by Cathy Pegau
Helena gave them a polite smile. She turned back to her companion, but her body stiffened. Natalia could swear she heard the click in the woman’s brain as she realized who was standing behind her. Helena dropped the man’s arm and spun around, her face pale, her mouth a bright red O of shock.
The smile Gennie offered wasn’t nearly as polite. She looked like she was about to bite off the other woman’s head. “Hello, Helena.”
Helena didn’t respond.
The man accompanying her cocked his head. “A friend of yours?”
Helena’s eyes darted between him and Gennie. They met Natalia’s, realized there would be no help there then returned to the man. “Acquaintance, really.”
He held his hand out to Gennie. “Marcus Cooper.”
So, not Mr. Sabre.
Gennie shook his hand. “Genevieve Monroe. This is Natalia Kuzmin.”
Natalia nodded, rather than take his hand.
“What are you doing here, Genevieve?” Helena’s voice was stronger, having had the chance to recover. She didn’t react to the last name Gennie had given them either. “I thought you’d be...elsewhere.”
Gennie quirked an eyebrow. “I bet. I’m glad I ran into you. We need to talk.”
The elevator door whispered open. Helena smiled apologetically and reached for Cooper’s arm. “Love to, but Marcus and I are headed to another engagement. Just going up for our coats.”
“We were going up as well,” Gennie said, following.
Natalia checked the hall, making sure no one else wanted the elevator, then entered behind the others. Cooper and Helena turned around to face the doors. Cooper slid his room key card into the panel. The elevator doors closed.
“Um,” Cooper said, a confused albeit polite smile on his face, “which floor are you on?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Cooper,” Gennie said. “You misunderstood. We’re going up to your room with you.”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed. “I realize you wish to speak to Helena, but as she said, we’re on our way out. Can’t she contact you later or tomorrow?”
“No,” Gennie replied.
The elevator stopped. Gennie and Natalia got out. Cooper took Helena’s arm again. They followed the couple down the lush hall. There were only a few rooms, indicative of the size of the Montague suites.
“What is it you want to talk about?” Helena asked. There was a slight quiver in her otherwise casual question.
“I think you know.”
Cooper withdrew his card and stopped at a door near the end of the hall. “I’m not sure what your game is, Miss Monroe, but please get to the point so we aren’t late.”
He opened the door and let Helena precede him. She hesitated, her shoulders stiff and her breathing rapid. Gennie reached under her dress, her back to the hall and any surveillance cams.
Cooper encouraged Helena inside with a hand at the small of her back. Politeness was going to backfire on him. “Honestly, I can’t see why this couldn’t—” He turned around, his eyes dropping to the gun in Gennie’s hand. “Son of a bitch.”
Helena slowly turned to face them. Despite her concerns about Gennie’s plan, Natalia remained outwardly calm. The flicker of fear in their eyes when they looked at Natalia said they correctly assumed she was armed as well.
Gennie gestured for them to enter the room. Natalia closed the door behind them. No incriminating vid from the hallway cam.
“What’s all this about?” Cooper asked.
“Helena can tell you later.” Gennie shot Cooper in the stomach.
His eyes rolled back in his head and he crumpled to the floor. Helena jumped back with a yelp of surprise. She glared at Gennie.
Natalia felt sorry for Cooper. Obviously, Helena cared little for him personally.
“Let’s go sit down,” Gennie told her.
Natalia closed the door to the suite and checked on Cooper. His pulse was strong and his breathing regular. A stunner could be fatal, but he’d be fine, other than a headache and some nausea, perhaps.
Gennie had Helena sit in one of the overstuffed chairs, her hands resting on the arms. Natalia stood beside Gennie, letting her take the lead but prepared to shut things down if Gennie got carried away.
“What do you want, Genevieve?”
Gennie stiffened and her hand flexed around the stunner. “I want your parents to leave my family alone.”
Helena shook her head. “I don’t—”
Gennie stepped closer and backhanded the woman across the face. Not hard, not as hard as Natalia knew she could have hit her. But hard enough to rock Helena to the side and have her cry out. She covered her cheek, glaring at Gennie.
“Don’t lie to me.” Gennie’s voice was low and quiet. Deadly. Natalia had never heard anything so terrifying. Here was a mother defending her family, standing before someone at least partially responsible for that threat. But Gennie had to play this right, or the evidence and information they obtained could be inadmissible. “You know exactly what Marta and Jackson are up to. You told me at Simon’s funeral they were thrilled about the babies, that they wanted to have them ‘raised right.’”
Helena lowered her hand. Other than a slight pinking of her cheek, it was unmarked. She gripped the arms of the chair, her fingers digging into the fabric. “They wanted to have their grandchildren close, no harm in that. Then you disappeared. What did you expect us to do? Forget they existed because you saw a conspiracy where there were only grieving parents and your wild speculation?”
“My speculation? You told me you suspected they’d had Simon killed.” The color on Gennie’s face rose. “The information I got from Simon connects Reyes Corporation to some very nasty activity, Helena. Information he was trying to use to either work into his own business after retirement or blackmail your parents. From what he told me about his childhood, it was probably the latter.”
