The Animal Under The Fur

by E. J. Mellow

  “No.” Ploom shakes his head. “Just that it’s something that has garnered a lot of chatter and desire amongst the less favorable groups.”

  “And what of our client? Are they to be trusted with this information once we get it?”

  “Leave the morality of our client’s intentions to me, Carter, and I’ll leave the killing of multiple people to you.”

  I cock an eyebrow at Anthony but otherwise stay silent on the matter.

  “Okay, so I go in, persuade Chenglei to share the coveted password that will unlock the how-tos in creating this biochemical weapon, and then put him down. Sounds easy enough.”

  “This all needs to be accomplished before Sunday. Sunday is the day of the silent auction.”

  I gape at my group director.

  “You do realize today is Tuesday?” I ask. “And it takes a full day to get to Hong Kong from here. What about recon? Getting the lay of the land? Possible habits to use as points of contact? Why did you wait until now to call me in for this assignment?”

  “Still sound easy?” Jules slips me a grin, and I give her a piercing glare.

  “Don’t worry,” Anthony says. “We’ve got that all taken care of. Eu-fùnh Li”—he pauses for effect—“will meet you when you arrive in Hong Kong. She happens to be our current local specialist dealing with Kam.”

  My face lights up hearing my dear friend’s name.

  “Geez, try to hide your sexual excitement a little better, will you?” Jules tightens her lips.

  Anthony merely shakes his head. “Thought that would make you more cooperative.”

  Okay, so Eu-fùnh might be, on occasion, a little more than a dear friend.

  “When do I leave?”

  7

  3

  SI6 HEADQUARTERS

  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: 1030 HOURS

  “Does that sound doable?” David Axel asks as he absently spins his pen on the conference table. Around and around.

  I glance from my tablet to my boss. At forty-three Axel has always been one of the better-looking older men I’ve come in contact with. His easygoing blue eyes and thick golden hair don’t fit the job description of group director here at SI6. Most of the other men and women in his position wear the stress of the job on their clammy skin and gaunt demeanor. Axel, on the other hand, still maintains his military physique and has a lively, gentler face than a man should for dealing with what he does daily. Especially after working with me for the past six years.

  “Yeah, sounds fine.” I lean back, drumming my fingers on glass table. “I’ve done recon on Chenglei before and am familiar with his day-to-day schedule.”

  “Leave it to you, 3, to be ahead of the game.”

  I give David a small smile and, not for the first time, find myself getting caught up in his appraising eyes.

  Akoni clears his throat from the other side of the room, and we both glance his way. Like Axel, Akoni breaks the mold for a stereotypical intelligent tech assistant. With his Hawaiian descent and burly build, he appears more like a man who should be taking up space on a pro football field than slouched behind a computer screen. The only things that pigeonhole him are his thick black-rimmed glasses and his limited wardrobe of geeky shirts. His current choice is a gray tee that reads Come to the nerd side. We have π. He has the same one in green and red, something I’ve made sure to make fun of over the past three years we’ve worked together.

  I’ve been trying to keep eye contact with Akoni to a minimum today. Ever since the favor he did for me the other night, he’s acting a little skittish. And I’ll admit, I might have been a little more…creative than I needed to be, but I was swept up in the moment. What can I say? I’m a passionate individual. The thought of that creature being able to break any future Cecis sent me over the edge more than once, but I felt much better afterward, which is really all that matters. Now the next time I go out of town, I’ll have a calm mind knowing Ceci won’t be in contact with that ingrown hair of a man anymore. The way I see it, it’s a win-win. So really, Akoni can just grow a pair.

  “It’s about to get a whole lot easier too,” Akoni says, pushing another file to light up the screen in front of me. “Chenglei is holding a gala on Friday, two days before the silent auction, at one of his family’s hotels and where he’s a regular resident. He most likely will be staying there the night of the gala.”

  I study the pictures of where the party will be held, the ornate invitation along with blueprints of the building.

  “Perfect. So I fly in Wednesday, look around, attend the gala Friday, and if an earlier opportunity doesn’t present itself, find our dear Mr. Chenglei Kam alone in his suite. What about the code that only he has?” I glance between Akoni and Axel. “I happen to know he won’t be susceptible to torturing it out of him. He’s engaged in some brutal training for such occasions.”

  Axel nods. “Yes, slightly unconventional actions for a businessman, but for the secrets he holds, very proactive.”

  “A man after your own heart, David.” My group director tends to be a zealot for dramatic preparations in the name of a job, which is probably why he’s the only boss here that I’ve been able to work with successfully. A+ can be a handful, or so I’ve been told.

  David laughs. “Yes, if it weren’t for the extremely terrifying biochemical weapons he invests in, we could have been great friends.” He clicks on a hologram screen, which rises above us with more images of schematics, and Chenglei’s profile floats between us as he continues the briefing. “Our client has a two-part request. In the event that you’re unable to get the code, which will most likely be the case, we’ll need a full DNA sampling taken instead.”

  “How will that help in retrieving the formula?”

  “I’m not sure, but for the money they are paying, I’m not going to ask too many questions.”

