Once the smoke cleared from the room, Ava watched in awe as Sophia and Doug moved around, tying up Ted’s men. All were injured, but no one was dead. It was an impressive feat, given the deafening sound of war that had passed as she sat hunched on the ground.
“Are you okay?” When all the men were tied up and no longer a threat, Sophia approached Ava and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Your brother needs help,” Ava said. Henry was still sitting on the floor.
“Is that really you?” he asked. He struggled to open his one good eye.
“You’re hurt,” Ava said to Doug. Blood was trickling from the side of his face and down his right arm.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He rested his hand on her shoulder before averting his focus to Sophia. “I don’t mean to rush you, but Homeland Security will be here any minute.”
“Is Aiden okay? They never got him, did they?” Worry caught in her throat so that she could hardly choke out her questions.
Sophia helped Henry to his feet and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, supporting the weight of his body. “No, he’s fine. When they contacted Doug to retrieve Aiden, Doug called me. Finally, we knew where you were.” She released a weary breath.
Ava looked around at the lab. Six men plus Ted, with mouths taped shut and hands and feet bound. Thank God none of the gunfire created an explosion, she realized. They all could have gone up in flames.
“I’m sorry I don’t have much time to explain, but we need to leave. And I need to take Henry with me.”
“I don’t understand.” Ava’s body was growing weak, and she wondered how much longer she could stand. “You said Homeland agents are on their way, right?”
Sophia exchanged looks with Doug. “I’ve been monitoring Aiden. He must’ve figured out where you were being held around the time Doug was contacted because Aiden made an emergency call to the Homeland office a few hours ago, and he jumped on a private jet to come here. He should be here any minute.”
“So why do you need to leave?” And it dawned on her. Homeland would go after everyone in J-4-76, not just Ted. “But you didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Take Henry to the car, and I’ll meet you in a moment,” Sophia told Doug.
Ava didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye—Doug rushed Henry around the tied men on the floor and out of the lab.
Sophia rubbed a hand over her face. “No, I wasn’t a part of this, but when the president told us seven months ago that our agency was coming to an end, I knew Ted didn’t take it well. I wanted someone on Ted’s team whom I could trust to let me know if he ever lost his way.”
“Doug?”
She nodded. “He informed me of the set-up at the mosque. But Ted didn’t let too many people know about what he was up to with your lab at the CSAC. We could only conjecture.”
“And then you found out about Henry?” Ava’s shoulders slumped forward in disbelief. The entire situation was more than she could stand.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you everything in Charlotte, but I already knew that Ted had Aiden fired because he had poked around, and I was worried Ted might snap if he knew Aiden had uncovered anything else.”
“But you’re innocent. I can vouch for you. You don’t need to run.” To be a ghost.
“That’s sweet.” She patted Ava on the arm. “I’m truly sorry this happened to you, Ava. But thank you for not taking my advice. Thank you for not running. It’s because of you—your strength—that we were able to stop Ted.” She turned away from Ava and started for the door.
Ava looked down at Ted and the other men. Some were unconscious, and others were moaning and struggling on the ground.
“Ava?” Sophia stopped in the doorway and peeked over her shoulder. “Tell Aiden I’m so sorry. Tell him goodbye.”
Then she was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ava sank to the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. Her body trembled as she studied the traitors lying on the floor around her.
Shock was not nearly a strong enough word to describe how she felt.
A little over a week ago, she and her mentor had completed the chemical equation. And now she was sitting in a lab, in God knows where, surrounded by black ops agents who’d betrayed their oaths to serve and protect their country.
Her shoulders jerked up when she heard the scuffle of shoes and dim voices in the distance. There were no sirens. But why would there be? Homeland Security was probably planning a surprise attack—little did they know that just one woman and man had managed to take down everyone.
Ava shut her eyes and held her hands up in the air when the black boots entered the doorway. “Don’t shoot,” she cried.
“Feck.”
She’d never been so happy to hear that word in her life. She blinked her eyes open when Aiden scooped her up and embraced her. “Aiden.” A wave of emotions slammed into her as she pressed her head against his chest. She released the sob that had been hibernating inside her since the moment she’d been taken.
“Sweet Jesus,” he muttered as he carried her out of the room.
“She okay?”
Michael Maddox.
“I think so,” Aiden responded.
Ava opened her eyes as the bright sunlight warmed her cheeks. “Where am I?” she asked as they made their way to an ambulance.
Aiden smoothed the back of his hand over her cheek after he set her on one of the gurneys. “Houston.” He sat down next to her and released a breath.
“I don’t need an ambulance. I’m okay.” She started to get up but her knees gave out and he pulled her back down to safety. “I just need some water.”
Aiden ignored her and motioned for the medic to complete his exam. He clearly didn’t want to take any chances.
“She appears to be okay,” the medic said after completing a few tests.
“Thanks,” Ava replied, before she watched the medic exit the ambulance, disappearing from sight. She looked down at her hand, where Aiden’s fingers were entwined with hers. She took a few eager sips of the drink Aiden had handed her, before steadying her gaze on his blue eyes. “You saved me.”
