Toxic Vengeance

by Kaylea Cross

He liked both versions of her, for different reasons. The sweet, sexy woman he’d known before, and this strong, fierce one before him now. “Give me a chance. Give us a chance.”

  She searched his eyes, the torment in her face tying him in knots. Time and actions were the only thing that would ever convince her he was for real, but with everything so crazy right now, he might not have much time left to show her.

  Eden tugged him back down for another kiss, and he stopped thinking at all. A slow, heartfelt kiss full of so much tenderness, heat and longing it made his heart clench. Because there was no misunderstanding what it meant.

  She was saying goodbye to everything they’d had. Everything they could be.

  Easing back, she lowered her gaze and stepped away. “We’d better go back, tomorrow’s going to be another busy day. We both need to sleep.”

  She wanted to escape him, have time to reinforce her protective walls. He wouldn’t force her to stay, but he wouldn’t give up either. “Eden.” He waited until she made eye contact before stepping forward to cup the side of her face. “I’m on your side. And I’m not going anywhere.”

  She stared back at him for an endless moment, her expression almost resigned, then turned away and headed back toward the manor.

  Zack let her go, his whole being protesting having to watch her walk away.

  ****

  Kissing him had been a colossal mistake.

  Eden scowled at herself as she reached her bedroom door on the way to breakfast the next morning. Why the hell had she done it? Annoyance pricked at her like needles. A few fancy words, a couple of kisses, and she’d caved. Pathetic, and now she couldn’t get him and the things he’d said out of her head.

  She’d been up half the night thinking about everything. Zack. Penny. The others.

  This entire situation had thrown her world off kilter, and when she and Zack had finally been alone last night, her resolve to keep her distance had collapsed the moment his lips had touched hers.

  He wanted to be with her, and he was after more than a fling. But how the hell could she open her heart up and bare herself to him when everything they’d shared before had been based on lies?

  She didn’t know how to do that. Dammit, letting Zack in so deep last time had almost gotten her killed.

  Kiyomi smiled at her from the table as Eden entered the breakfast room. “Hey. Get any sleep last night?”

  “Not much.” Eden helped herself to the silver coffee pot in the center of the table. “You?”

  “Some, but not much after I heard the news. Anyone else up yet?”

  “I heard someone moving around outside my room a while ago.”

  “Marcus. Apparently one of the neighbors’ sheep got through part of the fence on the northeast side of the property, so he went out to deal with it.” She studied Eden over the rim of her teacup. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Angry, though. And I feel guilty. If we’d gotten there sooner, we could have saved her.”

  Footsteps sounded on the stone floor in the hall. Amber walked in, followed by Trinity and Zack.

  Eden’s eyes locked on him, a warm, flipping sensation hitting her low in the belly as she took in the sight of him in dark, snug jeans and a charcoal-colored collared shirt that hugged his powerful chest and shoulders.

  “Morning,” he said, his deep voice sliding over her like a caress. Weakening her decision to stand firm on not getting involved with him again.

  “Morning.” Wrenching her eyes away, she busied herself with buttering toast someone had set out in silver toast racks.

  “I just talked to Megan,” Amber said, reaching for two boiled eggs perched in cobalt blue glass eggcups. “She and Ty aren’t coming up until later, but I’ll fill you guys in on what I told Trinity before I came down.”

  Eden stilled and focused on her. “About Penny?”

  Amber nodded. “From recent communications and other files I accessed from her phone, I think she somehow knew about us. It looks like she’d been trying to make her way into England. She started in Finland and moved into Scotland, had searched bus schedules going to York.”

  That was only a few hours’ drive away from them. Eden’s hand tightened on her coffee cup. “She was trying to find us?”

  Amber’s face was somber. “I think she wanted refuge. And maybe to join us. How she found out about us, I don’t know yet.”

  Setting her cup down, Eden sat back, feeling ill. Minutes. Mere minutes had cost Penny her life, had made the difference between death and rejoining her Valkyrie sisters, who would have protected her.

