Silver Fire (Guardians)

by Victoria Paige

  “Yes. Since we’ve reached out to your research lab last year.” Derek grinned crookedly. She did not need to know about the numerous background checks he had done on her that went beyond what was professionally required. There had been enough stalkers in her life. “You’ve got this prim librarian look going for you, and I felt like a fucking perv fantasizing about you the few times you bothered to show up at our meetings.”

  Sophie blushed. “I wasn’t aware—”

  “You never were,” Derek said ruefully. “You were always in your own world except that last time when we signed the contract. What changed?”

  “Beth was giving me grief about my non-existent sex life and suggested I take you on.”

  Derek chuckled. “Guess I have Ms. Turner to thank for that.”

  He grasped both her hands and kissed the back of her fingers. “Now that we’ve unleashed the sex kitten in you, maybe your heart would follow?”

  Sophie responded with a weak smile.

  “I guess this is my penance for a life of debauchery,” Derek said wearily. It was getting oppressively hot.

  “That’s a first step to redemption.”

  “I’ll show you redemption later, minx,” Derek promised as he tackled her down on the picnic blanket again and kissed her thoroughly, ignoring the disapproving stares thrown their way.

  ***

  “I’m surprised Lockwood let you out of his sight,” Beth said as she bit into her hotdog and just about rolled her eyes with the pleasure of the first bite. “Damn. I missed Captain Slappy’s dogs,” she mumbled with a full mouth.

  Captain Slappy’s was a hotdog kiosk in front of the DC Tattler building. Sophie met her friend for lunch, and they sat at a park bench enjoying this fast food indulgence.

  “It’s been two weeks. I think he’s decided that I’m not going to break my nail if he’s not by my side for an hour or two,” Sophie deadpanned.

  Beth chuckled. “Getting on your nerves, huh?’

  “Not really. I like spending time with him,” Sophie replied.

  “All’s going well then?”

  “He told me he loves me.”

  Silence for a beat and then: “What? When?”

  “A week ago.”

  “And you’re only telling me this now?”

  “It was kind of private—”

  “And I’m your best friend,” Beth shot back. “So did you say it back?”

  “No.”

  “Uh, why?”

  “Because I’m not sure I love him.”

  “Hmm, let me see,” Beth tapped her chin in mock contemplation. “You get goo-goo eyes whenever he’s in the room—”

  “I do not!”

  “—your eyes sparkle whenever you talk about him. You have this stupid grin on your face whenever your phone rings and Caller-ID says ‘Derek’, and you refuse to talk about sex with him but instead you just turn this ugly shade of magenta.” Beth paused before saying sagely, “Baby girl, you are gone for him.”

  “So yes, maybe I’m a little bit in love with him,” Sophie said.

  “A little?”

  Though the incident with Layla wasn’t Derek’s fault, it had made her wary of examining her burgeoning feelings for him and had somehow rebuilt some of her walls. Or she could simply be in denial.

  “It could be infatuation,” Sophie defended. “With Adam—”

  “Adam does not factor in here, Sophie!” Beth said angrily. “What you felt for that man was not real, you were manipulated, brainwashed even. Do not even mention what you feel for Derek and that man in the same breath. It’s an insult.”

  “Beth—”

  “I’m serious, Sophie, do not fuck this up,” Beth said. “Derek’s been doing everything right by you. The man is stupid in love with you, and I’ve known Derek’s reputation for years.”

  “You know almost every time we go out we run into one of his exes.”

  “Unavoidable.”

  “You’re supposed to be feeling sympathetic toward me!”

  “Girl, you get with a man like Lockwood, that’s unavoidable. Told you if I were straight, I’d do him.”

  “Oh god, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”

  “You sorted out?”

  “No!”

  Beth sighed. “Take your time, Sophie. You’re right. I’m just so excited for you and that you’re finally moving on from that man.”

  “Well, if you would have let me finished, I could have told you I’m finally accepting that what I felt for Adam was an infatuation gone bad.”

