Revealed

by Zoe Allison

  “Priyanka wanted us to swing by,” Vale said, “to check progress.”

  Zaina glanced at Vic, her dark eyes wary.

  “It is okay,” Vale said. “Vic has clearance regarding the weapon now.”

  Vic looked at him quizzically while Zaina lifted the tablet she was holding, presumably checking on her status. Vic’s heart rate rose a little. Do I have clearance for this? Not that I know of.

  “All good,” Zaina said. “Sorry to check, but I’m a stickler for the rules.”

  Vale smiled. “We have that in common.”

  Vic raised her eyebrows, still unclear how she suddenly had the authority to be in on the conversation. She decided just to roll with it.

  Zaina pointed to where the techs were working. “We’ve got the prototype built, so plans are being made to test it.”

  “That is excellent,” Vale said. “I have a feeling the malevolent will give us cause to need it soon.”

  “Agreed,” Zaina said. “I also have the defense equipment ready to go, so I think we’re all on schedule.”

  “Great,” Vale said. “I will report back to Priyanka.”

  “Okay,” Zaina said. “If you guys need anything else, just let me know.” She turned to head back into the work area and Vale opened the door for them again.

  Vic followed him out and toward the elevator. They went inside and Vale pressed the lowest button.

  “What does that weapon do?” she asked him.

  Vale ran a hand through his hair. “We are hoping it can mimic Amber’s abilities against the malevolent. It has been developed from the distillation of her blood samples.”

  Vic whistled. “That sounds awesome…if it works.”

  “We hope so,” he said.

  “Did Priyanka really tell you to come check on it?” she asked.

  He screwed up his face. “Not exactly. We wanted to check the status soon, but we could have phoned.”

  “Then why did you tell Zaina that?” she said.

  “To cover up the real reason we are here.”

  Vic raised her eyebrows. “The part that Priyanka doesn’t know about?”

  He avoided her gaze. “Or Zaina.” He pulled his helmet back on and gestured for her to do the same. She followed suit.

  The elevator door opened, and they exited into a long corridor. The only doorway was at the end with two armed guards standing outside. They didn’t appear surprised to see them. Vale pressed his thumb to the now-familiar panel and the door slid open long enough to admit them before shutting again.

  There was a short corridor, which led into a viewing gallery. On their approach, it became evident that it overlooked a room which was a living space, with a bed, table and chairs. Vic followed Vale onto the gallery, at which point the inhabitant of the room became apparent—a tall woman with long, white-blonde hair.

  An icy grip seized Vic’s insides. She’s supposed to be dead. Hayden killed her. She glanced over to where Vale had taken off his helmet and was watching her.

  “It is okay,” he told her. “She cannot see or hear us…for the moment.”

  Vic slowly removed her helmet and the woman sitting in the room continued to leaf through a book she was reading. “What’s going on?” she asked Vale. “Why is Angelique still alive?”

  Vale had moved over to a small control panel by the glass. “After Hayden staked her, she was brought in by Mr. X. The spear was not tainted.”

  “He let her live?” Vic said. “Why?”

  “The usual policy,” Vale told her. “To keep for questioning.”

  The penny dropped. “You want to question her regarding the current mission.”

  “Correct,” he said. “Mr. X has cleared it for us.”

  Vic watched Angelique. “How come she can’t hear us or see us, even with her vampire senses?”

  “The weapon,” Vale told her.

  “What’s that got to do with it?” she asked.

  “The walls of her cell are impregnated with the chemical developed from Amber’s blood,” he said. “That is why she cannot escape. The walls would burn her if she tried to get through them. And the technology can be adjusted to block sound and vision. We partially lift that frequency when we want to speak to her or let her see us through the glass.”

  Vic lifted her hand and touched the glass. “Freaky…”

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  She glanced over. “To speak to her?”

  He nodded.

  “You first,” she said.

  Vale adjusted a few levers on the control panel. Vic watched the back of Angelique’s head, but she didn’t move a muscle. Vic glanced over at Valentino.

  “Valentino,” Angelique’s silky tone came from within the room without her moving her head, “how lovely to see you again.” She paused, and finally turned her head ever so slightly. “And I hear you have a friend with you…”

  Angelique stood, and turned around. She was just as beautiful as ever—and every bit as sinister. She smiled. “Hello. I don’t believe we have had the pleasure of meeting…”

  Victoria said nothing.

  “Well,” Angelique continued, “if you won’t go first then I will. I’m Angelique. What’s your name?”

  Vic glanced at Vale.

  “It is okay,” he told her.

  She turned her gaze back to Angelique. “Victoria.”

  Angelique raised her eyebrows. “What a lovely name. Victoria… I don’t know that many Victorias, so I shall remember you.”

  That didn’t sound like a good thing to Vic, even if the woman was inside an impenetrable cell.

  “Angelique,” Valentino said, “we need to ask you some questions.”

  “I’m sure you do,” said Angelique. “But why on earth would I want to answer them?”

  “Because eventually,” Vale said, “we will put you on trial. And if you have co-operated with us, it will count in your favor.”