  “What about the hitter?” Zack asked.

  “It took some digging,” Amber replied. “Someone buried his info deep, but he’s a contract officer with ties to the CIA.” She held up her phone to show a picture of him.

  “I don’t recognize him,” Zack said, frowning at it.

  Suspicion shot through her before she could stop it. Eden forced it aside, reproving herself. Zack was a contract officer with no true loyalty to the CIA. He’d lost a good friend in this, had volunteered to be here. If he’d wanted to turn on them he could have easily done so the moment he’d first arrived at the manor, alerting his former handler and superiors to their location if he’d wanted.

  Unless he’s playing the long game. Biding his time, trying to win her trust, using their past to try and get close to her again, make her lower her guard…

  Not everyone’s a threat, Eden. You used him before, remember? Not the other way around.

  Except Zack Maguire still remained a threat. Last night had shaken her, showing her just how weak she was with him. And the things he’d said. That she didn’t have to be alone anymore. That she could have him and a shot at something real if she’d just take the chance.

  It tantalized her, tormented her with everything she’d longed for and never believed was possible, calling to the woman she’d allowed herself to be with him for those few brief months.

  “Jesse does,” Amber said, drawing their attention. “And this guy is also connected to two names on the list of possible suspects involved with the Program recovered from your handler,” she said to Eden, then said a name that meant nothing to her. “He hasn’t worked an op in a while, but the ones he has done have been connected to both those names.”

  The news settled like a rock in the pit of Eden’s stomach. “So that’s how he found Penny. The source or leak must be in the CIA itself.”

  “Looks like,” Amber said, reaching for a piece of toast. “And we’re going to use every resource available to us to find whoever’s responsible.” She started to say something else, but stopped when her phone rang. “Excuse me,” she said after checking it, and walked out of the room.

  “I’m gonna get changed so I’m ready to go if we get a lead,” Kiyomi said, tossing her napkin on the table and standing. “See you guys in a bit.”

  “Sure.” Eden forced a piece of toast down after Kiyomi left, aware of the silent tension crackling between her and Zack, then stood. “I’ll see you later.”

  He shot out a hand, snagged her wrist as she turned away. Before she could pull free, he’d tugged her into his lap. She stiffened at the feel of those hard thighs beneath her bottom, the heat of his chest against her side.

  Holding her gaze, he reached up to stroke his fingertips across the nape of her neck. Tingles exploded along her skin, tightening her nipples and sending an instant rush of heat between her legs. “I didn’t sleep much.” He traced a fingertip beneath her eye. “And from the looks of those shadows, you didn’t either.”

  “Let me up.”

  He didn’t. “Did you think about what I said last night?”

  How could she not? She was still thinking about them. “And if I did?”

  One side of his mouth twitched at her curt tone. “Then I’m grateful.” His fingertips caressed her cheek, every subtle stroke laden with the promise of what he could offer her, memories of mind-melting pleasure and a sense of security that made her whole che
st tighten. “Spend some time with me. We can start over, get to know each other all over again. The real us.”

  She huffed. Oh, he knew her plenty already. Including everything about her body. “Little late for that, wouldn’t you say?”

  He grinned at her meaning. “Okay, maybe. How about we pick up from where we left off, then? We’ll fill in the gaps as we go.”

  The offer was so damn tempting she wanted to say yes.

  That gave her all the incentive she needed to push to her feet, unable to ignore the way her body cried out for him. Need and love were two different things. Just because the first one was real didn’t mean she could trust him with her heart, and losing him the first time had hurt so much she wasn’t sure she could handle it a second. It was safer, smarter to shut the door on that chapter and move forward.

  Zack caught her hand. “I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere, and no matter how long it takes, I’m going to prove I’m worth the risk.” The heat and certainty in his eyes made her stupid, needy heart skip a beat.