  “Thank Christ!” Beth exclaimed. “And you didn’t need a shrink to get you to see that. Just Derek fucking Lockwood or should I say fucking Derek Lockwood.”

  Sophie shook her head in amusement. Things had certainly gotten better between Beth and her. It was nice being on leave for a few weeks. There was construction in the lab to outfit the area to process the zefinium for MDI, using a chunk of the money from the partnership. The design of her house had been finalized and construction would start in a week. Through this all, Stephen was managing everything flawlessly.

  A dark-colored sedan with tinted windows parked right in front of them. Sophie felt herself tensing and Beth froze beside her, gripping her arm. Things were certainly better, but both of them were still jumpy.

  “You can’t park there!” Beth called out to the driver.

  The back passenger window slid down to reveal the gorgeous face of Marissa Cole.

  “Who the fuck is that?” Beth whispered breathlessly.

  “CIA,” Sophie mumbled through the side of her mouth.

  “Hi, Sophie.”

  “Ms. Cole.”

  “Call me Marissa, please. Sophie, I need to speak with you privately.”

  Sophie felt ridiculous speaking across the sidewalk and got up and walked toward the car, ignoring Beth’s attempt to stop her.

  “What do you want?”

  “Same thing you want, Sophie, but we need your help.”

  Marissa scooted over, indicating that she was not having a conversation in front of Beth or in public.

  Sophie looked back at Beth. “Do not tell Derek who I left with. I will tell him myself.”

  “What do I tell him if he comes looking for you?”

  “Make something up.”

  With that, Sophie opened the car door and got in beside Marissa. The black sedan pulled back into traffic.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Eight Guardians plus Viktor, Derek and Tim were assembled in the “war room.” After weeks of reconnaissance by the CIA, and chatter being intercepted by the NSA and AGS, there was significant intel that Project “Clean Sweep” was in the process of being unleashed by SASTac.

  Though not unusual, there was a spike of activity at the SASTac compound housing the company’s main armory. Another section served as transient housing for contract security personnel.

  “They’ve increased patrols around the area indicating that they are in possession of something of high-value,” Viktor told the group. He nodded to Tim to change the screen. “The walls are only twenty feet high and easily scalable for the initial assault. There’s a secluded area near the northwestern part of the compound where we can make our initial breach.”

  “Do we have the location of our target?” Manning asked.

  “The warehouse has a secure room. It’s our belief that the zee bombs are being kept in that location.”

  “How are we going to get into the room?” Derek asked. “We can hardly use explosives; we might set it off.”

  “You will be accompanied by a couple of civilian specialists who have expertise in handling this type of situation.”

  “Rustled up a cat burglar, Viktor?” Edmunds spoke up.

  “We also need to get Dr. Leroux involved to transfer what she knows about the trigger,” Derek added. “Just in case Stoltz is desperate enough to set it off to take everyone down with him.”

  “That would be a disaster. Isn’t the compound
just outside Johannesburg?”

  “Yes. If any of the zee bombs go off, we’re estimating outer radius casualties of about twenty thousand,” Tim said.

  A round of muttered expletives filled the room.

  “Aren’t we risking too much by going in there?” Edmunds asked.

  “That’s been debated ad nauseum,” Viktor replied. “It’s riskier to leave the zee bombs at the hands of a sociopath not knowing where he plans to detonate them.”

  “Why were they even created in the first place?” a Guardian scoffed.

  Derek bristled and was ready to bite the guy’s head off when Viktor spoke up.

  “Why were nuclear bombs created?” Viktor shrugged. “It’s not the science or the bomb that kills people, it’s the people who give the orders to use them. It may be to protect a nation or it may be for greed. In this case it’s greed.”

  “Where’s Pierce?” Edmunds asked, noticing the absence of the red-haired Guardian.

  A ghost of a smile broke through the planes of Viktor’s harsh face. “Agent Pierce is sitting this one out. I think marital harmony is more important to her right now.”

