by Jackie D.
Tyler smiled against Brooke’s cheek. “I’ll always come home to you.” She felt Brooke’s hot tears on her lips, making her stomach lurch. “Don’t ever forget how much I love you.”
Brooke kissed her again. “I won’t.”
Tyler looked at Jennifer. “Is there anything else you need from us?”
Jennifer sat behind her computer. She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. “Your bags are in the car for me to take to the embassy. Your comms are up and working. Brooke has eight syringes of succinylcholine. We received confirmation from Dylan and Emma.” She put her earpiece in place. “Caden and Tyler will move into position. Brooke will leave an hour later. Let’s get this done and get home.”
Tyler and Caden headed up the stairs to the car. They’d watch from the storage site next to the meeting place while Nikolai’s guys swept the area. When it was clear, they’d move into position and wait.
The drive to the block of storage warehouses wasn’t particularly long, but it unnerved Tyler. She didn’t like being in the open for longer than necessary. She was fully aware of the difference a single witness could make. She didn’t like taking chances, especially where the lives of other people hung in the balance.
“How you feeling about this?” Caden looked out the window.
“Four percent,” Tyler said.
Caden nodded. “Better than one.”
Tyler turned into the storage facility and parked the car inside an empty shipping container. They crawled out onto the top of one of the other containers. Tyler pulled out her binoculars and scanned the site next to them.
Caden pushed her comm button. “We’re in position. A clear line of sight to meeting location. No sign of Nikolai’s men yet.”
There was crackling in Tyler’s ear before Jennifer’s voice came on the line. “Roger that. Update me when they arrive. I’ll get a thermal tag on them so we can follow their location after.”
“Copy,” Caden said and then turned her attention to Tyler. “We didn’t bring any snacks.”
Tyler pulled a protein bar from her pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”
Caden unwrapped the bar. “You’re the best.”
Tyler finished adjusting her binoculars, wanting to make sure the image was as clear as possible. “I need you to promise me that you won’t do anything crazy.”
Caden finished the bar and stuck the wrapper in her pocket. “Me?” She let out a hissing sound. “I would never.”
“I’m serious, Caden. Stay low, stay quiet, and stay out of sight. I’m not going to lose you to something stupid.”
Caden patted her on the back. “I knew you loved me.”
“Fuck off.”
Tyler focused on the task in front of her. She needed to clear her mind to be aware of her surroundings and push all other thoughts out of the way. She gave herself one last moment to picture Brooke. Brooke was the driving force for her need to be careful, aware, and the best operative she could be. That’s how she’d get home to her.
* * *
Emma stared at herself in the mirror. She’d never worn such an expensive article of clothing. The black shimmered in the light, giving it the look of purple or navy blue as she moved. It hugged all the curves and valleys of her body, leaving very little to the imagination. She felt beautiful.
“You look incredible,” Dylan whispered against her ear. Her voice was husky, intoxicating.
Emma turned, wanting Dylan’s arms around her. “Thank you for getting it for me.”
Dylan’s eyes traveled over her, and it felt like she was being touched with feathers. “I’m so glad I did.”
Dylan wore a fitted black tuxedo. It pulled perfectly at her shoulders, showing off her toned physique. The dark colors of the clothing made her green eyes shine in a way Emma never thought possible. Her cropped dark hair fell loosely into her eyes. Dylan always had an aura of confidence about her, but it seemed more pronounced tonight. Emma hoped that boded well for their evening.
Emma kissed Dylan’s cheek. “You look amazing.” She let her mouth linger next to Dylan’s lips. “I wish we were going somewhere else tonight. I wish things were different.”
Dylan turned her head, capturing Emma’s lips. “Me too. I wish we’d met somewhere else, under different circumstances.”
Emma pressed her face against Dylan’s, loving the jolt of arousal she felt whenever they were near each other. “No regrets.”
Dylan ran her hands over Emma’s back, pulling her closer. “Me either.” Dylan’s phone vibrated, and it broke the trance. “The car’s here.”
