by Lexi Blake
“I don’t think you should start doing the new reports without me.” His voice changed, abruptly going back to the smooth tones he always used.
“Morning, people.” One of the women from fund-raising walked in with a cheery expression on her face. Janet. Avery was almost certain that was her name and that she had two small children. Was she in on Molina’s plans? Was everyone in on it? Would they all be watching her?
Simon gave her a little nod. “Morning to you. I was just telling Avery here that we’re all going to be able to relax once she and the big boss move on.”
Janet sighed. “Oh, how I long for the days of three hour lunches and Ping-Pong battles. And poor Avery is going to have to settle for the drudgery of Dubai. I feel for you, darling. I really do. All that sand and sun and wealth.”
It had seemed like an adventure before, but now she wondered.
Janet grabbed a pot and started heating water for tea as she continued on. “I wish I’d known the boss was looking for an assistant. I would have applied for that job. Not that I could have known. I’ve been working for the UOF for almost ten years, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen the man in person. Didn’t see him much in pictures, either, now that I think about it. The rumor was always that he was a shut-in. You know? One of those people who doesn’t go out because they can’t stand the openness of the outside. What are they called? There’s a word for it.”
“Agoraphobia,” Avery replied.
Janet snapped her fingers. “That’s it. I guess it was just one of those rumors though because he told me the other day that I had to wait on the lift because he couldn’t stand cramped spaces. I thought it a bit rude that he required the whole lift for himself and that goon driver of his.” She shrugged. “Guess the rich really are different. I don’t know. Why don’t we ask Mr. Second in Line for the Throne or something?”
Simon rolled his eyes. “I’m not second in line for the bloody throne, love. I’m like twenty-third or something.”
Simon and Janet were off poking at each other, but Avery was thinking. Not once in the months she’d been with Thomas had he had a problem with being outside. Janet had to be wrong, or the rumors were. Just how much did she really know about her boss? When she’d first come to work for him she hadn’t really looked into his background. She’d been too happy to have the job, and he was a philanthropist. In her mind, that had to mean he was a good person.
How many secrets did he have?
“Avery? You coming along?” Simon stood at the door, a mug in his hand.
She forced herself back into the present. “Of course.”
“And don’t forget about what we talked about.” Simon turned and started toward his part of the building.
What had they talked about? Reports. She wasn’t doing any new reports. She set her coffee mug on her desk and settled in. She could hear Thomas in his office talking quietly to someone. Her computer was right there with all its Internet connections and links to anything she could want to know.
She couldn’t help herself. She pulled up her browser and put Thomas’s name in it. It was innocent enough. She was his assistant. If she got caught, she could say she was just looking for news articles that highlighted his philanthropy for the ball. There were plenty of UOF promo materials to be made.
But she skipped anything recent, preferring to go deep. There were numerous articles about Thomas Molina and the foundation. He was raised wealthy, but a horseback riding accident left him with weakened limbs and struggling to walk. She knew that story all too well. There were several articles that claimed the multimillionaire philanthropist was a hardcore agoraphobic. One article on a financial website claimed that before he’d started this tour, no one had seen Thomas Molina in person for years with the singular exception of his brother. He’d lived in a small guesthouse on the ground of the mansion he’d inherited. He ran his empire from his computer and rarely took phone calls.
He’d changed. Her heart ached with sympathy for him. He’d had to fight, and it hadn’t been easy.
Could Liam be wrong about her boss?
“Avery, sweetheart? What on earth are you doing?”
She gasped a little. Thomas was right behind her, and she’d never heard him move. Usually whatever braces or cane he was using that day made a scratching sound on the floor, but she hadn’t heard a thing today. She turned and gave him what she hoped was a brilliant smile. “I was looking for some pictures or articles we could use in the Black and White Ball promo materials. I thought I would put together a bio sheet for the packets we’re giving to our donors.”
He shuddered lightly. “No one wants to read about me, dear. Focus on the celebrities who are performing and whatever you do, don’t put pictures of me in there. We’ll scare people off.”
“Really? I don’t think so. You’re quite a fascinating man. I was just reading about how courageous you were after your accident and you were so young.”
“I don’t like to think about it much. I suppose we have that in common.”
She nodded. “Yes, we do. It can be so hard to even get in a car sometimes.”
“Well, I don’t have to worry about getting on a horse again.” He sighed and a sad look flitted across his face. “I’m going to lunch now. I’m meeting my friend. I don’t think I’ll come back this afternoon. I have a few things to take care of at home.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
He shuffled out, a distant look on his face.
Could MI6 have it all wrong? What if Thomas wasn’t involved at all? What if he was exactly what he appeared to be? Someone else could be the arms dealer or someone from outside could be using the UOF and no one knew.
She stood up. Maybe the evidence would exonerate her boss. She wouldn’t know until she found it. Once she did she could be out of the whole mess and out of Liam’s life. She pulled the spare key out of her desk and watched Thomas disappear into the elevator.
