Hard Target

by Marquita Valentine

  Maxim’s gaze turns sharp. “The founder of Wraith is in London, Ben, and he’s out for you.”

  A cold smile covers Ben’s face. “What are we waiting for?”

  “That’s my man.” Better to put on a brave face than to collapse into a heap of quivering mess. And not the good kind of quivering either.

  Maxim shakes his head. “I can’t change your mind?”

  Dmitry opens the back passenger side door, gesturing for me to get in.

  I answer for all of us. “Nope.”

  “That’s my brave girl.” Ben slides in beside me and grabs my hand. “Diamond’s good?”

  “You won’t lose me.” I touch the ring I had made for him. “I won’t lose you either.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Benjamin

  All hell breaks loose as soon as we entered the City. An explosion launches the car flying into the air like a rocket. Time seems to stand still, then rush to find its place.

  Morgan screams, holding on for me to dear life as our bodies bounce around the interior like pinballs in an arcade game.

  White lights spark behind my eyes as the car hits the ground and our bodies drop like rocks. My head cracks against the glass and my vision goes dark as wave of dizziness barrels over me.

  Once the world stops spinning, I crawl from the wreckage of the car, glass digging in the palms of my hands.

  “Morgan,” I shout as razor sharp pain rakes over my skull. “Morgan.”

  Blurry-eyed, I stand on my feet, my entire body weaving as I search for her. I don’t see her anywhere on the ground, so I stumble back to the car.

  Maxim’s inside, groaning and holding on to his head. Wrenching open the door, I drag him out of there and go back to double check the interior.

  “She’s gone,” he says.

  “He’s got her.”

  “Who?” Please let it be Dmitry.

  “Dmitry,” he says and I nearly drop to my knees in relief. “He’s got a head start. I can call for backup to follow, shall I?”

  “Don’t bother. I can track her.” I pull my phone from my pocket and click on the app, anxious for it to capture Morgan’s signal. “Dmitry, Morgan, and I planned it on the plane ride over. He’s been transporting packages for Wraith and his latest job required that he bring Morgan to the head guy.”

  Maxim gives me a look. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No.”

  His mouth becomes white at the edges. “The explosion?”

  I shake my head. “Not part of the plan.”

  “And Grandfather wonders why I chose my line of work,” he mutters.

  “There’s always one in every family.”

  “Bugger off, Benji,” Maxim all but growls.

  I lightly pat his arm, checking for damage. “Call for medical help. I think your arm is broken.”

  “I’ve had worse.”

  “Things are about to get a whole lot worse.” The app comes to life on my phone. “I need to borrow a car.”

  “I’m not stopping you.”

  “By borrow I mean—”

  “I’m literally not stopping you. Go.”

  I don’t waste any more time. Adrenaline and fear push my body into motion. My pain disappears under my fear for Morgan as I run flat out. I’m confident I’ll find a proper car to knick in the car park up ahead, even when my sides start to hurt like hell. I don’t let up, will never let up until I find her.

  Rounding the next corner, I dash into the car park and pop the lock of the nearest car, then rip out the panel under the dash to connect the wires underneath.

  The BMW roars to life and I shove it into gear, driving over hedges and knocking down a metal fence. While it’s late, the streets aren’t deserted. I have to dodge pedestrians and as well as other cars with impeccably poor timing.

  Honestly, I don’t know how Dmitry did this without succumbing to road rage. Glancing at the map that has popped up on my screen, I brake hard and take the next left.

  “I’m coming, Morgan. Hold on.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Morgan

  “Where are you taking me?” I ask as I try to process everything that has happened. One minute we’re in the car and the next minute, I’m being pulled out and thrown over Dmitry’s shoulder. This was not part of the plan.

  “Where I’m ordered to.”

  My body aches all over, but otherwise I’m fine. “Which is?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  He’s so vague that warning bells blare in my head. I struggle against the ties that bind my hands together, but they don’t loosen. “I didn’t survive a car wreck just for you to kill me.”