Dylan held her hand through the car ride. Emma tried to think about what the night would hold, what she’d need to do, and how she needed to behave. So many people were counting on them to get this right, to not make any errors. She looked down at the hand entwined with her own. Dylan made her feel safe. How would she feel tomorrow when all this was over? Regardless of the outcome, tomorrow, there would be no Dylan. She felt suddenly nauseous. She wanted to freeze time like that girl from the television show she watched as a kid. She wasn’t ready for it to be over. She wasn’t prepared to say good-bye.
“Are you okay?” Dylan sounded concern.
Emma eyed the driver in front and chose her words carefully. “Yes. I just wish I had more time with you. I’m sorry I have to go back home tomorrow.”
Dylan kissed the top of Emma’s hand and pressed it against her face. “I know.”
The car slowed to a stop. They were out of time. This was the last moment they’d ever be truly alone. There were so many things Emma wanted to say, so many feelings she needed to get out, but they were stuck in her throat, a marble she couldn’t dislodge. The car door opened, and a swell of noise filled the space. That was it. Their time had come to an end. Emma had missed her chance to tell Dylan how she felt, and now she’d have to live with that forever.
* * *
Dylan scanned the large ballroom. The men in this space represented the worst parts of humanity. She thought briefly that the world would be better off if someone took the whole place out in one swoop. They dressed themselves up in expensive suits, drank expensive alcohol, and patted each other on the back for profiting from the worst impulses of men. Before she’d come to work for the CIA, she’d never fully believed that some people were born evil. It didn’t take her long to discover that those were childish impressions that had no place in the real world.
She noticed Carol across the room, talking to Steven Walker. He looked angry, and she looked bored. It was amusing that neither of them had any idea what was in store for them tonight. She saw Nikolai speaking with a general from North Korea. Her stomach turned, imagining the vast topics they could be discussing and what it could mean for the world.
“You need to relax,” Emma whispered.
Dylan kissed her cheek. “I’m the spy, remember.”
Emma’s eyes were sad, and Dylan wished she could take the statement back. “I’m very aware.”
Dylan led Emma through the ballroom. “Hello, Nikolai.”
Nikolai smiled and kissed Emma’s cheek. “Nada, it’s lovely to see you again. Thank you for coming.”
Emma returned the kiss. “Thank you for having me. Everything looks exquisite.”
“My wife lives to throw a party.” Nikolai lifted his glass in the direction of his wife on the other side of the room. “I’ll introduce you later.”
“I’ll find you in half an hour,” Dylan said to Nikolai.
He took a sip of his champagne. “Please do.”
Dylan led Emma over to a table, swiping two glasses of champagne on the way. She handed one to Emma. “Here you go. We’re less suspicious if we have these and no one will try to force a drink on us.”
Emma played with the stem of her glass, rolling it between her fingers. “Be careful tonight.”
Dylan should have told Emma how much she cared before they’d arrived at the gala. She should’ve told her she’d never be able to get her out of he
r mind. She should’ve told her that if she’d met her before this mission, she’d consider giving it all up for her. She should have said all these things, but now there was no point. She wouldn’t burden Emma with that knowledge. She’d be better off moving on and forgetting Dylan altogether. Emma didn’t deserve to be bogged down by what-ifs and maybes. She deserved happiness. She deserved someone who could be there with her every day. She deserved to be loved properly. She deserved more than Dylan could give.
She put her hand over Emma’s. “I will. You too.” It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. But it was all she could give. “I’m going to go find Ivan.”
“Sasha,” Emma said.
“Yeah?”
Emma looked down at the ground, unable to make eye contact now. “Nothing.”
Dylan walked away because if she looked at Emma for one more second, she’d lose herself. She couldn’t bear to see the hurt in Emma’s eyes or the way it broke her own heart to know she put it there. This hurt Emma now, but it was for the best. She just needed to keep telling herself that every day, for the rest of her life.