Helena’s eyes widened as if in surprise. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. We had an excellent childhood. Simon didn’t want to be part of the family business, and that was fine with my parents. They loved him, Genevieve, and would have loved you like a daughter if you had let them.”
She sounded sincere. Either she was a consummate liar or she truly believed what she was now telling or had told Gennie. Gennie, however, believed none of it. She turned to Natalia, a “do you hear this garbage?” look on her face. When she saw Natalia studying Helena, however, disbelief was replaced with disappointment.
“You don’t believe her, do you?” Gennie asked. A slight hitch in her voice betrayed the fear Natalia might.
Damn the void. Natalia’s head and arm started to throb. “No, but I think she believes it.”
She dragged another chair closer to Helena’s. They hadn’t planned the good-agent-bad-agent angle, but Gennie left her no choice. Hopefully she’d pick up on what Natalia was trying to do.
“Miss Reyes, or is it Sabre?” Helena didn’t flinch. No matter. Natalia crossed her legs, her right arm resting in her lap. “I need to ask you a few things about your HSA company activities down in Grand Meridian.”
“And you are?”
She had to give Helena credit for staying cool under the threat of assault from Gennie. She was secure in her version of the truth or a hell of a liar. Natalia was determined to figure out which.
No sense hiding anymore. They’d have the evidence they needed to go after Reyes Corporation when Williams’s lab report came in. “Natalia Hallowell, CMA.”
Helena settled into her seat. She kept her gaze on Natalia. “The CMA works with criminals now, Agent Hallowell?”
Helena knew Gennie had worked for Guy Christiansen as Simon’s manager, then as Christiansen’s assistant. Neither she nor Gennie rose to that bait. Hell, they both knew it was the truth.
“Genevieve and I are collaborating based on files she brought to my attention regarding your company. Files she received from your brother’s private comm account after he passed away.”
“Simon wanted to start a company,” Helena said, “but he didn’t want to work with me. He took interest in Grand Meridian.”
“Simon started the fungus shipping contract with the pirqs?” Surprise widened Gennie’s eyes. “Why were the files he had all attributed to Reyes Corporation? None of them had his name on them.”
“He wanted to be in charge but not liable, like always.” Helena’s bitterness came through loud and clear. “He was content to be a silent partner until the transactions made a real profit.”
“But he died before that,” Natalia said. Pieces were starting to fall into place. “That’s when you established HSA.”
Helena nodded. “We’d contracted with sites where the fungus grows. It’s a valuable commodity, regarded as one of the best composting and nutrient supplements in the system, but not a get-rich-quick thing. Start-up is slow. Patience is key.”
“Your shipments from Grand Meridian,” Natalia said. “They have a little something special though, don’t they?”
Helena crossed her legs, right over left, angling away from Natalia. Her foot bobbed.
She wasn’t telling them everything.
“Did Simon know about the yttrium?” Natalia watched Helena’s face. Her nostrils flared as she attempted to conceal the truth. “He did.”
She turned to Gennie, bracing herself for the other woman’s reaction. Her mouth was pressed into a hard line and her eyes registered pain and disappointment. Gennie hadn’t known Simon was willing to sell poison. That wasn’t the man she’d loved. It was a betrayal that Natalia couldn’t imagine.
“I’m sorry, Gennie.” Natalia turned back to Helena. “Who do you have working for you at the CMA? Garces?”
Helena pressed her lips together, but the brief widening of her eyes told Natalia there certainly was some sort of connection with the man. He knew what he’d been signing, the bastard, and was likely getting a considerable number of credits added to his account for each shipment. No wonder he’d been able to create a false account for Natalia.
“Miss Reyes, let me explain to you what’s going to happen now. You’re going to leave Pandalus. Tonight. Tell your parents and your solicitors to prepare for a CMA investigation of HSA. Don’t worry about hiding or deleting files, we have what we need. I’m only telling you this so you can also bring your parents a message from Genevieve and me.” Natalia rose and smoothed the skirt of her dress. “As far as the Colonial government is concerned, Genevieve is the sole parent of record, giving your family no claim on her children. Any attempts to contact her or the twins will be regarded as a violation of their right to privacy. Any physical contact will be considered assault, at the very least.”
“Which means,” Gennie said, “if you come anywhere near us I can kill you.” She leaned closer to Helena, stunner casually pointed at her heart. Her voice softened to an intimate, dangerous timbre. “Like your thugs killed my friend. I’m a big believer in an eye for an eye, Helena, and have no qualms about taking a leg or an arm as well. Do I make myself clear?”
Natalia noted the white of Gennie’s knuckles around the grip. She was straining to not press the firing stud, an almost certain kill shot, even with the “non-lethal” weapon.
Helena’s eyes narrowed and her fingers gripped the chair so hard Natalia thought she’d tear through the fabric. “Crystal.”
Gennie straightened. “Anything else, Agent Hallowell?”