  Angelique smirked as she sat on her bed. She lifted a silver brush and started stroking it through her hair. “Maybe I’ll answer you, maybe I won’t. It depends on what I think is more fun.”

  Vic rolled her eyes and Vale smiled faintly in response.

  “What do you know of the Glassmarsh sibling?” Vale said. “You met him in person a few years ago, when we captured him.”

  “And you freed him again,” Vic muttered.

  “Did I meet him?” Angelique said.

  “You have forgotten?” Vale said, his tone disbelieving.

  Angelique smiled up at them. “No. That’s not what I said.”

  Vic sighed. “If she’s only going to talk in riddles then what’s the point?”

  “They’re only riddles if you don’t understand my meaning,” Angelique said.

  Vic frowned. What’s she talking about? She looked at Vale again. He was frowning too.

  “Is he behind these attacks?” Vale asked.

  Angelique rolled her eyes. “You already know the answer to that one.”

  “That’s a yes then,” Vic said.

  Angelique glanced up at her. “So, Victoria, Australia must have been a lovely place to grow up. What year were you born?”

  Vic was taken aback. Angelique would know she was Australian from her accent, but why would she ask that question in particular? “That’s none of your business,” Vic said.

  “I would wager during the twenties,” Angelique said.

  Vic’s blood ran cold. She stepped away from the window and sat on a chair. Does she know?

  Vale continued to question Angelique. “What is the Glassmarsh sibling’s name?”

  “Hmm, good question…” Angelique replied. “It’s either Harold or Harvey…”

  Vic’s heart rate spiked.

  “And the surname?” Vale said.

  “It could be Martin—or maybe it’s Moore,” Angelique said, placing down her brush and lifting a nail file instead.

  Vic felt as if she couldn’t get a breath. She needed to get out of here.

 
“I’m bored of all these questions,” Angelique said, “so you can go now. But remember, the rogue element is always right under your nose.”

  Vic got up and left the area. She walked down the corridor and hammered on the door. “I want out of here!” she called to the guards on the other side but nothing happened. Then Vale was next to her, his helmet back in place and opening the door for her. She strode along the corridor, helmet in hand rather than on her head. She had nothing to hide. Except that I do…

  They rode the elevator up to the ground floor. Once the doors had opened, Vic walked quickly through the entrance area and out of the building, with Vale bringing up the rear. Outside, she finally put her helmet back in place and got onto the bike, starting it up.

  Vale climbed on behind her. “Did she get to you?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Vic said. “She pisses me off. She’s such a fucking liar.”

  Takes one to know one.

  Vic shook her head and pulled the throttle, and the bike skidded around and along the driveway. The gate opened for them and Vic tore toward it, speeding away along the country road. Vale leant with her at every twist and turn and she drew some comfort from the warmth of him against her back and his arms wrapped around her waist. As the area became more built up, she realized that she was using speed as a distraction, so she slowed down. They wouldn’t be injured if there was an accident, but other people could be, and she wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t allow anyone else to get hurt due to her actions.

  She slowed the bike and they continued along the streets, which were now lined with houses. How much did Angelique know? Was she just playing games and speaking in riddles, or did she really have some knowledge regarding Vic’s past?

  Vale remained silent throughout the journey and Vic was anxious about what she was going to say to him when they got back. What would he think if he found out? Would he understand? The desire to confide in him was getting harder to contain and she was starting to feel as if she wanted him to guess.

  Eventually they arrived at her apartment block and climbed off the bike. She removed her helmet slowly, still trying to think of a valid excuse for the way she’d acted at the facility.

  Vale lifted off his helmet and placed it on the bike. “Can I come up to get my shirt?”

  She tried to put him off because she didn’t want to answer any awkward questions. “I-I can just bring it in to HQ if you’d like, save you coming up.”

  “That’s okay,” he said, smiling softly. “I will get it now, while I am here.”

  Vic took a deep breath to steady her heart rate. “Okay.”

  They entered the building and rode up the elevator. Vic didn’t make eye contact with him and, thankfully, he remained silent.

  She let them into the flat and went into the utility room to fetch his shirt. She came back out, expecting to find him in the kitchen, where she could just give him the shirt and he would be on his way. But he wasn’t there. She went through to the living area and found him pouring her a drink.

  She passed him the shirt. “It’s dry now.”

  “Thank you,” he said, taking it from her. “Here.” He gave her a glass. “You look like you could use this.”

  She hesitated, before taking it from him. Her legs were a little wobbly, so she took a seat.

  “I might just switch shirts back again,” he said. “Would you like me to change in the bathroom?”

  She smiled. “Vale, it’s fine. Really. I literally have seen it all before.” It still affected her in the same way too, but hopefully he wouldn’t realize that.

  Vic looked out of the window as he smiled and pulled off the top, replacing it with his own.

  Vale folded the one she had loaned him. “Can I wash it for you?”

  She shook her head as she took a drink from her glass and swallowed a little harder than was necessary. “It’s fine. I’ll sort it.”

  He sat next to her. “Can you tell me about it?”

  She bristled. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

  “No,” he said softly. “About the shirt. It’s clearly a man’s—and not your usual style.”

