by Tiffany Snow
“Oh, Devon . . .” But I couldn’t continue, my throat thickening too much to speak.
He reached across the table and took my hand, bending to brush a kiss to my knuckles. Then he pressed my palm to his cheek.
“It’s quite true,” he said. “I am in awe that I found you. And I will not give you up so easily.”
I sniffed and used the corner of my napkin to dab my eyes under the sunglasses. Devon needed to see that things weren’t going to end well, not for me anyway. I didn’t want him to continue to be in denial.
“Devon, please try to understand,” I said. “I know you’re used to saving the day, to being the hero. But this time . . . this time it’s just not going to work out. It’s not an enemy you can shoot or kill or thwart. It’s inside me. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
He didn’t say anything, just looked at me, his jaw set in a hard line.
“Let’s not dwell on it,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I’m wearing a lovely dress, having dinner with the man of my dreams, in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It can’t possibly get better than this.”
“We’ll see about that,” Devon said.
I just smiled. Things would be okay. In the end, if I was with Devon, then I could die content. Sometimes life was like that. It didn’t turn out like you’d planned and you had to make it up as you went along, grabbing the moments of true happiness when and where you could. I was just grateful I’d had those moments, that I was having one now, and that I was wise enough to appreciate it and not take it for granted.
The waiter came back and Devon ordered for us, the special entrée, which was fresh tilapia with a citrus glaze and risotto. He also ordered a bottle of champagne.
“Champagne?” I asked. “Are we celebrating?”
“I don’t see any reason not to have champagne, no matter what,” he said, making me smile again. I couldn’t agree more.
The sun had dropped below the horizon so we both discarded our sunglasses, talking about unimportant things and enjoying the scenery. The waiter brought an appetizer Devon had requested: fried fresh calamari that seemed to melt in my mouth.
It was an amazing dinner and I was able to see the ocean for quite a while until it got too dark. By then, I was stuffed full of calamari, tilapia, crème brûlée, and enough champagne to make me smile for no reason at all. Just because.
“Let’s take a walk, shall we?” Devon asked after he’d paid the bill.
Him paying reminded me about him using a credit card and what he’d said in the shop, but I’d had enough to drink that I decided I didn’t care to bring up Vega and Bad Things. I trusted Devon to know what he was doing. If he thought it was okay, then it was.
I took off my sandals and Devon carried them, the delicate leather straps caught around two of his fingers. His other hand folded around mine and we stepped down from the restaurant’s deck onto the soft sand.
I wiggled my toes with a sigh and Devon chuckled at me.
“Best exfoliator ever,” I said. “My feet will be as soft as a baby’s bottom after walking on this stuff.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever touched a baby’s bottom,” he said. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”
I glanced at him as we walked toward the water. “Really? You’ve never been around babies?”
“When would I possibly have been around babies? Or children at all, for that matter?” he teased me. “It’s not as though one sees a lot of them dealing in international intrigue and espionage.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it’s hard for me to imagine the life you’ve led. Mine has been so different.”
“True,” he said. “But neither can I imagine yours.”
“Mine is boring,” I interrupted. “Trust me.”
He laughed softly. “To you it may be boring, true. To me, it sounds like a foreign adventure. I’d quite like to touch a baby’s bottom.” He glanced at me. “In a non-weird way, of course, which is not at all how that sounded.”
I laughed outright. Who would’ve known Devon was a funny guy?
By now we’d reached the water and Devon paused, looking up. I followed his gaze and saw the moon was half full in the night sky. Too many city lights prevented viewing a lot of stars, but it was still beautiful. Down by the water, it was quieter. There were fewer sounds of the people and city. If I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend we were the only ones around.
“Ivy,” Devon began, turning me toward him. “I have something I want to ask you. Something quite important, as it happens.”
I opened my mouth to ask what it was, when he lowered himself to one knee in the sand, kneeling in front of me. Then my mouth dropped open in shock.