  She opened her mouth to tell him he was a cocky bastard, but yanked her hand free when she heard footsteps in the hallway. A second later Chloe strode in, long blond hair up in a ponytail, already chomping away on some gum even though it was only six in the morning, and wearing a T-shirt that read: Fuelled by ADHD and caffeine.

  She glanced between the two of them, the fierce look on her face telling Eden she meant business. “I just heard about Penny, and I only wanna know one thing. Who are we taking out next?”

  “I’m guessing someone on the list my handler gave me,” Eden answered, resolve hardening inside her like steel as she walked out of the room.

  Zack would always hold a piece of her heart, but she’d be stupid to give him any more of it. They were teammates on this mission, nothing more. If she wanted to stay clear-headed and find Chris and the others justice, then that was the way it had to stay.

  Chapter Eleven

  Glenn arrived early at the country club and did a quick perimeter check just to be sure it was safe. He was armed as he went in to take his seat at a table in the back to await his contact. This meeting was time critical. Ten minutes ago, he’d received confirmation about last night’s op in Edinburgh.

  Penny was dead, but the other Valkyries were all still unaccounted for.

  At least the hitter was dead too. One less thing to worry about as he formulated his next step.

  He almost dropped his gin and tonic when he looked up and saw Alex fucking Rycroft walk in. The man’s silver gaze locked on him and stayed there while he crossed the private room toward Glenn. What the hell was he doing here?

  “Bennett,” Rycroft said, helping himself to the seat across the table. “Been a long time. Mind if I join you?”

  Maybe this was coincidence. Maybe it had nothing to do with the Valkyries. He played it cool. “I’m actually expecting someone—”

  “I won’t stay long. I’ll just catch up with you while you wait.” He leaned back in the chair like he planned to stay for a while. “So, how’ve you been? Retirement treating you okay?”

  The intensity of that gaze made nerves come to life in the pit of his stomach. “Yeah. You?”

  One side of Rycroft’s mouth kicked up. “Can’t quite kick old habits, I’m afraid. Still have my fingers in all sorts of pies. Guys like us never really retire, am I right?”

  It was suddenly hard to swallow. The bastard knew something. Or at least had heard something. No way he was here right now by chance. And if Rycroft was sniffing around… Fuck. “Yeah.” He set his drink down, his mind working fast. “What are you doing here?”

  “Lunch meeting.” He glanced around. “Nice place. You come here often?”

  “No.” Only when he had someone to impress…or make an impression upon.

  “Ah.” He focused back on Glenn, and those eyes held a glint that turned the buzzing in his gut into a swarm of angry hornets. “What do you do to stay busy these days? Still working the odd case, off the record?”

  Glenn hadn’t risen through the ranks of the Agency the way he had by allowing himself to be intimidated or letting pressure get to him. Still, Rycroft was one of the few people on this earth who could make him nervous. “Nah, that’s all done.” He put on an easy smile. “I travel with my family. Play a lot of golf.”

  “Golf? Huh. I heard you’ve been playing a lot of something else lately.”

  Glenn would have had to be in a coma to miss the message.

  They’re watching me. They know.

  He put on a puzzled frown, shoved down the spurt of panic that shot through him. Rycroft was tight with Trinity Durant and Briar DeLuca. Were they suspicious of him? “Really? Where’d you hear that?”

  Rycroft shrugged. “Around. You know how it is. Our world is pretty small.”

  Yeah, it fucking was. People you thought were friends and allies could turn on you in a heartbeat if it meant saving their own skins. Had someone sold him out? He couldn’t read Rycroft, other than the subtly implied threat underlying the conversation.

  Someone else walked into the restaurant. Not Glenn’s contact. Rycroft glanced back, then faced Glenn. “Well. I’ve taken up enough of your time.” He pushed his chair back and stood, held out his hand. “Good to see you.”

  Glenn gripped it, holding that eerily knowing gaze. “Yeah. Take care.”

  “You too.” He let go and walked away.