  I silently agree. When David showed me the numbers for this assignment, I had to sit down. I’ve never been too curious as to who our private clients are, considering all the targets I’ve had to take down are deserving of their ends, but the sum for this job definitely raised my brows. Usually with a backing like that the government is a silent conspirator in the case.

  “And guess what?” Akoni perks up at the other end of the table. “I’ll be going with you, and I’ve got some fun new tech toys to show you.”

  “Dork.” I cough into my hand.

  “Psychopath.” He glares at me while coughing back.

  “Blow-up. Doll. Lover.” I loudly enunciate every word.

  “Dog killer.” He matches my tone.

  Damn, he’s got me there. But again, a story for another time.

  8

  Nashville

  I’ve just finished packing when the apartment door opens and closes. Lilac and the tapping of familiar heels against the wooden floor reach me. Ceci’s home.

  Carrying my bag to the open area of my apartment, I catch her studying her phone with a frown as she leans against the kitchen island, the afternoon sun streaming through my windows warming her dark complexion. I have no doubt she’s wondering why a certain someone hasn’t reached out, and thankfully never will. She’s the only person who can make me feel bad when she’s upset, but in regard to this particular reason, I feel completely fine. Happy even. It’s for her benefit even if she will absolutely never know.

  “Hey.”

  Ceci glances up, and her frown deepens when she sees my bag. “Going somewhere?”

  “An emergency called me back into the office right after you left. I have to go to Hong Kong for a couple days.”

  “Holy shit!” She straightens. “Hong Kong. Okay, now I’m really jealous of your life.”

  I place my suitcase by the door. “You going to be okay alone here for a little bit? I know I just got back—”

  She waves a hand. “Of course I will. Now I can keep walking around naked like I did when you were in Spain.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “Please tell me you refrained from sitting on any of the furniture.”
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  Her answer is to avoid eye contact.

  “Ceci!”

  “Don’t worry about all that.” She clucks while opening the fridge and retrieving a soda. “When will you be back?”

  I glance at all my furniture questioningly. “Hopefully by Monday, if everything goes well.”

  “Big client?”

  “Something like that.” I grab the opened can from her and take a sip. “So did you hear from my friend Christopher from Turquoise Waters?”

  “Oh! Yes.” Her pink blouse twirls as she swivels toward me. “I completely forgot to tell you. I’m going to talk with him tomorrow. Thank you so much for calling him. That restaurant is the hottest spot in town. I had no idea you knew Christopher Walters. Geez, Nash…” She studies me shrewdly for a moment. “Wait…how do you know him?”

  It’s my turn to avoid eye contact.

  “Nashville Brown!” She screeches. “You better explain!”

  Never going to happen.

  “Oh. Look at the time.” I glance at my watchless wrist. “I have a plane to catch.”

  “No you don’t! You better not leave before—”

  “See you in a couple days.” I blow her a kiss and dash for the door, scooping up my suitcase. Christopher Walters and I have a slightly nonconventional relationship. When urges call, we’re both there for each other, no questions asked and no complications afterward. Perfect for him to continue his notoriety for being one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors and for my constantly shifting schedule and lack of interest in anything serious with a man.

  “If you think I’ll let this go, Nashville, then you don’t know me!” Ceci calls out as I step into the hallway. I peek my head back into my apartment. “On the contrary, I know you better than I’d like. And now so does my furniture!”

  Keys thump against the door right after I swing it closed.

  I shake my head.

  How I’m friends with someone so violent is beyond me.

  9

  Carter

  HONG KONG: 2148 HOURS

  She slaps me hard across the face, and I growl at the assault. Throwing her against the wall, I feel down her smooth thighs and guide them to wrap around my waist. Pinning her supple form with my hips, I push into her, her gasps making me move faster, rock harder. Her nails dig into my back, and I moan in pleasure. She bites down on my lip, and the flavor of blood trickles across my taste buds. I whirl her around, laying her on the small table that sits in the entryway. A vase of flowers crashes to the floor, but we ignore it as she pulls my hair to force me to meet her mouth again, and we both explore each other as I continually pump into her.

  “Ah, Carter!” she screams as I feel her climax around me, setting my own release loose. Slowly I move a couple more times before I drag us to the ground to pant and recover.

  I touch my lip gingerly. “You bit me.”

  Eu-fùnh laughs beside me, the sound rumbly but unmistakably female. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “No, I suppose not,” I say as I roll on top of her again, securing my arms on either side of her face, the marble floor cool against my skin. Eu-fùnh has a face, and body for that matter, that promises a man a good—yet probably painful—romp in the sheets. Her eyes are as black as her waist-length hair, her lips pink and full and edged with a constant tilt, as if she’s ready to whisper something sinfully delicious into your ear. It makes a person want to lean in, pay attention to her next purr. Over the years, we’ve worked together in various cities, and no matter what our personal situations are at home, we always end up naked, sweaty, and satiated. Given that I don’t have anything serious back in New York and never plan to, I have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

  “So are you ready to be filled in on our target for tomorrow?” she asks as she rakes her nails up my chest and down my back.