“Ivy Mason,” he began, still holding my hand.
I started to cry.
“Ivy Mason,” he continued, his thumb gently rubbing the back of my hand. “I’ve been waiting my entire life for you. In you, I’ve found my perfect match. To put it in the simplest terms, we fit. And I want to be with you, call you my own, for as long a time as we have on this earth together. My darling Ivy, will you do me the utmost honor of being my bride?”
Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I hadn’t imagined this, had never thought Devon would propose, much less in such a romantic way. The waves were breaking mere yards from us. The sand was cooling underneath my feet. And the man I loved still knelt in that sand, waiting for my answer.
“Yes,” I choked out. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
A blinding smile lit his face, then he was on his feet and picking me up in his arms. He spun me around once, twice, then kissed me. My arms circled his neck as I held on, hardly able to believe what had just happened.
Carefully, he set me on my feet, then produced a small velvet box from his pocket.
“This is for you,” he said, bending back the lid.
I gasped. A perfect square-cut diamond ring sat inside. A platinum band with additional diamonds set into it glinted in the dim moonlight. It was too beautiful and looked too expensive for me to touch, much less actually wear.
He took the ring from the box and lifted my left hand. My hands were shaking as he slid it onto my finger, then he kissed my fingers.
“My love,” he said, our eyes meeting. “I’d go to the ends of the earth, and beyond, for you.”
I pressed against him, holding him tight. For a few blissful moments, I’d forgotten the death sentence I was under. I shoved the thoughts away. This was the best moment of my entire life, and I was going to live every second of it, no matter what the future held.
The pain came like before, out of nowhere and excruciating. I gasped, my eyes slamming shut as my knees faltered. If Devon hadn’t been holding me, I’d have collapsed on the ground.
“What is it?” he asked anxiously, but I was in too much pain to answer.
I clutched my splitting head, moaning in pain, and felt the warm gush of blood from my nose.
Devon cursed, one arm supporting me while he dug for his pocket square to stem the flow. I barely noticed. It hurt so badly, more than it had before, and I could barely stand it. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, but these weren’t from joy.
“Been looking for you, Devon.”
That voice was familiar, and I pried open my eyes enough to see Scott. He stood about ten feet away and had a gun pointed at us.
“Agent Lane,” Devon said. “I’m not at all surprised to see that Vega sent you.”
“At this point, who else would she send? It’s like rats deserting a sinking ship. Everyone knows the UK government wants the Shadow dismantled, and Vega’s power along with it. The other Shadow agents have gone to ground, disavowing her.”
“And you’re the last rat standing?”
A shot rang out and I started, then realized he’d fired a warning at Devon, the bullet kicking up sand mere inches from him.
“Watch your mouth, Clay.”
“You lying sonofabitch,” I snarled. I went after him, de
termined to sink my claws into any part of his flesh I could reach, but I only made it one step before Devon snagged me around the waist and hauled me back.
“Oh please,” Scott snorted in contempt. “Spare me the self-righteous betrayed outrage, Ivy. You saw what you wanted to see: another man so infatuated with you, he’d blindly do whatever you wanted.”
“So it was all fake?” I spat, trying to push Devon’s arms away. “You were never my friend? You were always working for her?”
Scott winced, but his voice was hard. “Don’t try to pretend you felt anything for me, Ivy. You were using me. You used me in Paris when you had no one else to turn to and you used me ever since, whether to keep you safe or to soothe your bruised ego.” He paused, then dropped the bomb. “You think I wouldn’t find the pages you hid in my apartment?”
Devon stiffened next to me. I’d never told him I hadn’t burned the entire journal or that I’d hidden the encrypted pages in Scott’s apartment.
“I was just another pawn to you,” Scott said bitterly. “I thought about denying Vega, but when it was obvious I meant nothing to you, I didn’t think twice.”
“That wasn’t how it was, Scott. We were friends. I trusted you.”
He was silent for a moment, staring at me. “It doesn’t matter now anyway,” he said.
