by Scott, Kylie
“It’s sanctioned,” snarls the man. Spider.
“And you decided that meant tying her up and torturing her?” asks Thom. “I don’t think so.”
The woman sighs. “For the record, I told him it wasn’t a good idea.”
“You were right.”
“Hey, now.” The man lifts his hands in a pacifying way. “I wasn’t actually going to do it. I was just messing with her head. You know how it works, you’ve got to—”
It all happens so quickly. The work of a moment, no more. Thom’s hand lunges for Spider’s throat, crushing his windpipe. The man doubles over, choking.
Unhurried, Thom draws a gun from his belt. One smooth, graceful arc, and the gun’s butt strikes the side of the man’s head. He drops to the floor.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for years,” the woman says. “He always liked hurting women a little too much for my tastes. Such a rubbish human.”
It’s the last straw for me. I’m not used to all the threats and fear and violence. In movies maybe, but not actual real-world stuff. Acid climbs my throat and I lean to the side to throw up. Vomit splashes the side of my leg. I’m too freaked out to feel the usual disgust. Instead, I feel frail and hollow. Like I might cave in on myself at any moment.
“Fox, get him out of here,” orders Thom in a calm voice.
“Fuck’s sake. I hate carrying dead weight.” The woman, Fox, pulls out a cell, thumbs moving across the screen, sending someone a message instead of following orders. Perhaps she’s checking her social media first. I don’t know. Nothing about this makes sense.
Thom strides toward me, his face hard, eyes cold. I’ve never been afraid of him, but I am now. He produces a knife out of nowhere and squats down to cut the ties on my wrists. Then he grabs my chin, inspecting me.
I push him away, wipe my mouth clean with the back of a hand. My world has suddenly turned upside down. Thom the kickass fighter and me almost blown-up and waterboarded. What the hell?
“Thom…” I breathe.
His dark hair is this cool artful mess instead of following its usual dull, neat lines. And there’s a focus to him, a determination. No, a confidence. That’s the difference between this man and my former fiancé. He stands tall and strong. Ready to conquer nations, to take on anything and win.
Holy shit. Who is this guy?
Because this isn’t my Thom. It can’t be.
“Your eyes are blue,” I say.
“I wear contacts around you.”
“No. You’re his evil twin or something.” This makes total sense. Sort of. “That’s it.”
“Don’t be silly,” he replies shortly. “It’s me, Betty. Your fiancé.”
“I know Thom. He’s nothing like you. He would never…”
He pauses, then sighs. “You’ve seen my scars. You know them.”
“I know Thom’s scars, but…”
Without a word, he pulls his T-shirt up and over his head. Thom’s always been fit, but in the shadowy light, with the gun tucked into the waistband of his jeans now exposed, the rippled body before me looks hard and dangerous. However, the scars are indeed there. Every one of them. One on the shoulder. A slash on his upper right arm. Four across his stomach, like a little constellation.
I shake my head. “Thom would never take his shirt off in public. He’s too self-conscious. We didn’t even have sex with the light on.”
“Self-conscious about the damage from the car accident, right?”
“Yeah, and the scars from playing sports and a surgery when he was younger.”
“I don’t care about them.” He sighs. “It was just too much of a risk that someone might recognize gunshot, knife, and shrapnel wounds if they saw them.”
Huh. “Thom?”
“Hi, babe.” He gives me a sad, sort of contrite smile. For the first time, he looks exactly like my Thom.
“What the hell is going on?”
He says nothing. But his gaze moves over me, taking in my battered face, my bruised body. It stops, however, at my hands. “Betty, where’s your ring?”
“I—I took it off. I was leaving you.”
For the first time, this scary alternate version of Thom seems almost surprised. A little shocked even. “You left me? Why would you…” Then he looks over his shoulder at Fox, who is carrying Spider away, holding him over one shoulder, fireman style. She’s obviously stronger than she looks. Thom leans in close, his voice harsh and low. “Tell no one. Do you understand?”
“What? But why?”
“No one. Your life depends on it.”
Returning without Spider, Fox wanders over. “All organized.”
“Good,” answers Thom.
“Of course, this is all your own bloody fault,” says Fox. “You’re the one who wanted a white picket fence and suburban family for a cover. Yawn.”
Thom draws me to my feet and I sway like I’m caught in a storm. He slides a strong arm around my waist, drawing me against his body. I don’t want to touch him, this stranger who uses violence so easily. But my options for staying upright and getting out of here are limited.
“The internal leak is being investigated,” says Fox. “We should have something for you soon.”
Thom just nods.
“What do I say to Spider when he regains consciousness?” asks Fox.
“Tell him if he ever touches my fiancée again, I won’t be so diplomatic next time.”
Fox snorts. “Whatever. Cheerio, Betty. No hard feelings, yeah?”
Thom hustles me out of there as fast as he can.
“I know you’ve got questions.”
What an understatement. We’re upstairs in one of the many bedrooms inside the sprawling old ranch house. It’s somewhere in the wilds of one of the canyons, at a guess. No neighbors are in sight. Apart from Fox, the unconscious Spider, and a man working at a serious array of computers in the great room, the place seems empty. There’s basic furniture only. No pictures or keepsakes. Nothing to indicate it’s a home.