He tightened his grip on her hand and tilted her chin up. “I’m thinking that someone beat me to it.”
Oh yeah. “Your mom.”
His eyes narrowed on hers. “What?”
“A guy named Doug was sent to get you, and he brought back your mom instead, and they kind of shot the place up and rescued Henry and me.”
“Wh—really? Where are they?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Did you say Doug?”
“I know this is a lot to handle. They all just left because they knew you were coming.” She tried to slow her breathing before she continued. “Your mom had nothing to do with this. She’s innocent, but she was worried you’d—”
“Damn right I’d blame her.” He released her hand, and the loss of his touch made her cold. “She’s been working with this Doug guy for months. He was at the mosque. He’s a part of this. They both are. They duped you. I don’t know why they saved you, but they’re not innocent.” He reached back for her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. All that matters is that you’re okay.” He paused. “You’re okay, right? Nothing happened? Nothing the medic missed . . .” His voice was strangled with concern.
“If you mean did J-4-76 fail in their attempt to launch chemical warfare on our own people just to maintain government funding . . . than yes, nothing happened.” Ava looked for a hint of surprise in Aiden’s expression, but she didn’t see it. “You figured it out?”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. She could hear the thundering of his heart in his chest as he kissed the top of her head. “Michael and I figured it out. But I’m pretty sure you also sent me a few breadcrumbs.”
She sat back up so she could gain better view of his face.
“That large work order placed to the CSAC in Aberdeen—specialized equipment requested for imm
ediate pick-up and transfer last night . . . we discovered the equipment was on its way to Houston.”
“Wow.” She bit her lip for a brief moment, amazed that her plan had worked. “They wanted Henry and me to create the formula and an antidote to it, and I thought if I requested a crazy list of materials and equipment, it would set off red flags somewhere. Hoped at least.”
“Smart thinking.”
Ava noticed Michael standing outside the ambulance next to a woman in her mid-forties.
“Is this the girl?” the woman asked.
Aiden motioned for Ava to exit the ambulance. “Ava, this is Leslie Hathaway. We used to work together at Homeland. I reached out to her.”
She’s the one you were on the phone with that day. And she remembered she’d been angry with Aiden. She understood his reasons, but it still hurt that he had lied to her, especially when she’d been so open and honest with him. “Hi,” she finally said and shook the woman’s hand.
“We’re going to need you to come with us to get your statement and clarify a few things.”
Ava nodded.
“I’m coming,” Aiden insisted.
Leslie held her hand up. “We’ll talk soon, but for now, I need to speak to Miss Daniels, one on one.”
“It’s fine, Aiden,” Ava said. He placed his hand on her arm, and she peered up at him, noting the look of worry burning in his eyes. She pressed up on her toes and whispered in his ear, “Sophia told me to tell you goodbye.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“And you have no idea who the people were that saved you? Just a man and woman dressed in military clothes?” Leslie removed her gray blazer and tossed it over the back of the nearby desk chair.
“I keep telling you that they worked for J-4-76, but they didn’t agree with Ted’s plans. They saved Henry and me.” Ava shrugged her shoulders and leaned back in the chair.
She wished she could see Aiden. The look in his eyes when she’d left Houston was heartbreaking.
“Why are you lying? Ted told us who they were.”
Ava shook her head. “I highly doubt that Ted told you anything. I’m sure all he did was demand to speak to the president or something crazy like that.” There was no way Ted would talk about anything. He would never open his mouth to incriminate himself in any way.
“Where’s Henry?”
Ava tried not to smirk at the fact that she’d called the woman’s bluff—and won. “Henry took off. He was worried about the repercussions of what happened. He was afraid. The unknown man and woman helped him leave. But, like me, he was just a pawn in J-4-76’s crazy game.”
“Ava, I don’t know why you’re covering for these people, but we’ll figure it all out.” She folded her arms and leaned her hip against the table.
Ava placed her clasped hands on the table in front of her and looked up at Leslie. “When can I see Aiden?”
“You’re free to go for now, but we’ll be in touch soon.”
Ava immediately pushed to her feet and started for the door. She’d spent several hours in the small interrogation room in the D.C. Homeland office.
She barely made it two feet out of the room before Aiden approached her.
“Finally.” He pulled her in for a hug, and she inhaled his scent. Woodsy. All male. “Are you all right?” He stepped back but kept his hands on her arms.
She released a ragged breath and forced a nod. “I think so. I’m still in shock.”
“Come on. Let’s get out of here. Get some fresh air.”
She walked with him, his hand resting on the small of her back as he guided her out of the building and onto the busy D.C. street. “Feel like taking a walk?”
“Sure.” His fingers laced with hers, and it sparked mixed emotions inside her. They’d known each other for barely a week. What was this thing between them? How long until he told her that it was over . . . or just disappeared? “Are you going to tell Leslie about your mom?” She caught sight of the Constitution Gardens as Aiden squeezed her hand a little.