“Please tell me you didn’t give Vega the pages,” I said, hoping beyond hope, but Scott just looked sad.
“I had to,” he said. “She’s always watching. She knows . . . everything.” He shrugged, looking resigned. “I wasn’t lying about the doctor, though. He was trying to help you. But it was Vega who gave you a mutated form of the virus. The one that’s killing you. It didn’t mutate on its own.”
My eyes slipped closed and it felt as though lead filled my stomach. I should’ve known. I’d been unconscious for how long with her scientist? That was probably when they’d done it. I should’ve known Vega wouldn’t let an opportunity like that pass her by.
“That’s what was encoded on the pages, wasn’t it,” Devon said.
“Yeah. Along with the cure. The mutation is different than the original virus, which you can be vaccinated against. This one can reinfect unless you get the medicine.”
“Are you going to help Ivy?” Devon bit out, interrupting him. “That is why you’re here, correct? To kill me and take Ivy?”
“That’s the mission, yeah,” Scott said.
“Tell me you have the medicine,” Devon demanded. “Because otherwise, she’s not going anywhere with you.”
“It’s close by,” Scott hedged. “Now put her down and step away.”
“Did Vega really tell you to kill me?” Devon asked.
Scott hesitated. “I don’t think she’ll mind. One last loose end tied up. She knows there’s a target on her back. All that’s left is to play her last card so she can retire in peace and not in the grave.”
“She’s not going to take kindly to you killing her best agent, no matter her retirement plans.”
“She’ll get over it. Now put Ivy down.”
Devon began lowering me to the sand and from somewhere, I dredged up the energy to fight.
“No,” I said, holding on to his shoulders for dear life. “No, please Devon. Don’t.” If Scott wouldn’t shoot Devon while I was in the way, then I’d just shield him with my body. We could die together, but I wasn’t about to let him give up his life for mine.
But Devon was still lowering me inexorably toward the ground. I began to sob and knew I was near hysterics. Scott was going to kill Devon right in front of me, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I wasn’t strong enough to stop Devon from unwrapping my arms from around his neck and the pain was sapping every last ounce of energy I had.
“No, please . . .” But my begging fell on deaf ears.
Devon kissed my cheek, then my forehead. “I love you, dearest Ivy,” he said quietly.
He released my arms and stood, taking a large step away from me. I immediately forced myself to flip over onto my stomach and began clawing my way through the sand toward him, knowing my legs wouldn’t hold me if I tried to stand.
The gunshot wasn’t loud, but I cried out anyway, cringing into a ball and covering my head with my arms. Sobs wracked me as I heard a body fall to the sand. I decided right then, in that instant, that I would kill Scott. Even if it had to be with my bare hands, I’d find a way to kill him.
Grief turned to rage, pressing back even the pain knifing through my skull. I lifted my head and clenched my hands into fists, looking for Scott. I’d drag him into the ocean and drown us both.
But Scott wasn’t there. Alarmed, I sat up, looking around wildly.
“Take it easy, darling. It’s all right.”
Devon crouched beside me. Whole and unharmed. I stared at him in shock. Then I threw my arms around his neck.
“Oh my God! How . . . ? I thought . . .” But I couldn’t continue.
“Shh, it’s all right. I’m all right.”
“Where’s Scott?”
“He’s dead. I searched his body for the medicine. He was carrying a syringe with him. I’m afraid I have to stick a needle in you, darling. Hold still.”
I barely noticed as he injected me in the arm with something, too busy was I memorizing every detail of his face. He’d nearly died mere moments ago, for me. I could barely comprehend what had happened. It had happened so fast.
The medicine felt like fire going in and as before when the doctor and then John had injected me, I felt better almost immediately. It was bizarre. The pain in my head receded, which was such a relief that I sagged against Devon.
“Everything all right? Is she good?”
