Dammit, how had he managed to twist the situation so that she appeared in the wrong? And why couldn’t she have kept her mouth shut? She’d assumed Ryker understood her unspoken need to be active in Kai’s capture when she asked to be kept aware if they found him. Putting it into words had been a mistake.
Kai had always accused her of being too impetuous for her own good, but she’d thought that tendency had died the night of the attack.
“Besides, you’re still in training,” Ryker continued. “You’re not experienced enough to participate in this mission. It’s too dangerous.”
“But…” She struggled to come up with a legitimate reason he should include her. “Mr. Tonelli wants to use me as bait. How dangerous can that be?”
Ryker tapped a manila folder with his index finger. For a heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to lie to her. Then he sighed and something almost like fear crossed his face.
“Alvarez just got out of prison.”
Jenna felt her jaw drop. “But—”
“I know.” Ryker drummed his fingertips on the desk blotter. “Alvarez managed to blackmail a judge into commuting his life sentence. There’s an ongoing investigation, and the judge is facing jail time, but what matters is that Alvarez is out and once again after Kai and Nevsky’s microchip. You know how brutal and ruthless Alvarez is. Can you honestly tell me you’re ready to face potential capture and torture just to get back at Kai? We let everyone think you died in order to protect you, Jenna. You’re the only witness to what happened to your family. Once Alvarez discovers you’re alive, you’ll become a target.”
Screams echoed in her head, making her dizzy. But she couldn’t let Ryker see her fear. She raised her chin. “I’m willing to take that risk.”
Ryker’s eyes bored into hers. “Unfortunately, I’m not. I—”
The phone on his desk rang. Ryker glanced down to check the caller id and his lips tightened. Shooting her an indecipherable look, he picked up the receiver. “Ryker here…Yes, sir…That’s correct, sir. But…Yes, I understand. But I…No. No, sir. Good-bye.”
Ryker hung up the phone and stared at his desk blotter, his jaw working as his fingers clenched and unclenched into fists.
“It seems Tonelli has been busy telling tales while he waited for us to finish,” Ryker said without looking up. “I’ve just been given orders from one of our primary government funders to bring Kai back at any cost, including using you as bait. We need that microchip.”
Jenna knew Kai wasn’t just wanted for the murder of her parents and the twins. The SSU had sent him undercover to investigate charges of suspicious deaths at a top-secret government lab tasked with creating extraordinary spies and soldiers. While there, Kai had been approached by Alvarez to steal a microchip containing the backup of the project data. Before Kai could hand over the chip to Alvarez, the lab caught fire, killing the lead scientist, Dr. Nevsky. The security tape showed Kai fleeing the scene.
Not only was Kai a suspect in Dr. Nevsky’s death, but it was assumed her brother was in possession of the microchip at the time of the fire. Jenna didn’t care about the microchip. She just wanted Kai dead for what he’d done to their family.
Ryker raised his head and Jenna winced at the conflict she saw there. “If I let you accompany Tonelli, you have to promise you won’t go after Alvarez.”
Jenna nodded, heart racing with excitement. “I promise.” Mexican crime lord Jaime Alvarez had sent the assassins who’d worked with Kai to kill her family. She didn’t know how Alvarez had turned Kai against his family so thoroughly that he’d participated in their deaths, but Alvarez was next on her kill list after Kai. Right now, though, it was no great sacrifice to give her word. She knew Alvarez’s vicious reputation and understood she wasn’t ready to tackle him just yet.
“Thank you,” Ryker said. “And please…be extra careful in Moscow. It’s not just Alvarez’s men who are the threat. Kai also poses a danger. You’re the only witness to his presence in your house the night of the attack. By now he has to know there’s a warrant out for his arrest. Be prepared for him to attack you.”
Ryker straightened a few of the papers on his desk. “If anything happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself. I failed you and your family once. I can’t fail again.”
The muscles in Jenna’s throat ached with the effort not to cry. Sometimes she forgot that Ryker blamed himself for what happened that night.