She was alone for the moment. She might not get a better chance. Hurrying to get to the door, she tripped, wrenching her knee. Pain flared, combining with frustration. Avery got to her feet. Patience. She needed some patience. Being calm and cool was the only way to be. It was perfectly normal for an administrative assistant to be in her boss’s office.
Calm down, girl. Take it slow and easy.
She could hear Liam’s voice. He’d lectured her all the way to the building. He’d spoken in her ear while they rode the Tube, his breath warm on her skin.
Act like you own the place. Wait for the right time. It doesn’t have to happen today. This thing happens when you make it happen and not a minute sooner.
She wanted him to be here. If she called him, would he come rushing over? Thomas was going to be gone all afternoon. Would he leave his assignment behind and rush to her side? Would he hold her hand and promise her everything would be all right?
With shaking hands, she got the key in the door and straightened up. She didn’t need Liam. He had his job to do and she had hers. They couldn’t really figure anything out until this operation was over. Deep in the night, she’d decided that if Liam felt anything for her it was likely temporary, an effect of being undercover. It would go away when he wasn’t living with her, and she had to prepare herself for that eventuality.
She was in. Thomas’s office was pin perfect. There wasn’t a file out of place. His desk was clean of the debris that regularly littered hers.
She strode across the room. Thomas had the corner office. A spectacular view of St. James’s Park in the distance greeted her when she turned to the windows. He always kept them open. He claimed to love the view of the park. The windows ran from almost the ceiling to the floor, giving the whole office the illusion of being up in the air, the world spreading out in front of her. It was sensational.
It was something that would make an agoraphobic man think twice.
Could someone really get over a deep-seated fear so completely that he would love an expansive view?
Avery turned away
Avery opened the side drawer. Sure enough there were a few files there, but they looked like employment files. Nothing but names and addresses and compensation packages. She dug deeper, but only came up with some proposals and plans for events to benefit the charity and Thomas’s most recent stock portfolio.
Where the hell was that file? She’d given him the Lachlan Bates file herself. Was it possible he’d taken it home?
She opened the drawer on the other side and sighed. Nothing but some breath mints and a white bottle of saline and what looked like a case for contacts.
“What are you doing, Avery?”
It took everything Avery had to slowly close the desk. Monica stood in the doorway, her lovely face frowning.
“I’m looking for a list of the donors attending the Black and White Ball. I can’t find mine, and I have to finalize the seating chart.” Her voice was steady, but she could feel her skin flushing. “What are you doing here? Is there something I can help you with?”
“I was looking for Thomas.” It seemed like it was Monica’s turn to blush. Her pale skin went pink.
“He’s at lunch, but he’s not coming back.”
Monica nodded. “Fine. I guess I’ll just have to talk to him later.”
She turned on her heels and left.
Avery drew a long breath. The files weren’t here. He had to have them at his place or he’d given them to someone. She needed to get into his town house and search his office there. It was the only answer.
But she could do a little research before then. She had the names of the donors. She could see if she could find them and try to connect them. There had to be connections.
But now she had another question to answer. If Thomas didn’t need contacts to see, whose contacts did he have? Why would he lie about not needing contacts?
Avery went back to her desk to start looking for answers. She could only hope that Liam was having better luck than she’d had.
* * * *
Liam looked out from his perch across the Thames. He’d rented the room hoping it would offer the best view of the meeting spot. He’d been right. Through the powerful scope he held in his hands, he had a perfect view of the restaurant. He also had a high-powered rifle, but he probably wouldn’t be allowed to use it.
Of course if he really wanted to, he could just take out both targets and Avery would be safe.
And he wouldn’t have any answers. He wanted Eli Nelson alive. He wanted to know what had happened to his brother. He’d had the dream again the night before. He’d stood in the middle of that bloody room, bodies all around him and all he’d been able to see was his brother’s boots sticking out from behind the couch as his phone began to ring.
Only this time Avery had been in the dream with him. She’d stood behind the couch, her eyes steady on him. It’s only boots. There’s nothing of your brother here.
She’d held the boots up as the phone began to ring. Just before he’d forced himself awake, he’d seen a shadowy figure move behind her, its hands ready to wrap around her throat.
He’d woken up in a cold sweat, shaking.
Why couldn’t he stop thinking about those boots?
“Do you have a good line of sight?” Ian’s voice came over the small radio link Liam had in his ear. It brought him back to the present. To the outside world, it would look like a Bluetooth device, but it only connected to his team.
“I have a clear line of sight.” Alex sounded cool and calm.
“I’m in position,” Adam said.
“Me, too. Just waiting on the word,” Jake replied.
Adam and Jake were on the ground. They would follow Nelson when he left his meeting with Molina.
And then Liam had a few questions for the man. “How long will we have with the bastard before the Agency takes over?”
“Who said they have to know?” Ian replied. “Damon assures me we can hold Nelson for a little while at The Garden. It seems our MI6 friend’s dungeon is also, well, a dungeon.”
“Nice,” Jake said.
“He was the one who called me.” It was the only explanation. “Nelson got me out of that house. Now the question is why. He wanted that mission. He set you up to take it from you.”