And it’s all so surreal. I want to keep pinching myself, but I hurt enough already. Which reminds me: “Was anyone else harmed in the explosion?”
“No.”
“It was meant to kill?”
“As best we can figure, the bomb malfunctioned. Went off early.”
“Someone actually tried to blow us up. I wonder…I went into your office looking for tape. I don’t usually go in there.”
His nostrils flare. “That could have been it.”
“So there’s a leak in your organization and someone wants to kill you,” I say, voice shaking. “Or you and me both?”
“You were paying attention back there.”
“I’m not as stupid as you think I am.” I almost laugh. Or cry. One or the other. “At least, I hope I’m not.”
“Babe—”
“Do not babe me.”
He takes a deep breath, pushing a hand through his hair. The past few months, he’s been so busy it’s longer than normal. Way overdue for a cut. “I never thought you were stupid, Betty.”
“No. Just desperate.”
He says nothing. Confirmation enough. Not that I needed it.
“Well?” I ask.
“Until we can identify who’s passing off information, we won’t know if the target is just me. It would, however, make the most sense.”
“Unless they wanted to kill me to hurt you. Though it wouldn’t hurt you, would it?”
His lips thin ever so slightly. “Given I cold-cocked the last person who harmed you, I think we can assume I care at least a little.”
“A little. That’s big of you.” I sit on the side of the king-size bed, trying to ease the nerves, tiredness, and pain. What I wouldn’t give for Tylenol or something stronger. A bottle of medicinal vodka, maybe. “What happens now?”
“Now we wait to see what the searches Badger’s doing on the computers dig up. We’re safe here for the moment.”
“Badger.” I snort. “Is there an Otter?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“You and your friends are a regular fucking zoo.”
The following silence is thick and heavy. Not comfortable at all. And to think I’d planned to spend my life with this man. This stranger.
“She referred to me and our life together as your cover. Does that make you a spy or a government agent or what?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh my God, are you a traitor?”
“No, Betty. The ones I work for…they’re an international group dedicated to keeping things as unfucked as possible. That’s really all I can say.”
“And these people, you kill for them?”
There’s the slightest of pauses before he answers. “When it’s necessary. There are some dangerous people out there. But other times I just gather information. Each job is different.”
“They usually involve you pretending to be someone you’re not, though, right? Lying to people?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. You’re very good at it.” I watch him carefully. “So are you doing this for the good of humankind or for the money?”
“Can’t it be both?” he asks all smooth-like. New Thom is slippery.
“What did you mean, my life depended on not saying anything about leaving you?”
“You know too much now. The only thing keeping you alive is that they, the people in charge, think you’re loyal to me and that I’m committed to you. If those beliefs change, then they will review their risk-reward calculation about keeping you alive.”
“All I know is that you name yourselves after animals and answer to some mysterious organization referred to as ‘they.’”
“That’s enough.”
“It’s ridiculous they’d want me dead just for knowing that.” I want to beat him with my fists. Scream and howl in rage. Maybe later when I’ve got the energy. “Is Thom Lange even your real name?”
“Thom is my name.”
“But Lange’s not your surname.”
“No.” He pauses. “Why did you want to leave?”
“Does it matter why I attempted to dump you, since we’re apparently now stuck with each other?”
“I thought you were happy.” The weird thing is, he sounds almost hurt. Which is crazy. “I know I’ve been busy lately, but—”
“You do remember this is a fake relationship you’re talking about,” I say between clenched teeth. “A lie that you manipulated and tricked me into believing.”
For a moment, we just stare at each other. Neither of us is happy.
“Given how badly I held up under pressure, I can almost forgive you for not telling me the whole truth. But I really don’t think I can ever forgive you for starting this relationship in the first place.”
“Everyone breaks under torture; it’s just a matter of when.” He doesn’t address the second issue. Doesn’t even go near it.
“Great.”
“You’re exhausted; you should sleep.” He nods to a door on the other side of the large bedroom. “Bathroom is through there if you want to clean up. I’ll check on you later.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be right outside. You’re safe, Betty.”
I don’t know what to say. This new Thom doesn’t feel safe at all.
And then he’s gone.
I have no idea where we are or how far from civilization we might be. And I have neither money nor shoes. My chances of making a successful getaway are slim to none. For now, there’s no other real option but to stay put and figure out this situation. My supposed fiancé seems to want to keep me alive and in one piece. It’s something, I guess.
The woman in the bathroom mirror is pale and pasty, battered and bruised. I turn on the shower, testing the temperature with a hand. Red marks line my wrists, further reminder of the crazy and violent day. My clothes stink of smoke and vomit, but there’s soap and shampoo, towels and a fluffy white robe. It’ll have to do. I need to put myself back together and deal.
Only the first tear leaves a trail in the soot and general mess of my face. A second tear follows fast. Soon my vision wavers and I step into the shower, hiding the sound of my crying with the running water. It’d be great to be able to handle this, to stay strong. But first I apparently need a minute to let it all out. All of the anger, stress, and horror of the past few hours. All of my fear.