“I don’t know,” he said before running his free hand through his hair. “She’s a part of it. I know you don’t believe me, but she was working with Douglas, and this guy—”
“You have it all wrong.” She stopped walking, released his hand and faced him. “Doug came to Sophia after the incident at the mosque. He told her about what Ted was doing, and they spent the last six months trying to figure out a way to bring Ted down. To stop him.”
“I—I guess it’s possible, but how can I really trust either one of them?”
“Because they saved my life and stopped a terrorist attack,” she said, trying to minimize the sarcastic undertones to her voice. “Do you think you’ll ever see her again?”
He rubbed the nape of his neck and reached for her hand again, pulling her toward him. He wrapped his arms around her hips, oblivious to the fact that they were standing on the busy sidewalk, that people had to step around them to pass them by.
“I’m just so sorry about all of this. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you. You would never have been taken if I hadn’t been so careless.”
“I trusted you,” she said when their faces were only inches away from each other. “I wish you had trusted me.”
“I did, but I was stupid. When I saw Doug outside my bar last Tuesday night, I snapped. I’d been following this guy for months. At first, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t working for them.”
Hence the stripping.
“Then everything just happened so fast. We were in Charlotte, and one thing led to another with you . . . and I just didn’t know how to tell you. Or if telling you would only put you in more danger.”
She took a step away, breaking his embrace, and started to walk toward the gardens, assuming he’d follow. “It doesn’t really matter anymore. All that matters is that they’re finished, and we saved D.C. from attack.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as they walked. “What happens to J-4-76 now?”
He thrust his hands into his pockets and kept up with her pace. “Their operation will end, but there won’t be a public trial or anything like that. It’s too dangerous for the American people to know what almost happened.”
Ava stopped walking for a second. “But they’ll be imprisoned, right?”
“Justice will be served. Don’t worry,” he answered with a deep voice.
“And the seven people from the mosque?”
“They’ve already been freed. Full pardons and apologies. Compensation, too. The government wanted to keep this whole thing silenced, but I’ve insisted their names be cleared on the news. There are already too many misconceptions about Muslims in America. I wish we could do even more, though, to make things right for them. Six months of their lives . . .” he said with a slightly shattered voice.
“You keep saying ‘we.’ Does that mean you’re back with Homeland?” She started walking again, not sure whether she wanted to hear an answer to her question.
“I don’t know. They offered me better than my job back—a promotion. I wouldn’t have to go undercover anymore. I could work at headquarters in D.C.”
“Wow. Congratulations.” She had to force the words. She meant them, but at the same time, she wondered what it would mean for Aiden to be back with Homeland.
“What about you? Do you think you’ll go back to work for the CSAC?”
“No,” she responded without hesitation. “I’m going to take some time off. And I’m definitely not going to get another government job. Way too much pressure.”
He nodded in agreement. “I don’t blame you, after everything that happened.” He stopped walking when they reached the edge of the Reflection Pool.
A cool breeze pushed past her, and she rubbed her arms, trying to warm her body. Leslie had given her some clothes, but the long sleeved shirt wasn’t quite enough to keep her warm. “Aiden?”
“Yeah?” He looked away from the water and into her eyes.
“Do you think I’ll ever be able to move o
n? Forget what happened?” She shuddered and bit her lip.
He reached out for her and ran the back of his hand over her cheek. “Do you want to forget?”
She nodded.
“Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever forget about what happened over in that village, in Afghanistan . . . but then I think, maybe I shouldn’t forget. Maybe I should use my memories to help drive me. To help make me, and the world, a better place.”
“Wow. You’re full of surprises, Mr. Irish,” she said, and a smile teased her lips.
“God, I was worried I’d never see that smile again,” he said in a low, sexy voice.
She swallowed and felt her body tingle. One look from this man was enough to set her trembling. But it wasn’t about sex—it was something more. Something deeper. Something frightening.
“Your family is on their way to D.C.”
His words caught her off guard. “What? You told them?”
His shoulders popped up a little. “They don’t know much. Most of what has happened is classified. But they know you’re okay. Their flight gets in late tonight. They were on a photoshoot with your sister.”
Was she ready to face her parents—to create some fabricated story of what had happened to her over the past week? She didn’t even want to think about it right now. “How many hours do I have?” She sighed.
“Seven or eight.”
“Okay. Well, I think I’d like to rest before then.”
“Of course. Do you want to come back to my room?”
“I have a room, but thank you.”
“I know. We’re at the same hotel . . .”
She smiled at him and started walking again. “Let’s get a taxi,” she suggested.
They sat in silence on the cab ride to the hotel. Her mind spun. Being so close to Aiden made her feel safe. And also confused. She had no idea what was going to happen between them, but the thought of never seeing him again caused tiny knives to prick her chest, letting out all of the air from her lungs.
When they’d reached her hotel room, she found herself questioning whether or not to let him in. “I could use a glass of wine or something. Want to raid the mini bar? It’s on Uncle Sam.”
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