  Derek chuckled while the other Guardians snickered. Most of them had worked with Maia and were well aware of her tumultuous relationship with Jack. Contrary to what Viktor led them to believe, Derek had talked to Maia earlier; his friend had come to the decision on her own without interference from Jack. Personally, Derek was relieved that Maia was not on this mission. He had never seen such contentment and happiness on his friends’ faces, and he was not surprised that Maia would give up the thrill of a job. Jack, for his part, seemed to be filling that void in her life with satisfaction. Although, based on recent events, Maia had probably met her quota of near-death experiences for the year.

  He, on the other hand, had everything to lose if this assignment failed: Sophie.

  “CIA will be bringing in their explosive ordnance disposal expert,” Viktor said, checking the time on the phone. “Their team should be here any minute. From what Cole told me, majority of them are Black Ops, so you guys may have worked with them before.”

  As if on cue, a rap on the door and its subsequent opening heralded the arrival of the CIA contingent from their Clandestine Department’s Special Activities Division (SAD). Derek recognized Daniel Quint who had been a grunt in Special Ops when he was still in the Army. Now, Quint was squadron leader for a top covert operations unit. Seven men filed through, Marissa Cole brought up the rear and she was in deep conversation with—

  What.

  The.

  Fuck?

  Sophie. What the hell was Sophie doing here?

  Derek rose from his chair slowly, his eyes boring through Sophie who couldn’t hold his glare. Unable to look at him, she smiled feebly and quickly dropped her gaze.

  Viktor and Derek spoke at the same time.

  “What’s the meaning of this, Marissa?”

  “Sophie, what the fuck are you doing here?”

  Derek stalked over to confront her, but Quint blocked him.

  “Stand down, Lockwood.”

  “Fuck you, Quint,” Derek snapped as he shoved the other man away, vaguely aware of a fierce exchange of words between Cole and Viktor. Quint shoved back and before either one was able to throw a punch, men from both sides were quick to pull the two apart.

  “Derek, stop it!” Sophie said loudly.

  “Sophie, get your ass over here!” Derek growled, frustrated at the sea of bodies that separated him from his woman.

  Sophie cast him a defiant look but made her way past the CIA team. Quint stretched his arm to stop her, saying, “Don’t let him intimidate you.”

  Derek hadn’t had the urge to decapitate someone before, but Quint would well be on the top of his list today.

  “Don’t be silly, he won’t change my mind,” Sophie replied.

  Change her mind? Change her mind about what?

  When she was within reach, Derek caught her hand and yanked her to his side. The temptation to blister her ass was as strong as the temptation to kiss her senseless.

  “Were you talking to the CIA behind my back?” Derek hissed into her ear.

  Sophie’s mouth was set mulishly; apparently he wasn’t going to get answers right now. He grabbed his files and moved to the empty chairs further away on the conference table.

  “Okay, will everyone settle down!” Marissa said loudly, obviously giving up arguing with Viktor and preferring to lay out her plan.

  “You do not give orders in my briefing room, Marissa,” Viktor said angrily.

  Marissa exhaled deeply. “May I address the room, Mr. Baran?”

  Viktor narrowed his eyes at the brunette, as if gauging the sincerity of her request. Marissa had an eyebrow quirked up. Viktor gave a slight nod and leaned back against the wall. The rest of the CIA team took their seats. Derek was pissed, but at the moment, he didn’t know where to direct his rage. He forced himself to listen to the CIA team lead.

  “Normally our explosive ordnance expert, Lt. Chen would take the lead on this,” Marissa nodded to a lean Asian commando, who sported a burn scar over the left side of his face. “However, given the intricacy of the trigger design, we felt best to have Dr. Leroux as an adviser.”

  “That was the plan all along, Marissa,” Viktor grit through clenched teeth, dropping all formalities and addressing her by her first name. “We were going to ask Dr. Leroux to come in when we’ve assembled the team for tacticals, and she could instruct your bomb expert what to look for, and how to disarm the zee bomb.”

  “That plan is not good enough,” Marissa said, and Derek felt the anxiety in his gut twist further. He looked at Sophie, who was staring straight ahead while wringing her hands nervously. He was about to grab them to reassure her when Marissa’s next words stopped him cold.

