hoped?" she asked, once more venturing into an attempt at conversation."Do you think she's right?" He continued staring out the window."Right about what?""That he set this all in

Monday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.NATASHA PACED THE FRONT ROOM.Where were they?It shouldn't have taken this long.Why was it? Had they run into a problem?Her phone rang.Oleg.At last.She snatched up the phone."Where are you?" she demanded."Just left. On our way," he said breathlessly. "We lost two.""Did you get the girl?" Natasha demanded."Yes.""Good. That's all that matters."Natasha breathed a sigh of relief.She'd known it would be worthwhile to gift Ivana something trivial that would allow Natasha to keep tabs on her. The bracelet had done its job, leading her right to them.Now she had all the pieces. By tomorrow she'd be the queen of not just one empire, but three.***Monday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN SAT IN THE front seat of the car, staring straight ahead. But he wasn't seeing the cars or license plates. He saw Ivana. The way she'd looked at him and smiled. The blood.Natasha was going to pay for this.

Monday. Rose House. Arlington, VA.KONSTANTIN COULDN'T HARDLY BELIEVE that they were about to storm back into Natasha's DC home.What were the odds?And to rescue his father and daughter, of all things.Haley had come through with more information about the property thanks to her boss back in Seattle. Armed with photographs of the property and a blueprint, they'd chosen to make their approach on foot via a rear drive that serviced the homes. A sort of utility entrance."This is us," Haley said as they got to the rear gate."This is over if they have cameras.""I never saw a camera here before," she countered.He prayed she was right. If she was wrong, it would be more than just their lives on the line. Zasha's future hung in the balance.Haley grunted and something metallic popped, then the narrow gate swung open. She caught it and slipped inside, holding the gate for him to join her on the other side.He checked his phone and his adrenaline spiked. "Driver just

Monday. Home. Washington, DC.HALEY ATE THE PIECE of pizza, but she barely tasted it or had any idea what was going on in the movie. Thankfully, she wasn't terribly invested in the cartoon.Zasha, on the other hand, was just about asleep. She'd wiggled around and now lay with her head on Konstantin's lap and her legs across Haley's. She was a little surprised Zasha had managed to go to sleep after all the soda the cops had given her over the course of the afternoon and evening."I think she's out," Konstantin said softly."Hm?" Haley glanced down at Zasha. "Wow. I didn't think she'd ever get to sleep.""Could be that stuff Dad gave her." He grimaced.They still didn't know what was in the candy and wouldn't until a toxin report came back. The doctor who'd checked Zasha out hadn't found anything concerning and suggested watching her closely, hydrating and healthy eating. Basically, everything Haley normally did."Yeah, someone is going to bed," Konstantin muttered.He