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Thermal targets approaching. Three minutes out,” Jennifer said over the radio.
Tyler clicked her comm button. “Roger.” She looked at Caden. “You ready?”
Caden looked down at Captain Hart, who was waiting in a car. “Think he’s ready?”
“We’re about to find out.” They bumped fists. “Head on a swivel.”
“I know, little cat.” Caden got up and moved quickly and silently to the other side of the storage facility.
They’d have them covered on both sides. This formation would be easier for an aerial attack, and it would also help them see if someone was coming up behind either of them. Tyler wished they had about twenty more agents at their disposal, but there was no point in hoping for the impossible. They’d gotten into this together, and they’d get out together.
Tyler watched as the car pulled to a stop. Before this moment, she could feel every thump of her heart in every inch of her body. Now, she felt eerily calm. She was focused, determined, and ready. Nikolai sent three men out of the car. Two to flank the rear and one in front. Next, Dylan and Ivan exited the vehicle, each looking around, surveying the tops of the storage containers. She knew Dylan saw her because she paused for just a millisecond longer than necessary. Ivan, on the other hand, was oblivious to Caden’s whereabouts.
Nikolai and Steven finally got out of the car when Ivan and Dylan told them it was safe. Captain Hart was already waiting outside his own car, watching the gathering in front of him. Tyler sent up one final prayer that Hart would be able to pull this off convincingly. Any chink in his armor could alert Nikolai and ruin the whole thing.
One of Nikolai’s guys walked over to Hart and patted him down, looking for any hidden weapons. When he didn’t find any, he pulled out a small electronic device and ran it over his body. It started beeping at Hart’s pocket, and he pulled out his cell phone and handed it to the bodyguard. The large man turned around and nodded at Nikolai.
“Director Walker? What are you doing here? Do you know where Brooke is?” Hart shielded his eyes from the headlights. To his credit, he managed to look and sound surprised.
Walker took a step forward. “Captain Hart, I need you to listen to Mr. Orlav. He has a proposition for you, and I think you should consider it.”
“If it doesn’t involve me getting my daughter back, I’m not interested.”
Nikolai motioned to Dylan to hand him the phone. “I want you to come and work for me, Captain Hart. It won’t require a lot on your part. I just need you to make sure that your government doesn’t focus on me. I will pay you handsomely. It won’t be something that you regret.”
Hart shook his head. “You want me to betray my country? That will never happen.” He took a step toward Walker. “Is that what you’re doing here with him? You’re working for Russia? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“It’s not something that I wanted to do. They left me with very little choice,” Walker said in a pathetic attempt to defend himself.
“Bullshit. You always have a choice.” Hart practically spit his words onto Walker.
Nikolai handed Hart the phone. “It’s true. We know about Mr. Walker’s involvement in trying to kill your president and vice president.”
“That has nothing to do with me,” Hart said.
Nikolai shrugged. “True, I have something much worse on you.” He pointed to the phone and waited for Hart to look at the picture. “I had your daughter killed. Next, it will be your sons, then your wife. So, you’re right, Captain Hart, you always have a choice. Now is the time to make yours.”
This was their cue. They had all the information they needed to put Walker away. Tyler glanced across the grounds to Caden. She needed to hear Caden say she was ready before she made the first move. They needed to do this in tandem.
Her radio crackled, and she felt the surge of adrenaline pump through her body. “Take him.”
Tyler and Caden hit the men at the back of the car first. Two clean shots through the back of their heads. The vibration of the shots ricocheted off the steel containers as Nikolai headed for the car, Ivan draped over him like a wet rag. Hart grabbed Walker and wrestled him to the ground. Dylan and the man at the front of the car stepped forward, firing shots up at Tyler and Caden.
The other bodyguard had exceptional aim. Tyler gritted her teeth as the bullets whizzed by her head, causing her to break her concentration. She rolled over and took aim at the bodyguard again. It took three more shots for Tyler to finally take him down. Dylan fell to the ground. Ninety-six percent flashed in her mind. Dylan was hit, but it couldn’t have been her or Caden who’d made the mistake. Something had gone wrong. Fear and fury pumped through Tyler as she watched the pool of blood spreading out beneath Dylan.