  Glenn stared after him, his heart hammering against his ribs. He waited two minutes before leaving through the back entrance and hurrying to his car. There was no sign of Rycroft, but the man would definitely be watching, and there were plenty of other vehicles around. Any one of them might have someone watching him or waiting to follow him. He checked beneath the vehicle and looked under the hood for any signs of tampering or explosives before getting in it.

  After texting his contact to cancel the meeting, he drove west for an hour to ensure he wasn’t being followed before he deemed it safe enough to stop. Not trusting that Rycroft hadn’t bugged his car, Glenn got out and walked to a secluded side street before using a burner phone to place another call he didn’t want to make.

  “It’s me,” he said when the Architect answered.

  “You’re fucking kidding me. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  His pulse raced frantically in his throat. “Alex Rycroft just showed up at what was supposed to be a secret meeting with one of our colleagues. They’re watching me. They know.” He rushed to get it all out before he was hung up on. “Penny’s dead—”

  “I’m aware.”

  He paused. Aware of which part? He didn’t bother asking, because he wouldn’t get an answer. “But the others are still out there. Eight of them, and Rycroft has close ties to two.” He listed them all by name. “…Chloe and Eden, and—”

  “Kiyomi.”

  The way the name was said was odd. Full of interest and a sort of pride that struck Glenn as weird. “Yeah, and if they’re doing what I think they’re doing, then we’re both fucked.”

  “I’m not fucked,” the Architect flung back at him. “But you will be if you don’t quit with this bullshit. You hear me? Don’t. Ever. Call. Me. Again.”

  “Hey,” he snapped. “I’m not taking the fall for this. You got me into this mess, and you’re gonna help me make it go away. Because if I go down, I promise I’ll take you with me.”

  A shocked laugh answered him. “And here I thought even you weren’t stupid enough to threaten me.”

  The line went dead.

  Glenn flushed hot with anger, then cold with dread as the buried threat hit home.

  He ran a hand through his hair. Fine. He hadn’t wanted to do things this way, but it looked like he had no choice. He’d hoped this day wouldn’t come, but deep down he’d known it would. That one day that shit would come back to haunt him. He’d just never imagined it would go down like this.

  After destroying the burner phone, he tossed it in a nearby garbage bin and got back in
his car. On the way to the airport he called his wife at the lake, knowing she’d be out in the boat this time of day, and left a message. “Just calling to let you know something’s come up last minute, and I have to go out of town for a while. I’ll talk to you when I can. Give Kimmie a kiss for me. Love you both. Bye.”

  He had to act now and cover his tracks better going forward.

  But even as he planned his next move, unease coiled inside him like a venomous snake. At this point he had to assume that at least Trinity and Briar were investigating him and his contacts, and that they’d gotten Rycroft involved too. If they’d joined up with the remaining Valkyries, with their combined skills it wouldn’t be long until they uncovered everything he’d tried to bury, and come after him.

  Finding the women was the hardest part. Using contract hitters was expensive and posed its own risks. The more he did it, especially against the same target group, the higher the chance it would eventually be traced back to him.

  That left him one choice. He needed to take care of this personally if he wanted to eliminate his enemies and stay ahead of the threat. Right now he had two possible targets within reach. Briar and Trinity were somewhere close by, because their men were based out of Quantico.

  Getting to either one of them was incredibly risky. Briar was married to the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team commander, and both she and her husband were trained snipers. Trinity, one of the deadliest Valkyries in her own right, was engaged to one of the HRT’s sniper team leaders.

  But Briar and DeLuca had a kid. A daughter, if he remembered correctly. He’d heard that since becoming a mother, Briar had been out of the game. There was a chance she might not even be involved in any of this.

  Since he didn’t have time to delve into that at the moment, he’d start with Trinity. She still did contract work for Rycroft occasionally.

  Glenn turned the car around and headed back toward Virginia, a plan taking shape in his mind. First Trinity, while her fiancé was away. Once she was dead, he would rip apart everything she’d left behind. Every phone call or text, to find out who she’d been in contact with, and go from there.