  He sighs heavily. “I’m not going to kill you.”

  “Then what are you going to do?”

  “Take you to my boss.”

  Narrowing my eyes at him, I ask, “I thought your grandfather is your boss?”

  “He is.”

  “You can’t work for two different people with opposite goals,” I chastise.

  Dmitry hauls me up another flight of stairs. “Stop talking so much.”

  He opens a door. The wind practically sucks me out into the center of the roof. My hair whips around my face. From up here, I can see everything—the Thames, Big Ben, Parliament… everything.

  It’s terrifying.

  The door bursts open again and Ben comes out, fists up as he barrels into Dmitry.

  “Ben!” I scream but he doesn’t pay me any attention. He’s too busy trying to beat the ever-loving crap out of his cousin.

  He misses another punch.

  And doing a really poor job of it.

  “I can’t believe you betrayed him,” I say, trying to distract Dmitry to Ben can good a solid hit.

  “Stop talking.” He takes a swing at Ben and misses. Finally, Ben rams him in the stomach with his knee and Dmitry falls to the ground.

  “Fuck. You hit hard.” He spits out some blood and smiles. “Next time, make it count.”

  “Next time, I’m going to rip your tongue from your throat and shove it up your arse,” Ben taunts, only I believe he will do just that.

  I feel a mosquito sting me and I smack my neck. Wait. There aren’t any mosquitos this time of year.

  A man comes to stand in front of me. He has white blonde hair and a scar at the temple. His eyes are as blue as Ben’s and his smile… his smile is like his, too.

  “Who are you?” I ask stupidly. Of course, he’s the head guy of Wraith. Too bad he’s not wearing a nametag.

  His chin tips up proudly. “The man who will change the course of history.”

  “Now you sound like a real bad guy,” I say an instant before a wave of dizziness washes over me.

  I stumble sideways, trying to remain on my feet. The movement must have caught Ben’s attention because I distantly hear him screaming my name.

  My skin breaks out into a cold sweat and my tongue feels numb. “What did you do to me?” I try to ask, but my words are jumbled together.

  “There always has to be a patient zero.” I feel another sting. “Tag, darling. You’re it.”

  I grab his shirt, clenching the material tight in one of my hands. The other feels as useless as a screen door on a submarine.

  “Let go,” he commands. “I have more to do tonight.”

  The feeling comes back in my arm and I shove my hand into his shirt pocket, ripping it slightly. He shoves me away, but I smile with the knowledge that I managed to get my wedding band inside of the pocket before he did.

  Blackness invades my vision and the roof rushes up to meet me.

  I’m being lifted. Ben’s voice is in my ear.

  “Stay with me. Stay with me, baby.”

  It’s a struggle to make my voice work. “My ring.”

  “Don’t worry about your ring, mllaya moyna. I’ll buy another.”

  “No. He’s got it.”

  “He does… how?”

  My eyes flutter closed.

  Someone jostl
es me awake. “I put it in his shirt,” I say, not sure if I actually formed the words or if they were only floating through my mind.

  Tansy fills my vision, her pretty face a comfort. “Don’t worry, Morgan. You’re in the window for the vaccine.”

  “You look like an angel,” I whisper, unable to process her words.

  A shot rings out. Tansy slumps over me, her body heavy.

  “Fuck,” I hear Ben roar as he pulls Tansy off me. “Stay with us. Please… God, I need the vaccine.”

  Tansy whispers something to Ben.

  “Farooq? Where is he?” He shakes Tansy. Her head flopping like a doll’s. “Where is he?”

  Letting go of her, he returns to me, cradling my head in his lap. His hands are slick. “My stupid plan. I’m sorry, Morgan. So damned sorry.”

  Clarity returns. “Go get him.”

  “It’s a him?”

  I nod, but I have to stop because my head feels like it’s about to explode. “He favors you, but wrong hair color. Scar up here.” I almost stab myself in the eye with my finger.