  “She will be accompanying the team to South Africa,” Marissa stated with finality.

  Derek shot up from his chair. “The fuck she will! Are you out of your ever-loving mind?”

  “Lockwood! Sit. Down,” Viktor barked.

  “This is fucking insane, Viktor,” Derek continued furiously. “Over my dead body. I will not allow this.”

  “I think that’s for Dr. Leroux to decide,” Marissa replied calmly. “She has agreed.”

  “You’re insane,” Derek repeated as he glowered furiously at Sophie. “Come on. I’m taking you home.”

  “No,” Sophie said defiantly. “It’s my decision, Derek.”

  Fuck. Derek knew that tone. His jaw clenched tightly as he and Sophie had a stare down.

  “Sit down, Lockwood.” Viktor sighed. “Might as well listen to this wild-haired idea. Continue, Ms. Cole.”

  Under the table, Derek sought out Sophie’s hand and squeezed it tight. But it was more to reassure him than it was for her.

  ***

  After the joint AGS-CIA briefing, they barely said a word to each other, but the turmoil of rage and anxiety rolled off Derek with so much energy, Sophie felt like she was suffocating. They were both quiet on the ride home. Derek was deep in thought and only the rapid ticking of the muscle in his jaw revealed just how upset he was.

  Viktor was furious with the way Marissa Cole went around him to secure her cooperation for the mission. Sophie was scared, she could hardly shoot a gun, but how could she say no when the whole mess originated with her?

  She watched Derek throw his car keys on the kitchen counter and make his way to the liquor cabinet to pour himself some whiskey. He threw it back, and stilled as if enjoying the burn of the liquor down his throat.

  “When did she approach you?” he asked finally.

  “When I was with Beth at lunch,” Sophie replied. “We were sitting outside on the bench. She pulled up in a car and asked to speak with me.”

  “And you just got in with her?” Derek asked roughly. “What if they took you away, no questions. You do not just trust the CIA, Sophie.”

  “They’re the CIA, Derek. You think if they really wanted to
lock me down, they can’t get to me?”

  “Not if I can help it,” Derek told her. “You forget, MDI has a lot of influence in DC, not only with politicians but with the different senate committees on Intelligence and the Armed Services. You need to trust me to keep you safe.”

  “And I do—”

  “Then what the hell are you doing accepting to go on this fucking mission!” Derek roared. He slammed his glass on the table and gripped her arms, shaking her. “You are going to distract me. I need to stay focused when I am on this job. Not worry about you!”

  Sophie could feel her own temper flare. Of course she had thought about that. She was going to suggest an alternative, but she knew Derek would go ballistic with it too.

  “Let’s face it Derek. Between you and me, I’m the more important asset here,” Sophie said coldly before delivering the coup de grace. “Maybe you should stay.”

  She watched Derek’s face pale. His hands dropped from her shoulders, clenching at his sides before he backed away, his face shuttering.

  Giving her one last expressionless look, he turned, grabbed his keys and walked to the door.

  “Where are you going?” Sophie asked, surprised when he did not argue.

  “I need to clear my head,” he said shortly. “Don’t wait up for me.”

  He slammed out of the condo, leaving Sophie bewildered. How dare he just leave in what could be their most important discussion to date?

  When Marissa Cole asked her to join their team, she thought she was joking. But after the brunette explained what was at stake, Sophie felt she had no choice. Everything required to ensure the mission’s success had to be done. Sixteen commandos including Marissa needed the highest chance of disarming the zee bombs, and their highest chance was Sophie.

  “Viktor would agree with me if he weren’t so biased,” Marissa had told her in the car.

  “He doesn’t know you’ve come to me directly?”

  “No. He would alert Lockwood, and Lockwood would do everything to keep you from us. Viktor has no loyalties to the CIA, but those who had worked with him in the AGS—he keeps his loyalties and Lockwood has always been one of his best and trusted agents. Viktor would spit at the CIA before he betrays his friend.”