It wasn’t his fault he hadn’t warned her family in time. While trying to recover an accidentally deleted voicemail, Ryker had discovered a deleted, unheard message that Alvarez planned an attack on Jenna’s family. He’d immediately called her dad, but by then it had been too late.
Still…sometimes she did blame Ryker. If only he’d never lured Kai away from the CIA in the first place, maybe her brother would never have been involved with Alvarez.
And her family would still be alive.
Jenna fought the urge to squirm. It didn’t sit well, keeping secrets from Ryker. He was the closest thing to family she had left. But her loyalty was now, and always would be, to the memories of her parents and the twins. Ryker might have guessed she wanted revenge against Kai, but he’d never let her go to Moscow if he knew she wanted Kai dead.
Ryker gestured for Jenna to sit, then pushed a button on his intercom and instructed his assistant to let Tonelli back in. The man settled himself gingerly on the empty chair, then adjusted the crease in his trousers.
Jenna wanted to roll her eyes. This was an agent? Of what? Fastidiousness? He reminded her of one of her former college professors, a man who’d worn a perfectly pressed three piece suit every day to class and was so obsessed with order, he’d arranged the blackboard chalk by size and thickness.
“Okay, Tonelli, your little power play worked. You’ve forced my hand. But be clear. This is the SSU’s mission. Not the CIA’s.”
Even though he’d played into her hands, Jenna wanted to wipe the satisfied smirk off Tonelli’s face.
“Jenna,” Ryker continued, “Tonelli is fluent in Russian. He spent most of his childhood in Moscow.” For the next several minutes they discussed logistics and formulated a plan.
“The girl has to follow my orders,” Tonelli insisted. “And stay out of my way once Paterson surfaces.”
Jenna opened her mouth to comment, but a sharp look from Ryker had her pressing her lips together instead.
“If you convince Paterson to turn himself in and give up the microchip,” Ryker reminded them, “our extraction team will be on standby to bring Paterson back safely and take possession of the chip.”
“Sir, the CIA is perfectly capable—” Tonelli began.
“No. We’ve been over this, Tonelli. You’re serving strictly as a consultant. This is the SSU’s project. Once you find Paterson, he’s ours. Not the CIA’s. We were tasked by both the Department of Defense and the CIA to investigate Nevsky’s lab. The retrieval of the microchip is part of that assignment. And we will turn Paterson over to law enforcement once he’s been safely debriefed.” Then Ryker added, “Jenna, I’ll clear this trip with your trainers. We’ll work out how to get you caught up in time for graduation after you’ve completed your mission.”
“Thank you.”
Jenna was aware of Tonelli’s barely concealed anger as they wrapped up their discussion. The second Ryker dismissed them, Tonelli stalked from the room.
Jenna thought about letting him go, but since they were going to be working closely together over the next several days, she wanted to clear the air. So she followed Tonelli out of the building and onto one of the compound’s many stone-lined paths.
He slowed his steps as he reached a fork in the path, tilting his head as if trying to decide which direction to take—left to the picnic area and cottages beyond, or right to the medical offices. There was no doubt in her mind he was putting on a show. She wasn’t making any effort to hide.
Ah, to hell with it. She sprinted past him then turned so quickly that he’d knock her do
wn if he didn’t stop.
He raised his eyebrow. “Excuse me, but you’re in my way.”
No kidding. That was the freaking point. Mentally rolling her eyes, she said, “Yes, I know.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re the one who asked Ryker to let me accompany you to Moscow. So what’s with the attitude?”
He looked her over, then let his lip curl.
Please. If he thought she’d wither under his disdain, he was way off base. The only thing she cared about was being the one who found Kai.
When he didn’t answer, she tapped her foot in an exaggerated show of impatience. “Well?”
His jaw tightened. For a moment Jenna thought he was going to ignore her and push right on past. But then he indicated with a nod she should accompany him to the left and into the picnic area. Not checking to see if she obeyed, he chose a table far enough away from the path that no one would be able to overhear him.
With a quick swipe of his handkerchief he cleared a spot on the top of the picnic table and sat down, resting his feet on the seat.