I squeaked in alarm at yet another voice speaking in the darkness, trying to jerk back, but Devon held me. Twisting in his arms, I looked up to see a man looming over us, carrying a long rifle of some sort. It was hard to see him clearly in the dark, but he was tall and lean, with hair as inky black as the night sky. His eyes glittered in the pale moonlight, his face a cold mask of near indifference as he surveyed us. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
“She’s fine, thank you. And nice shot, by the way.”
“No thanks required, and of course it was a nice shot. I was doing the shooting.”
The man’s lips twisted in a lopsided smirk, though his eyes remained serious. I noticed a trace of concern in his eyes as he looked me over, but then it was gone.
“So we’re square now?” the man asked. “I don’t want you coming back in another six months. I’m retired.”
“Yes, we’re square,” Devon confirmed, getting to his feet. He helped me up, too, supporting most of my weight. The man’s brow creased as he spotted the blood on my face, and he let out a sigh of long-suffering.
“Please tell me you didn’t hit her,” he said, his dry tone holding a note of warning. “I’m not usually one who’d give a shit, but I’ve grown a conscience lately, which totally sucks, because then I’d have to kick your ass.”
“Devon didn’t hit me,” I said. “I’ve been . . . ill.”
He eyed me, as though testing the veracity of my words “Good,” he said at last. He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Because I have a plane to catch.”
“Thank you for coming,” Devon said.
“Like I had much choice,” the man groused, but he didn’t seem actually upset about it. “By the way, the other thing you wanted me to check? I hacked into the Miami police department and cleared your guy of all charges and had him released. He caught a plane to Atlanta earlier this evening.”
I looked quizzically at Devon. Your guy?
“Excellent. That was above and beyond, but I thank you.”
“Yeah, I’m all good-hearted and shit now. Whatever. I’m out of here. Have a nice life, Clay.”
“Same to you.”
“I plan on it.” The man walked away, melting into the darkness.
I turned to Devon. “Who was that?”
“He
’s called Tombstone,” Devon said. “I don’t know his real name. He’s an assassin I’ve known for quite some time. He also has additional skills in the computer field which come in handy.”
“And he just happened to be here?” I asked.
“Of course not. I coordinated with him last night. He’s no longer in the business, but he owed me a favor. I thought Vega would try to kill me, but you needed the medicine and Scott was our best shot at getting some for you. He was my life insurance policy.”
“What if he’d missed?” I asked. “Or hadn’t been here? Scott would have killed you.”
Devon shrugged. “It was a chance I was willing to take. You’re worth it.”
I wanted to scream in frustration and kiss him all at the same time. It was incredibly selfless what he’d done . . . and also infuriating. I didn’t want the man I loved dying for me.
“How are you feeling, darling?” he asked, brushing my hair back from my face. “Better?”
I decided to save the lecture for another time. There was nothing I could do about it now anyway. I nodded.
“Yeah. It’s better.” I was still shaky, but thought that was the aftereffects of shock and pain. I looked beyond him to the dark lump in the sand. “Is Scott dead?”
Devon glanced over his shoulder. “Quite. Tombstone is very effective at his job. Shame he’s retired, actually.”
“What did he mean by your guy?”
“The doctor, of course. John. Looks like he’s been released and is probably stepping off a plane in Atlanta at this very moment. Back to his normal life.”
I relaxed. “Oh good. I was worried about him. I didn’t want him to get in trouble just for helping us.”
“He’ll be fine,” Devon said. “Let’s worry about you, shall we?”
He helped me to my feet and started to walk us back the way we’d come, but I stopped him.
“Wait, I want to see Scott.” I wanted to say goodbye, and mourn. He’d been yet another of Vega’s casualties, forced into doing something and becoming someone he’d never intended.
Devon and I were silent as we stood over Scott’s body. Tears leaked from my eyes. I hadn’t wanted this, but neither had I wanted him to shoot Devon. It was another reason Vega had to be stopped. She’d hurt too many people and would only hurt more, especially now that she had a new biological weapon and the only cure for it.