  Vic laughed despite herself. She was so wound up that the relief at him not asking about what had happened at the facility made the comment even funnier. “It belonged to an ex-boyfriend.”

  “Ah,” he said. “He never returned to reclaim it?”

  “Well,” she said. “He did ask about it once, but I pretended I didn’t have it, because I wanted to keep it. I’ve felt guilty about lying ever since.”

  “We all tell white lies once in a while,” he said, leaning back into the sofa and watching her.

  She swirled the vodka in her glass. “That doesn’t make it right.” In any case, her lies were more than just the small, white kind.

  He was watching her. “You are very hard on yourself.”

  She smiled. “You’ve some need to talk.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

  “Yes,” she said. “You set yourself the highest standards I’ve ever known, and you take personal responsibility for everything.”

  He glanced toward the window. “Perhaps there is some truth in that.”

  Vic got up and poured another drink. She took out a second glass and made one for Vale too. She handed his over and took her seat by his side.

  Vic sipped her drink. “Do Amber and Hayden know?”

  Vale looked at her. “That Angelique is still alive?”

  She nodded.

  “No,” he said. “No one does, except you and me, Mr. X and the guards on her door at the facility. Even the rest of the guards in the building do not know.”

  She frowned. “Why keep it secret?”

  Vale took a drink. “In case anyone tries to break her out.”

  Vic watched him. “Who would do that?”

  He met her eyes. “The Glassmarsh sibling. She broke him free before.”

  Vic held his gaze. “He might not be inclined to return the favor, though.” She smiled and sipped her vodka. “After all, she really is very annoying.”

  Vale laughed, and she admired the way his eyes lit up. “Yes. You are quite right there.”

  They smiled at each other and continued their drinks.

  Eventually Vic plucked up the courage to ask him the main question on her mind. She kept her gaze on the floor. “Do you think that we can trust anything she said?” She snuck a glance at Vale.

  He was deep in thought. “I think,” he said, “that the basis of what she said was true, but that she was trying to confuse us by being cryptic. She likes to play games.”

  “She doesn’t half,” muttered Vic, drawing a smile from Vale.

  “What did you think of the names she gave us?” he asked her.

  That was one of the questions she had been dreading. But in the end, she found it easy to answer without giving her inside knowledge away. “I think they were real,” she said. “Too specific not to be. Both the first names began with the same letter, as did both the surnames.”

  He sipped his whiskey. “I agree. Maybe we can run those names though our databases, see what matches with Glassmarsh’s past.” He lifted out his phone. “I will send the names to Priyanka and she can get a head start on things.”

  Vic took a deep breath. Harvey’s name coming to light was a good thing. It would help move things on without the need for her to expose herself.

  “Vic.” Vale was looking at her.

  “Yeah?” she said, taking a drink.

  “You seemed really rattled at the prison facility. It is not like you.”

  She made the mistake of locking her eyes with his and was paralyzed by his soft caramel gaze, as if he were reading her innermost thoughts. Her conflict rose to the surface yet again. She should just tell him the name was Harvey Moore. It would speed up the database search. But how could she explain that she knew it?

  She forced herself to respond. “I’m okay. I’m just working through some stuff right now.”
>
  “You can talk to me about it,” he said softly.

  She really wanted to. “I’d rather not,” she said, though that wasn’t true. “It’s something I have to sort out on my own.”

  He tilted his head slightly, then lifted his hand and brushed her hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. All the breath left her body. He leaned toward her. “You can rely on me, Vic. You do not have to keep your burdens to yourself.”

  He caressed her cheek lightly with his thumb and it was as if he was leaving a trail of fire along her skin. The urge to tell him everything became harder to resist. Maybe he’ll understand.

  No. She couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t risk putting him in an impossible situation with the rest of The Organization and Mr. X.

  “I can’t tell you.” The disappointment in his eyes caused a stab of guilt in her heart. “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” she added hurriedly. “I do. I just… I can’t tell anyone. Not yet anyway.”

  Something else registered in his eyes and she could see that he understood. He kept his hand on her face.

  “You’re keeping things to yourself too,” she said softly, “so we’re even. Unless you can tell me yours?”

  He moved his thumb down and traced it across her lower lip. A weird feeling came over her, like a fire burning in her belly, and the urge to kiss him threatened to overwhelm her. She managed to suppress it. She was reading the wrong thing into it. He must be comforting her, not coming on to her.

  Vale’s phone buzzed with a message. He blinked and moved his gaze from her face. He dropped his hand and Vic nearly collapsed with disappointment.

  He took out his phone. “Priyanka says Gareth is making a start on cross-referencing those names with Glassmarsh’s past.” A flash of something passed over his face as he made that statement, but she couldn’t place what emotion it was.

  The thought of the names being researched caused a wash of relief mixed with guilt to flood her insides.

  Vale stood up slowly. “I have taken up too much of your time. Thank you for coming with me and for the loan of your shirt.”

  She stood too and followed him to the door, her legs still feeling a little wobbly. He opened it and turned toward her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Are we going to tell the others about how we got the latest information?”