Jenna halted a few feet away from him. Even sitting down, he towered over her five-foot-three frame. He stared at her, trying to intimidate her. But Jenna just regarded him steadily, waiting for his answer.
Finally, Tonelli scowled. “I don’t care if you’re Paterson’s sister and Ryker’s pet. In my book, you’re useless except as bait. That means you do what I say, when I say it. And you stay out of my way.”
“I’m not some helpless twit. I’ve been through the agent training program. I can—”
Tonelli held up his hand. “Little girl, don’t lie to me. You haven’t graduated yet.” He slapped his hand against a mosquito on his neck, then glanced at the bloody remains of the insect with disgust.
“You’re out of your league with this assignment. Alvarez has a reputation for being ruthless and brutal.” Something not strong enough to be fear, but darker than wariness crossed Tonelli’s expression.
She almost sympathized with him. She’d barely survived one attack by Alvarez’s men. Yet no matter how much the idea of being captured terrified her, she’d risk anything to get back at Kai.
“As soon as Alvarez learns you’re alive, his men will be after you,” Tonelli continued. “And they won’t be gentle. I’m your only protection.”
Jenna barely resisted rolling her eyes. Come on. Like he could protect her if Alvarez sent men after her? Tonelli looked like he’d be more at home in a boardroom than in a physical fight. Her mind flashed back to an image of Niko Andros. Tough. Capable. She bet Niko could hold his own against Alvarez’s ruthless thugs.
Jenna scowled. Since when did she need a man’s help? She’d protect herself, thank you very much. Besides, she was only acting as bait. Not walking into a firefight.
Tonelli stood up. “As long as you obey me and stay out of trouble, we’ll get along fine.” His eyes once again flicked disdainfully from her head to her feet. “Oh, and don’t bother to bring any of your own clothes. I’ll buy you new ones once we’re there so you…won’t look like such a fashion disaster.”
Okay. Enough of his sideways insults. Her cargo pants and long-sleeved t-shirt were comfortable and practical. So what if combined with her slight frame and her white, pixie-short hair she looked like a boy? All that mattered was her ability to get the job done.
When he took a step forward, she moved into him, hooked her foot around his leg, and flipped him onto his back. But a street fighter hid underneath Tonelli’s expensive suit. He had her down on the ground and nearly subdued in seconds. It took every trick from her training to evade him and get the upper hand. Finally, though, she straddled him as he lay on his back, his hands pinned underneath him and her combat knife pressed just deep enough into his skin to raise color without breaking the surface.
“Don’t underestimate me,” she said quietly.
“Okay, you’ve some training.” Tonelli’s tone made it clear he was only humoring her, so Jenna leaned a little harder on the knife. “Maybe you’re not completely helpless.”
She nodded. But instead of standing up and giving him an opportunity to get back at her, she pressed her knife harder against his throat, then somersaulted over his shoulder, letting the knife scrape across his throat and cheek as she moved into a crouch.
Faster than she expected, his hand shot out and grabbed her ankle, causing her to pitch into an ungraceful face down heap with her arm twisted at a painful angle to keep her knife away from her body. One quick kick with her other foot, though, and Tonelli’s grip loosened enough for her to wriggle free. She immediately leapt to her feet and dashed into the trees.
Once she was far enough away, she checked behind her. No sign of Tonelli.
She sighed. This was not the start of a promising partnership. But she’d work with the devil himself if it meant finding Kai.
#
By the time Jenna got back to her small cabin, she was shaking and shivering with reaction. Despite all her training, knives still made her sick with fear. She was usually able to shove her fear aside and get the job done. But then, until tonight she’d never pulled her knife on anyone outside of training.
She dropped her keys on the first try. She scooped them up, tightened her grip on them, and despite more fumbling managed on the second try to get the door unlocked and pushed open.
She stumbled inside, shoved the door closed, and fell to her knees. A second later she was almost knocked over by a jumping, barking mass of overexcited fur. She opened her arms and let her golden retriever, Monroe, lick her face.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said, tightening her arms for a hug that had Monroe sitting down and whining in distress. He nuzzled closer, sensing her mood.