Tyler came down from the top of the storage container just as Caden did the same. She turned her attention to Hart. “Get him out of here!”
Hart threw Walker into the car. “No, I’m not leaving you.” He pointed behind them where another car had pulled up.
“Follow the plan. You’re no good to us dead,” Tyler yelled at Hart who reluctantly got in the car. “You have to go. There’s no more time.” Hart started the engine and drove away.
Tyler wove in and out of the containers. She needed to get to Dylan. She needed to get her to safety. She needed to regroup before whoever was in the second car had her in their sights. The fog that had started to crawl its way out of the river added a little more coverage, but not enough to make her feel comfortable. She was only a few feet away when she saw Caden come up behind Dylan.
Caden grabbed Dylan under the arms and dragged her behind one of the containers. “This wasn’t part of the plan,” Caden said into the radio.
“No, shit. Glass, what’s the status on O’Brien? Nikolai is headed back.” Tyler held her breath, waiting for an answer.
Gunshots started to bounce off the metal containers around them. “No word yet,” Jennifer answered.
Tyler dropped to her knees and fired low around the corner, hoping to hit a few of the bodyguards in the leg, or better yet, the kneecaps. She heard one yell and hit the ground. “Styles, get Prey into the car and get out of here.”
Another round of bullets rained down on them. The sound of metal tearing against metal pierced her ears. “I’m not going anywhere, Monroe.”
Tyler fired back, drawing their attention away from the area where Caden was nestled with Dylan. When they fired back in Tyler’s direction, they were hit by Caden. This was a maneuver they’d practiced a dozen times, and they excelled at its execution. The bullets that came next were less than before. They’d taken down at least two of the five guys.
“Get her out now while I lay down cover. We don’t know how badly she’s hurt,” Tyler ordered over the radio.
“Then let’s get these guys and get out of here. Together.”
Tyler
moved to the next storage container. Small shredded pieces of steel that had been knocked loose from bullets scraped Tyler’s legs and arms. She managed to take another one down. Two left. The shots stopped, and rapid footsteps came toward her. She had one of the men in her sights. She took aim and fired and watched him fall to the ground.
And then blinding pain started pulsating from the back of her head.
Tyler turned around, unsure what had happened. Another blast of pain, this time from her nose. She tried to aim her gun, but it was knocked from her hands. She took a swing at him but knew it wouldn’t land. She was dizzy, her vision blurring, and there was blood in her eyes. It didn’t matter; she wasn’t going down without a fight. Another punch to the side of the head, heaving her against the storage container. She felt herself fall to the ground. Small pieces of asphalt and rocks found their way into her mouth. Finally, a shot fired. The bodyguard fell to his knees, then landed face-first onto the ground beside her.
“Aren’t you glad I didn’t leave?” Caden said from somewhere behind her.
Tyler rolled onto her side. Everything was so fuzzy. “We need to get Prey out of here.” In her head, that’s what she said, but she couldn’t be sure that’s how it came out. Her jaw throbbed, and her tongue felt too big for her mouth.
“Can you walk, or do I need to carry your sorry ass?” Caden’s voice didn’t hold the sarcasm she was trying to convey. It was filled with fear and concern.
Tyler put her hand out. “Just help me up.”
Tyler clung to the storage bins, trying to make it to the car as she stumbled and shook. She saw Caden carrying Dylan and knew she needed to hurry. There was blood dripping from Dylan’s body as Caden moved her. Her face was ashen and her limbs were limp. Tyler finally made it to the car, the pulsating sensation dulling her ability to move or act correctly. Caden pulled off her jacket and used the arms to tie a tourniquet around Dylan’s shoulder. Tyler tried to put the pieces together while watching Caden work. Left shoulder, not good. Blood flowing from the wound, good. Heart still pumping.