Because I’m trapped. That’s what it comes down to in the end.
CHAPTER TWO
It’s late when knocking wakes me. Hints of dawn light slip past the curtain edges casting shadows across the plain white walls. Being almost blown up, tortured, and interrogated warrants a sleep-in. But apparently it’s not going to happen.
I sit up slowly, pushing my hair out of my face, being careful of the butterfly bandages on my forehead and other assorted bruising. Meanwhile, Thom is already moving toward the door, gun in hand. I didn’t even realize he’d been in bed with me. He wasn’t there a few hours ago when a nightmare woke me. It’s bizarre, how comfortable he seems with the weapon, as if it’s merely an extension of him. His grip on it eases at the sight of whoever’s in the hallway, and he gives me a nod to say it’s okay.
Sleep hasn’t solved anything. He still seems like a stranger wearing Thom’s face. More now than ever. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to looking into those hard blue eyes.
“Wolf.” The man who enters is tall and lean, with black hair and brown skin. Late twenties, I’d guess. He’s got on a sharp suit with a white shirt open at the collar and he’s carrying a wealth of shopping bags. Also, he’s pretty. “And this must be your beautiful fiancée.”
I pull the collar of the robe closed over my ample cleavage because hello.
“This is Crow,” Thom says to me, tucking the gun into the waistband of his jeans. His feet are bare and so is his upper body. The scars are once again on display.
He used to insist on having sex in the dark and always locked the bathroom door when he took a shower. I just figured he had the market cornered on inhibitions. Who hasn’t got flaws? But after all of the excuses he used to keep me at a distance, to keep himself covered, it’s strange to see them exposed. And it’s a definite; I still want to hit him for all the lies and assorted bullshit he pedaled throughout the duration of our relationship.
He stands beside the bed, keeping his body partly between me and the stranger, despite saying, “He’s a friend.”
Crow smiles. “Didn’t you once tell me there were no friends in this business?”
The edges of Thom’s lips rise slightly in agreement.
“Hi,” I say.
Crow drops the shopping bags on the end of the bed. The bulk of them appear to be labeled Neiman Marcus. “For you, Betty. Some clothes and so on. He gave me your measurements so everything should fit. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been wanting to for a while now, but someone had you declared strictly off-limits.”
“It was for her own good. And I said to pick up a few things,” says Thom, sounding disgruntled. “Not empty the damn store.”
“The personal shopper needed the commission and you can afford it. The replacement ring is in the little blue bag. I picked that one out myself.”
Thom groans. “Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not.” The man squats, sorting through the pile of bags with ease. And sure enough, a Tiffany-blue bag yields a ring box. “I suppose you should do the honors.”
Without comment, Thom takes the box, sitting on the bed beside me. I can’t read the expression in his eyes. But he grasps my hand lightly, sliding the rock onto my ring finger. The diamond is huge and it fits perfectly.
“I thought we weren’t telling anyone about—” I start to say.
“You can trust Crow. If anyone asks, the story is that you took your old ring off while you were doing work around home yesterday morning. That’s why you weren’t wearing it when the explosion hit.”
“I would have proposed properly, got down on one knee and done it right
. A square-cut diamond of five carats with a platinum band,” announces Crow. “What do you think, Betty?”
“Wow.”
“I think she likes it,” he says with a smile. “I have excellent taste.”
Much irate grumbling from Thom. “You’re buying her affections with my money. I’m supposed to be a low-level suit. How the hell would I have afforded that?”
“The only people that ring is meant to fool already know you’re not just a low-level suit. Let her enjoy the rock.”
“It’s beautiful, Crow. Thank you.”
The man gives me a brief smile. “You’re very welcome, Betty.”
“And thank you for picking up the clothes. I keep forgetting everything I owned has been blown up.” The thought is both horrible and sobering, remembering exactly how much I’ve lost. Not that any of it was worth a lot. But the sentimental value…like my favorite T-shirts, for instance. Cherished books with cracked spines and worn pages. The beloved old record player and collection of vinyl I inherited from my grandfather. Just all the bits and pieces that made up my life. Though I know it’s only stuff, and I am happy to be alive.
“You backed up your photos, right?” asks Thom.
I nod.
“That’s something, at least.”
“Yeah,” I say, not quite convinced.
Crow clears his throat. “I take it you heard about Scorpion?”
Thom nods. “She was a good agent.”
“I know you two were close. We have to find this bastard. Now.”
“Badger’s tracing access of any and all files relating to us. Anyone left kicking from jobs she and I did together. Someone who might hold a grudge.”
“Whatever’s out there, he’ll find it,” says Crow.
So Scorpion was a she, and she and Thom were close. Interesting. I’m not sure if I care if he cheated on me or not. No, I do. The mere thought stings.
I drag the closest bags over to me, pushing aside layers of wrapping to get to the goodies. Some basic makeup, skin care, hair stuff, and tampons. An assortment of clothes, such as jeans, T-shirts, and a warm jacket, along with a pair of sturdy yet fashionable boots. Very nice.
