Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
The revelation came as a surprise.
There was something about her feisty sadness and gorgeous strength that had him by the balls. He was in so much fucking trouble. By the time he’d found his bearings, she’d already disappeared into the crowd.
Fine, beautiful. Run for now.
There was more to her than what met the eye, and something fishy about her ties to Doumar. Even as he recalled his statement to Cain—that he’d only see her this once—he knew he was going to pay her another visit.
And another.
As he hailed a cab, he noticed a man across the street. He recognized his face. He was one of the security guards from the club. The weapon the man showed as he discreetly lifted the flap of his jacket was an unmistakable threat.
Chapter 3
Making sure he wasn’t followed, Bono returned to the base house and relayed what he’d learned, which was zilch.
Cain rubbed a finger over his chin, contemplating Bono’s feedback. “She gave you nothing of value.”
Bono tried to ignore the itch in his empty eye socket behind the eye patch. “We were dancing around each other like matadors waving red flags at a bull.”
“Do you think she’ll crack under your charm?” Maya asked.
A sense of misplaced pride made his chest swell. “She’s a tough cookie.”
Joss watched Cain intently. “What do we do? It’s your call.”
“If she’s not going to divulge information,” Cain replied, “we take her out. The risk of her dealing in Godfrey’s hand is too high.”
“Whoa.” The forcefulness of Bono’s tone had all eyes turn on him. “Give me another chance. I need more time.”
Cain’s smile was knowing. “It seems you’re getting emotionally invested, Bono. This is a good time for you to pull out.”
“No.” He took a step toward the commander. “You got me involved. You owe me a chance.”
“You said yourself you’re not a fighter.”
Joss walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “She’s working for the enemy.” Caution slipped into his tone. “There’s only one way this can play out.”
He shook off the touch. “You don’t know for sure. We only know she’s a puppet for Doumar.”
“Tell him,” Joss said to Cain.
After reflecting for a moment, Cain said, “Last month, an American senator who opposed Dimensions Communications visited Amsterdam. One week later, his convoy was ambushed and he ended up dead. The only people with access to his schedule and transport route were his secretary and security staff, and they all passed a polygraph test. Someone betrayed him, someone who knew where he’d be at a specific time and date when he was exposed and vulnerable.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Bono said.
“I’m not finished. Two weeks later, the Malawian president is murdered when he, in an exceptional moment, leaves his house without guards to walk his dog. This happened just after he denied Dimensions Communications trading access. Needless to say, his successor sold out to Dimensions—for a handsome kickback, no doubt. As it turns out, the president also visited Amsterdam shortly before his assassination.”
Bono listened to everything with growing dread. “You can’t suspect her of being responsible for those deaths.”
“Both men visited Doumar’s club,” Joss said.
“You think she read their palms.”
Cain gave him a somber look. “We know it. We have footage from the Dutch government drones that surveyed the area. Both men left the club with Miss Val.”
Something tightened in his chest, squeezing his heart like a vise. “How do you know it’s related to Godfrey?”
“He owns Dimensions Communications. He’s acquiring communication companies around the world.”
“With what end?”
“Control,” Cain said. “We believe he’s developing an app that will be carried to all communication devices via the operating system, stealing information that will give him access to banking details, calls, chat histories, and everything about anything. Imagine the power a man with such knowledge holds. Imagine the manipulation he can practice.”
The magnitude of it all was staggering. Up to now, he’d never asked about the purpose of the team’s missions. Deep down, he didn’t want to know, because this was the kind of truth he feared. He wanted to deny Sky’s part in it, yet the circumstances were too suspicious to ignore.
He turned to Cain. “What do you want from Sky?”
“The jackpot will be finding Godfrey,” Cain said. “Even if we do, it won’t change our mission. You know her fate.”
He inhaled deeply, refusing to think about it. “Let me try with her. I can get you the information you want.”
“You’re too involved already,” Cain said.
“I’ll keep my emotions in check.” He needed to, or those sad, blue eyes will never have the opportunity to look happy.
“If you screw up—” Cain started.
“I’ll be eliminated.” Bono wiped a hand over his face. “Yeah. I know.”
Cain regarded him from under his eyebrows. “You’re sure you can handle her?”
“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
Cain sighed. “I guess you’re right. I owe you a chance.”