  There was a long pause. Or I passed out again. “Are you sure you can find him?” Ben asks.

  “Yes.” Maxim comes into focus. “I will find him, but in the meantime, you have to go.”

  “I will come back for you,” Ben says. He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Wait for me.”

  “Love you.”

  “Oh God.” Are those tears in his eyes? “I love you. You won’t remember telling me so or me telling you, but I do. I never meant for you to get hurt. I’m sorry.”

  “Forgive you.”

  My eyes finally close.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Benjamin

  I shove my way through he crowd of people that have arrived to take care of Morgan as well as quarantine her in case the virus can be spread like the cold it is supposed to eradicate.

  Maxim shouts my name. “We have a lock on Farooq. He’s in London, south side.”

  I don’t allow relief to ease my pain. There will be no peace until Morgan is cured and the head of Wraith is dead.

  And God help this entire world should she die.

  Dmitry joins me. “You will not do this alone.”

  I spare him a glance. “He will kill you for betraying him.”

  “Worth it. I’m ready to retire.”

  Pointing to a familiar black Mercedes by the curb, I ask, “That yours?”

  “Ready and waiting.”

  We get in.

  Trusting Dmitry to follow the app’s tracking directions, I check my guns and count my bullets. The app stops beeping, then the view switches over to a detailed blueprint of the building where we’re stopped.

  “He’s here and heading to the roof.” I glance at the name of the building. “Romanov Industries.”

  “You don’t think it’s one of your brothers, do you?” Dmitry asks.

  “Never say never.”

  We begin the long trek up sixty-two flights of stairs. “Why is it always the roof?” I grumble.

  “Helipad, most likely, or he wants to do something very big.”

  “We can take the service elevator. No one ever thinks to take those.”

  Dmitry nods. “I’m in.”

  Music plays over the speakers, a jazzed up version of a song about death and destruction. “Seems appropriate. Needs more cowbell.”

  “Da. The bell of a cow would be helpful.”

  I eye him for a moment. Unsure if he really gets this popular American saying or not.

  The door opens and once more I step out first, checking the hallway. It’s deserted.

  Dmitry points his gun at the ceiling and I nod, but then I feel the press of cold steel against the back of my neck.

  “Put the gun down.”

  “David?”

  “Who else were you expecting?” he asks.

  “The Queen.”

  “—James Bond.”

  “—Swim suit models.”

  “Quiet, or I’ll send my men to St. Mary’s to check in on patient zero.” His voice booms, echoing in the hallway.

  Dmitry and I lower our guns.

  “Kick it them over there.”

  Dmitry does as he asks. “Now what?”

  “Now we get to see a show.”

  “And your men?”

  David prods me with the gun. “As long as you behave like good lads, you have nothing to worry about.”

  “What are your plans with the virus?”

  “As soon as Morgan confirms that the vaccine actually works, it will be a go for production. Thanks for helping me out.”

  “You stabbed her in order to make sure the vaccine worked?” My fists clench at my sides.

  “I don’t believe in testing on animals. It’s bloody cruel.” His mouth lifts into a smile. “But it wasn’t me.”

  “Then who?” Morgan’s description can’t be entirely trusted and I have no bloody idea what favor me means… unless—

  A shot rings out.

  I dive for cover and Dmitry does the same.

  David falls forward.

  “God. I thought he’d never shut up.” A man wearing a tailored suit steps over David’s body as though he were not even there. “You two. Come here.”

  The man’s eyes are a mirror of mine in everything but color. The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

  “Vladimir,” I whisper unable to believe he’s still alive. I witnessed his death, participated in it as well. However, it was Grandfather who pulled the trigger—literally.

  “In the flesh.” He turns to face me. “I believe you and I have a score to settle for that time you blew up my fucking yacht.”

  “I believe you can go fuck yourself.”

