Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“One for your target and one for yourself,” Brad said, proving he knew a bit about philosophy. “Drake told me he was getting out of the field for you.”
A warmth spread through her. “I’m glad. I think he could be great at overseeing projects, at helping agents in the field. He knows what it feels like to be manipulated. What if we could change the way the Agency treats its assets? The ones like my dad. What if my dad had been comfortable talking to his handler about what he needed? He might be alive today.”
He would have been able to take time off to deal with his cancer. He wouldn’t have been working and a target for Julia.
“I don’t know about that,” Brad said. “I think there are forces inside the Agency that would have made sure your dad went down. I think there are still moles on the inside. Julia couldn’t have been the only one. That’s why this op was so important. Taylor, I know you think you’re in love with Drake, but we need you. I need you to think about your obligations to this organization.”
She did understand she was putting him in a bad position. “I do not owe this organization years of my life. This organization eats up agents and spits them out. I owe those human beings, not some institution. I think maybe we owe it to ourselves to fix the problems on the inside instead of continuing to throw bodies at the problems on the outside. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the fact that we need real teams. Not an agent who uses the military like they’re chess pieces. Real teams who have each other’s backs.”
Brad’s hands fisted. “That’s naïve bullshit and you know it.”
She didn’t. What she did know was that too many agents died when they didn’t have to. Too many agents got left behind with no one watching out for their interests, and that led to people like her father dying because the rot sometimes came from within. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Like I said, I’m going to meet with the contact and try to get everything we need to ID her. If that takes more than one meeting, we’ll deal with it. I’m not walking out.”
“But you’re no longer committed to the long-term assignment.” Brad’s jaw tightened.
“Taylor?” a deep voice said.
She turned and Damon Knight stood there. He was still wearing the clothes he’d been in earlier in the day. He did not look like a man who was about to oversee the dungeon floor. “Yes?”
“I’m so sorry, but we’re going to have to delay play night. Jax is asking that I bring you to the conference room,” Damon said. “You’ve had a call from the contact, and Jax and Tucker are seeing some movement at the hotel they’re concerned about. Whatever’s happening is going down tonight.”
Brad stood, his expression going perfectly professional. “But I thought tonight was nothing more than the welcome party? Why would they want Taylor to go in now? They can’t be sure of Dr. Walsh’s location throughout the evening. She could go back to her room at any time. It makes far more sense to take her laptop when she’s in one of her sessions or when they can confirm she’ll be gone for a while.”
Damon’s head shook. “I don’t know what’s happening. I know it feels off. Perhaps she’ll make contact and they’re only trying to confirm Taylor is in the city, but that’s not what Jax thinks. He believes whatever is happening is going down tonight, and I trust his instincts.”
“Well, his instincts are years old.” Brad pointed out. “He hasn’t been in the business in over a decade, which is precisely why we should have Agency backup, but here we are. I’d like to see what he’s found.” Brad turned her way. “Get properly dressed, please. Whether you’re committed or not, I expect you to do the job tonight.”
Her gut tightened, some instinct flaring as Brad walked away.
The big Brit looked around. “Where is Drake?”
“He got called away.” And wasn’t that spectacular timing?
Damon sighed. “Bloody hell.”
Bloody hell indeed.
* * * *
Drake sat down at the outdoor table overlooking the Thames. He supposed it was a nice enough view, but he wished he was back with Taylor instead of sitting here waiting for a dude to drop off a thumb drive. The drive was filled with intel an asset had gotten from a recent visit by a dictator who’d taken his mistress to Harrod’s and met with a bunch of terrorist groups while she charged up his credit card.
It was valuable information. It was important information, and letting the asset know he was here and appreciated the information he’d risked his life to get was part of his job.