“Jenna did a bad thing, Monroe. I pulled a knife on someone who wasn’t threatening me.” Her voice cracked and she buried her face in Monroe’s silky fur. She understood the importance of a knife in close combat. There was nothing wrong with using a knife to protect yourself or your teammates. But just now with Tonelli hadn’t been about protecting anything but her ego. She’d been piqued and determined to get the upper hand. The next thing she knew, her knife was at his throat.
It made her stomach churn.
What kind of person had she become?
She shuddered. Memories of the night of the attack danced around the edges of her consciousness, begging to be brought forward. But she refused to think about the cold prick of steel against her skin or the hot rush of blood over her face.
Monroe gave a strangled bark, his sign that she was holding on too tight. “Sorry, sweetie.” Shoving the memories back in the dark where they belonged, Jenna let Monroe go.
Her fingers instinctively reached for the braided leather around her wrist, all that remained of the leather necklace her younger sister, Isabel, had made for Jenna’s twenty-second birthday. The necklace had stopped the assassin’s knife from completely severing Jenna’s throat. It was the reason she was here alone, instead of joined with the rest of her family in death.
She pushed slowly to her feet, suddenly exhausted. Then her eyes landed on the dust-covered wheelchair in the corner and her spine stiffened. Her chin went up.
Who was she? Exactly the person she’d needed to be in order to survive.
Cold. Hard. Ruthless. Efficient.
What mattered was that she was strong enough to complete her mission. As long as she achieved vengeance for her parents and the twins, nothing else mattered.
Feeling centered again, she strode toward the bathroom. She gulped a glass of water, cleaned off the dirt and grass from her tussle with Tonelli, then headed back to the front door.
The instant her fingers touched Monroe’s leash, his whole body wriggled in anticipation. Watching his excitement, she froze. After years spent dreaming of finding Kai, she should be as eager as Monroe. Yet while she felt a low hum of anticipation at the idea of bringing Kai to justice, it was nowhere near the jittery, uncontainable fire of true excitement.
Shakin
g her head at her lack of reaction, she clipped the leash to Monroe’s collar and headed toward the side of the compound that served as a private wildlife rehabilitation facility. Ryker and his medical team believed that full emotional and physical recovery depended on the patient being drawn into caring for others, whether human or animal. So, once the swelling in her back had gone down enough to make it safe for her to go places in her wheelchair, Jenna had been assigned to work at the wildlife rehabilitation center as part of her therapy. Now she went there whenever she felt the need for sanctuary.
When they reached the center’s gate, Monroe sat down and whined in protest. She bent down and patted his head. “I know you hate being tied outside, sweetie. But you just can’t go around chasing the birds. I promise I won’t be long.” Just long enough to finish centering herself by working with her favorite red-tailed hawk. She’d also have to make arrangements with Mary, one of the permanent wildlife center staff, to take care of Monroe while she was gone.
“We’ll go run in the woods after, okay?” she said, giving Monroe one last pat. Straightening, she headed for the gate. Then stopped mid-step, hit with the realization that if things went according to plan, she’d never return to the SSU. This would be the last walk she ever took with Monroe. Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought of never seeing him again.
From the day Ryker brought her the young golden retriever just out of service dog training, Monroe had been her rock. Her only source of comfort through the endless nights when her dreams echoed with screams and Kai’s laughter.
Monroe would never betray her. Unlike Kai.
She hadn’t wanted to believe that Kai had turned against his family. But a knife with Kai’s fingerprints and Justin’s blood had been found in the neighbors’ doghouse. Yes, evidence could be planted. But during the attack she’d heard Kai’s voice issue the command to kill from the next room. Then, after her escape attempt had failed and she lay in a twisted, broken heap on the concrete walk in the backyard, unable to move, barely able to breath, she’d seen Kai exit the house. Briefly silhouetted by the inside lights, his hard, cold expression had terrified her. It was the face of a killer. Not her loving, supportive older brother. She’d opened her mouth to scream his name, but thanks to the cut across her throat all that came out was a faint gurgle. Even that effort had been too much for her and she’d passed out.
Vengeance (SSU Trilogy Book 1) Page 2