“Your friend should be fine in an hour or so,” she told Helena. “I’d have a few med tabs ready. He’s going to have a headache. I’m afraid you’ll be missing your engagement this evening.” She turned to leave, hoping Gennie wouldn’t shoot Helena out of hand.
“Genevieve is a coldhearted bitch, but you have no sense of family, do you, Agent Hallowell?” Helena’s taunt stopped Natalia in her tracks. There was no way Helena knew anything about Natalia, but she couldn’t have used a more hurtful insult if she’d tried. “Those children are our blood, the only living connection to my brother. Maybe that isn’t important to you, but it is to us.”
Natalia turned around. Gennie faced her, her back to Helena. Natalia easily read the question in Gennie’s eyes: Do you want me to shoot her for you? She could have kissed Gennie for the anger and hurt she felt on Natalia’s behalf. Instead of showing Helena Reyes how painful her accusations were, instead of letting Gennie stun her until she soiled her expensive blue dress, Natalia locked eyes with the woman and gave her her best predator’s grin.
“Family, Miss Reyes?” Natalia crossed back to where Helena sat. She braced her good arm on the chair and bent forward, putting them eye to eye. Helena went rigid. “Attempting to tear children away from their mother is probably the worst crime I can think of and should be punishable by more than the warning you’ve received here. It’s you and your parents who have no idea what it means to be a family. Children aren’t possessions or status symbols. They aren’t to be hunted or murdered when they don’t fall into line.” Helena’s eyes widened. She knew something about her brother’s death. “Gennie will only kill you. If I catch you anywhere near them, I will make your life a living hell.” She paused to let her promise sink in. “Have a lovely evening.”
Natalia turned on her heel and strode to the door. She and Gennie left the room. Gennie kept her stunner in hand until they reached the elevator, in case Helena had the crazy notion to follow them. Natalia knew she wouldn’t. Helena Reyes didn’t do her own dirty work; that’s what the people she hired were for.
Gennie slipped the stunner into her thigh holster as Natalia withdrew the key card from her cleavage and swiped it across the access panel to activate the elevator. Dressing up was part of the fun of undercover work, but not having pockets was a bitch.
“We’ll get changed and head back to Sterling’s,” Natalia said. She rubbed her right arm. Twinges of pain accompanied the throbbing.
Gennie gingerly took her hand and lifted it to her mouth. She pressed her warm lips against the back of Natalia’s fingers. A zing of desire shot through Natalia. She’d experienced the thank-God-we-survived rush of lust after a particularly hairy undercover situation, but this was different. It was the thrill of working with someone who understood you. It was the look of protectiveness in Gennie’s eyes when Helena had unwittingly hurt her with a casual insult.
“The kids are safe with Sterling and Sasha. We have a room and we have some time,” Gennie said in a low, sexy purr. “Seeing you put on your agent face was damn enticing.”
Natalia laughed. She turned their hands around and kissed Gennie’s fingers. “You play the hard-ass bitch rather well yourself.”
“Yeah, but I’m not playing.” Gennie placed her hands on Natalia’s hips and backed her to the elevator wall. She rubbed against Natalia, their breasts brushing through thin layers of fabric. Heat swirled between Natalia’s legs when she added a deep, tongue-tangling kiss. The card fell to the floor as she ran her good hand along Gennie’s ribs. How could she resist this woman and the luxuriously appointed bed waiti
ng in the room they’d had to reserve?
The elevator door opened with a whisper.
Gennie broke the kiss and bent to retrieve the key card.
A heartbeat later, all hell broke loose.
Chapter Eighteen
Pulser fire crackled over Gennie’s head. Bursts of energy hit the back wall of the elevator, sending splinters of panel flying. Gennie threw herself to the ground and rolled to the other side of the car, where the front wall gave her cover. Natalia pressed herself flat against the wall on her side.
Gennie yanked her stunner out of the thigh holster. She aimed out the elevator door but had to stay behind the short wall or risk getting hit. She fired blind, unable to sight a proper target.
Ozone burned in the small space. Shot sprayed the back wall. Chunks of elevator bit into skin. Natalia crouched to grab her key card off the floor. Pulser fire concentrated near her hand.
She flicked the card to Gennie. “Close the fucking door.”
With her left hand, Natalia pulled her weapon from her leg holster. She fired her bio-locked pulser, a more powerful gun than Gennie’s borrowed stunner. Someone in the hall yelped.
Gennie slid the card into the reader and shut the door.
Natalia signaled “Up.” Gennie hit the top floor’s icon.
Several shots pinged loudly against the door as the elevator rose. Gennie and Natalia had their backs to the walls.
“Who the hell was that?” Gennie asked, panting. Heat bloomed in her chest and surged up her neck. Self-preservation had kept her emotions at bay while she fired back, but now she was torqued.
“Garces.” Rage twitched across Natalia’s face. “Not sure how he found us, but it’s likely he’ll have men waiting downstairs.”
“So we go to the roof.” There was just one flaw in that plan. “We’re thirty stories up, Natalia.”
The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. No one shot at them. Natalia peeked around the edge of the doorway, pulser at the ready. Still no shots. She nodded to Gennie, and the two of them dashed into the hall.