  Dmitry starts for him, his hand in his jacket. I shake my head. This battle is for me alone.

  “Always was good at taking orders. Until tonight, that is.” Vladimir keeps his gun aimed at my chest.

  “Why would you have him kill Tansy if you wanted to see how quickly the vaccine worked? We have a man searching for the two vials that are needed for replication.”

  Vladimir’s face falters a little, but he quickly recovers. “Patient Zero has a ten hour window. Surely, the men and woman of MI6 can find a scientist hiding out in London.”

  “You’re bloody mental.”

  “Actually, I’m rather anxious to see how quickly the vaccine will work. Perhaps it will be possible to have tiered pricing based on how badly an infection patient wants to live. What do you think, boys?”

  “I think you’re a sick fuck who won’t live to see another day.”

  He shakes his head at me, disgust on his face. “Yet another son who isn’t fit to rule with me, but at least you’re here to challenge me. What in the hell did that English bitch do to my boys?”

  His boys. As if he only has two and not four sons, but Koyla and I have always been considered expendable. “I have no interest in ever ruling with you.”

  “That’s because you are short-sighted. The Romanovs need a visionary.

  I run a hand through my hair. “Just tell me your plan so I can kill you.”

  Vladimir sneers at me. “There is no plan.”

  “How do you expect to make money?”

  “By bankrupting PharmGen.”

  “How?”

  “When the world knows what they’ve created, shareholders will have no choice but to sell off quickly. Then I’ll swoop in, buy them for a song, and reorganize. The vaccine will be owned by me alone. The US and China will pay a premium to own even one-tenth of my supply.”

  “That’s a plan,” Dmitry says. “A shitty, delusional one, but still a plan.”

  I level Vladimir with a look. “You’re going to continue to market a vaccine that will not needed once the virus has been eradicated.”

  “The need will be there… for as long as I find it profitable.”

  “Because you plan to put the virus in the vaccine, create a reverse chimera.” Fuck me sideways.

  “Ex
actly.” He smiles, his lip pulling at the corner. “Dr. Clark performed such a miracle before his untimely death.”

  “Brilliant, but I’m bloody tired of listening to you.” As I pull out my gun, Dmitry rushes into Vladimir, sending his gun into the air.

  Vladimir staggers back, but he brings down both hands onto my cousin’s back, sending him to the ground. Dmitry hits his head on a stone blockade near the helipad.

  “Shit.” I run for him, sure that Vladimir has another gun hidden somewhere, and start shooting. Sure enough, he pulls out another gun and starts firing back, but his aim is off. My bullets hit him dead center. Twice.

  His eyes widen, a shade of blue identical to mine, as he falls back and a horrible gurgling sound emanates from his throat.

  A gust of wind seems to push him, but I grab him at the last second and dig my hand into his shirt pocket, retrieving the ring Morgan had put there.

  “Thank you for holding on to this.”

  He spits at me, but I don’t flinch. “You are nothing to me.”

  “Great father son talk.” I hit him in the jaw, whipping his head to one side. “Now will you die for good this time?”

  With a swift kick to the stomach, I send him over the edge of the building, watching as he falls, his arms and legs flailing about. His body crashes into Dmitry’s car, shattering the glass and smashing the roof.

  “Never did like that car,” he says as he joins me, holding his head. Blood seeps from beneath his fingers.

  “At least we know he’s dead this time.” But to be completely certain, I will shoot him again, in the morgue if I have to.

  “It doesn’t bother you?” Dmitry asks.

  “That I killed Vladimir?”

  He nods.

  “Not particularly.” He never was my father. Never took care of me. Always it was Grandfather and Roman. “I felt nothing but contempt for him.”

  “This is good. Not many men could do such a thing.”

  “He was never my father. It was like shooting a stranger.” Although, I have never been that cold hearted as to take a life without provocation. Except, Vladimir provoked the hell out of me.

  Dmitry looks at me, exhaling thickly. “Now what do we do?”