“I know.” Ian’s terse reply practically bit across the line, but Liam couldn’t give his boss a lot of room here. He had to know.
After he’d woken from his dream, he’d sat up until dawn thinking about every second of the mission. Talking to Avery about Rory the night before had forced him to face some truths about his brother. Rory had been trouble right from the beginning. He’d been selfish and a little mercenary. A lot mercenary, but he’d seemed to be turning it around. The SAS had redefined him.
Or had it? What secrets had his brother been keeping before he died? According to Ian he’d been in touch with their mother’s old IRA contacts. Why?
“Do you think my brother was working with Nelson?” Liam was deeply aware that everyone on the line could hear him. He’d kept this secret for far too long. These men and Eve had become his family, and he’d spent far too long being the sarcastic snotty brother who didn’t really give anything back. They’d been his friends. They’d protected him. Ian might be a right bastard, but he’d tried his hardest to keep them all together. Had he lied? Maybe, but it had been an omission that Liam just might have made himself under the same circumstances. Liam had made a decision. If he was in, he was in all the way. If he was going to be Avery’s man, then he had to be a better version of himself. He had to find a way to trust his family.
The trouble was it seemed to Liam that his blood family might have plotted to have him killed.
“We can talk about this in private, Li,” Ian commanded.
“Just a yes or a no. I’m going to fill everyone in anyway. This isn’t just my problem anymore. This affects the whole team, and I’m not going to hide it away because I find it embarrassing.” And Ian shouldn’t either. “Nelson had something to do with the mission that killed my brother, and I worry that he’s been playing a long game that we haven’t begun to understand yet.”
“Just shut it down for now.” Ian sighed over the line. “We can talk about this in person, and everyone can be at the table. All right? Can we just take out this fucker first?”
“Right, boss.” He settled back into silence, watching the restaurant, but his head wouldn’t quiet down. Avery was still in trouble, and there was something wrong with Molina. He needed to get a meeting with the bastard, even if it was just to get an in-person assessment of the man. Something was off about the whole thing, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. If Rory had been working with Nelson, what had happened to him? Had Nelson killed him when he was no longer useful?
And he wasn’t sure about Simon Weston either. He’d been forced to turn Avery over to Simon when he’d left her at her office this morning.
How the hell had he gotten into MI6 confidential files? Adam might be able to do it, but Adam had been hacking systems since he was old enough to sit at a computer and type. Nothing in Weston’s background made Liam think he was capable of it. Ian wasn’t thinking. Ian had stopped thinking the minute he’d been forced to think about his wife again. Maybe he’d stopped thinking the minute he’d hit the ground in London.
And maybe that was just what Eli Nelson had planned on.
A cold chill went up Liam’s spine. The restaurant was so open. Why had a rogue CIA agent sat outside on the patio in the bright light of day when London had one of the most active systems of CCTV cameras in the world?
“Alex?” Liam asked.
“Yep.”
“You have a sight line of where Nelson was sitting in the picture we got, right?”
Alex was set up to scope the front of the patio on the Thames side.
“Where’s the nearest camera? The one we caught him on?” The one that had taken the footage that sent them to London in the first place.
Adam’s voice came over the line. “I’m standing under it.”
“Is it hidden?” There might be a chance he couldn’t see it, that Nelson hadn’t known.
“No. It’s in plain view.”
“Motherfucker.” Ian’s curse burned over the line. “He knew. He had to know. He wanted us to see him.”
“Well, he wanted someone to see him. And he’s fifteen minutes late,” Jake added. “He’s moved the meeting. He’s not coming.”
There was another loud curse over the line as Ian proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he knew an awful lot of cuss words. He was inventive. Liam had to give him that. Ian went over a number of items he intended to shove up Nelson’s bum, and Liam rather thought he would do it without the aid of lubrication. Ian also, it seemed, intended to go medieval on Nelson as there was something about entrails and wrapping the man’s intestines around his throat, but only after the aforementioned anal torture.
Liam kept quiet as he packed up his gear. Nelson had drawn them here. Nelson had always known they were here, so why hadn’t Molina tried to take them out? What the fuck kind of game were they playing?
“Meet back at the club. We have to rethink everything.” Ian sounded tired after his rant. A long sigh came over the line. “Liam, move her tomorrow. Get her out of here. But do it quietly. Nelson will be watching us tonight. Everything has to look reasonably normal. Pick Avery up at work, take her back to your place, and then don’t leave until dark. Check in with Adam and Jake at six and they’ll get you armed for the night. You and Avery talk about going to dinner and a show. Molina’s listening so Nelson is listening, too. Don’t say anything that could tip him off. Find the biggest crowd you can and lose yourselves in it. Stay out for the night. I’ll have Eve get you both new IDs, and we’ll move you in the morning. Meet her in Liverpool station, eight a.m. Do you want this girl?”
He wanted her more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life, but he had questions he needed answered. “Ian, I think Nelson killed my brother.”
“You have a decision to make, man. If you decide to stay here, I’ll let Adam move her.”
-->