  “I’d rather fill you in a bit more,” I say, letting her feel that I’m ready for round two. The side of her mouth slides up, a vision of tangled bedsheets at midnight, before she grabs my ass invitingly.

  This time, I bite back.

  “Okay, so you’ve secured us tickets to the gala tomorrow”—I filter through the papers—“and we know he’s most likely going to retire early given his usual early morning regimen.”

  Eu-fùnh drapes my tux on the back of the couch and comes to sit beside me. Our penthouse has two master suites, one for each of us, situated on opposite sides of the large space with a communal dining and sitting area in the middle. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch its length and currently reflect the afternoon light of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers with shimmering sharpness.

  “Yes. He never stays up past midnight if he can help it,” she says, smoothing a hand over her black pencil skirt. “He’s heavily watched on a regular basis, but because of the upcoming auction, he’s taking no chances and has tripled his security.”

  “Okay, so what do we have planned?”

  Eu-fùnh smiles and pulls out a tablet from a leather attaché, illuminating a blueprint. We discuss possible points of entry, examine the security features that are set around the entrance to his suite, and look through a folder of reports that she has put together regarding Kam. We’re able to maintain a business demeanor for a couple more hours until we’ve secured a decent plan for tomorrow. Once that’s set, let’s just say our attention turns to something a little less fully clothed for the rest of the night and well into the morning.

  I think Hong Kong is my new favorite.

  10

  3

  HONG KONG: 2300 HOURS

  The wind whips through my hair as I take in the expanded city around me, a bird perched on a skyscraper. I’m too high up to hear any noise from the busy streets of Hong Kong below, and I soak in the peace. It’s rare I get to experience this kind of quiet.

  “How’s it look, 3?” Akoni’s voice bursts through my earbud, and I let out a frustrated sigh. Two minutes is better than no minutes. Glancing down from where I stand poised at the edge of the roof, I can barely make out the miniature world bustling eighty floors below.

  “I think this is our best bet. Entering his suite from the inside will require too many passcodes and silent removal of guards for it to be quick and effective. Approaching from the outside eliminates all those tedious obstacles.”

  “Not to mention you get to try out our new toys,” Akoni adds.

  I hold back a laugh but allow a smile since he can’t see me. “Yes, there’s that too.”

  “Were you able to access the roof easily through the service elevator?”

  “Yeah, like we saw in the blueprints, there’s minor security to reach this point, but I’m sure during the gala there will be more. There’s only two locked doors that require a passcode, and the ones we’ve acquired worked.”

  “Stellar.”

  “Akoni, you may be from Hawaii, but you don’t surf. You can’t use that word.”

  “That’s totally bogus, brah. I surf the web all day.”

  I groan.

  “So how far down is the balcony?” he asks.

  I measure the distance to the only terrace that juts out of the luxury hotel, marking the treasure that’s buried inside like a giant X.

  “Two generous stories, not too far. Must be a three-story suite.”

  Akoni whistles, accosting my eardrum. “Sounds nice.”

  “Sure does.” I massage my ear.

  “I see that you tagged the security cameras on your way up. Nice work. I’ve got the eyes going. Do you want to come back and talk about possible exits?”

  I take in a large breath, cataloguing the barrage of information it brings me while letting the wind push against my skin. It’s so strong it almost shoves me over. It’s perfect.

  “No, Akoni, I think I’ve already got mine.”

  The following night I regard my reflection in the bathroom mirror of my hotel suite, running a hand down my floor-length emerald-green Lanvin dress. I must say, the costume department at work certainly treats me well. The
color combined with the slight cowl neck and very low scoop back compliments my normally frighteningly pale skin. My natural blue eyes appear brighter with this green and are thankfully left uncovered. No matter how hard our scientists work at it, the colored contacts still have a tendency to stifle my advanced eyesight, something the regular Ops have no issues with. Playing with the ends of my copper hair that flow past my shoulders, I think how it’s almost a shame I have to hide it. Taking one last glance at the girl in the glass, I begin to pin up my long tresses, enabling me to secure the dark-brown wig over the top.

  Thirty-four minutes later I step out of the bedroom and into the modern dining room of my suite. Akoni is there, his large form hunched over, reading his camp of monitors and laptops while he rocks a gray hoodie with an image of a USB drive with the words I pull out under it. His eyes flicker up with my approach, and he immediately stops typing.

  “Holy…”

  I raise an eyebrow at his gaping mouth. “Really? I look ethereal to you? How kind.”

  “Sorry.” He fumbles to recover. “I’ve just never seen you all dolled up in person before. It’s…well, it’s something.”

  I place my gold clutch down and survey the table of gadgets. “All right, what am I going to be packing?”

  Thankfully, my preferred tool when disposing of a target is not something metal detectors can detect. Even if they could, after Akoni and I secured our plan, I made sure to stash most of my arsenal in the hotel and on the roof. Early bird gets the worm and all that.

  “Okay, here’s your two-way transmitter mic.” He hands me a skin-colored sticker to place behind my ear. “And eyes for me.” He opens a velvet box to reveal a ruby-encrusted gold necklace, absolutely no sign of the miniature camera that hides within.