by Tara Brown
“Are you looking for Jack?” I asked. “Since he and Luce made up, he hasn't been spending as much time in here,” I joked but she didn't laugh. Her pale complexion was fairer than normal and her eyes were almost watery.
“No, I’m looking for you.” Her words were shaky. “I just wanted to ask if you and Coop are lov—”
“Just friends,” I lied.
“You sure? He’s sort of obsessed, I think.”
“He’s obsessed with us all. Jack, Luce, me, my kids, all of us. His role as the guy in charge sort of makes him feel responsible for everyone.” I was getting better and better at lying.
“No, Evie.” She closed the door and leaned against it. “You are something to him. And I knew it from the moment he began speaking about his team. If there’s something going on, I don't want to end up with my heart broken.”
“Well then, you are in the wrong line of work.” I sat back, pressing my lips together for a moment. I really didn't want to have this conversation.
“Are you in love with him?”
“In some way, we’re all in love with each other. There is plutonic love and admiration and familial love.”
“You’re avoiding the question.” She lost the sweet and melodic tone to her voice.
“Can we step to the side for a second? Before I answer anything, I have to ask you a randomly weird question. Do you want kids and marriage and a cute house in the burbs?” I asked.
“What?”
“Answer that and I will answer anything you want to know.”
“No. I don't want kids. I’ve never wanted them. My sister and brother are older and both have three each. So I can love them as much as I need and give them back.”
“And marriage?”
“I don't know. I never gave it much thought. We work in a business that changes. Needs change. I could be working in England this month and Singapore next. I’ve never had it as an option for myself. I like my job. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. And now I’d like to advance in my position, learn to be a spy perhaps.” She blushed and glanced down. “I guess that sort of sounds selfish.”
“No.” I folded my arms. “It sounds smart. And to answer your question, Coop was there to protect me when I was vulnerable and scared. He feels responsible for me. And I feel safe with him. People can mistake that as something else. Especially when it’s a man being made to feel needed by a woman.”
“So you aren’t in love with him?”
The answer was that I would always be in love with him, but for her I lied, “No. I am not in love with anyone. Playing the field rather poorly at the moment. It’s all the extra makeup covering up the bruises that’s scaring them off.”
“Okay.” She smiled sweetly again. “Thanks.” She opened the door and left me there with my lie.
It was an icky feeling for a couple of seconds before Luce strolled in eating some pepperoni. “What was that all about?” She peered down the hall in the direction Simone had gone.
“She wanted to know if I’m in love with Coop,” I confessed.
“Oh God. She figured that out fast. She’s been here for like five hours.”
“I don't know, I guess.”
“What did you say?” she asked.
“That I am not in love with him. That I am not in love with anyone. I’m all about the job and not the dudes,” I joked.
“And she bought that?” She glimpsed down the hall again, taking another bite.
“I don't think so.”
“Smart girl.” She closed the door and came to sit next to me in the big chair, smiling when she saw Servario on the screen. “You’re stalking him now?”
“I’m trying to convince myself that he’s bad for me and this is over.” As I said it, he rounded a corner on the city street and the camera was closer, getting a good shot of him.
“Your love life is so fascinating.”
“Yeah, it’s something all right.” I couldn't exactly disagree. It was a hot mess.
“He looks good.” She handed me one of the pieces of pepperoni.
“He always does.” I took a bite of the spicy meat and contemplated the man in front of us. He was wearing sunglasses, a fitted pale blue dress shirt, and some bespoke beige dress pants. He completed the outfit with burnt-orange alligator shoes and no doubt his stunning Patek Philippe watch. It was my favorite. He was clean-shaven and his dark hair was styled just so. His shoulders and arms made the shirt appear just slightly stretched, and when the camera angle switched, Luce and I both paused chewing for half a second, seeing the way his pants hugged his perfect ass.
“Damn.”
“Yup,” I agreed.
“You are never going to get over him. He is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my life.” She turned my way. “I don't think I could’ve ever fucked him. He would ruin all other men for me.”
“Yup,” I repeated.
“How does Coop even compete?” she asked honestly.
“Seriously?” I cocked an eyebrow at her and took another bite of pepperoni. “Have you seen Coop in a pair of jeans with no shirt on?”
“True dat. You need to convince them to ménage that. Imagine a Coop and Servario sandwich? Rubbing up against them both, maybe covered in oil—”
“Is this really what you two do in your spare time?” Coop asked from the suddenly open door, making me choke on the meat as Luce stopped doing the weird thrusting motion she added to the story. "Eat meat and make lewd comments about your coworkers?"
“Make some noise, Coop. Jesus!” Luce shouted as she patted me on the back.
“I’m the one in trouble because you two are ogling the arms dealer and discussing me in jeans?” He left out the ménage suggestion.
I managed to get the pepperoni up, spitting it into the wastebasket.
“Anyway, what do you want?” Luce asked rudely.
“We’re leaving soon. I wanted to brief everyone again.” His eyes drifted in my direction.
“Fine,” Luce agreed for us both, folding her arms and staring him down.
“Fine.” He shoved off the doorway and left.
“Oh my God,” I croaked. “Did that really just happen?”
“I’m going to pretend it didn't. I suspect he is too.” She chuckled and stretched, making her way out of the office with me on her heels.
We passed the rec room where Jules and Mitch played a video game together and by the grin on her face, she was winning. Coop had obviously stopped in to see them on his way and was behind Mitch, laughing and patting him on the arm. “She’s got you.”
“Whatever, she cheats,” Mitch grumbled.
“I am not!” Jules shouted and moved her arms like I did playing games, as if moving my whole body would somehow make the man I was controlling work better.
I paused in the doorway and watched the scene.
“Jules, let him win once.” Coop’s eyes lifted, seeing me watching them. He slapped Mitch lightly on the arm once more and made his way to me. It took every ounce of self-control not to kiss him right there.
His lips toyed with a grin as he stood over me, staring down. “Why are you giving me that look, Evie?”
“What look, Coop?” My cheeks flushed but I couldn't tear my eyes from his.
“Come on.” He grabbed my arm gently and turned me in the doorway, steering me to the dining room where the meeting was about to be held. I pulled free of his grip, though the action hurt my ribs, but I was worried that Simone would see him touching me only fifteen minutes after she asked about us.
Mom, Luce, Fitz, Jack, and Simone were there already, standing over a massive white sheet of paper.
“This is the blueprint of the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. We’ll be hosting our gala at the casino next door. Guests have been encouraged to stay here, thanks to the web page I made for the event. We booked a block of rooms opposite the side of the hotel as far from where the explosion will be as we could get.” Jack pointed at the map with Simone and Luce peering over his shoulder.
“Have you been in the old casino?” Fitz asked us all.
“I have,” Jack answered but the rest of us shook our heads.
“This is a crime against humanity to blow it up. Just so you know. A crime.”
“Oh, Fitz. It’s due for an overhaul anyway. They haven’t properly renovated in years,” Mom shushed him.
Simone’s eyes flitted to Coop and me, but I avoided her stare, certain my face was still flushed.
“Anyway, you’ll all be staying in the hotel. Except of course you, Simone. You’ll be here in the office with me.” Fitz nodded at her.
“And the rest of us will be on the ground in Monte Carlo. Luce, you’ll be accompanying me as my date. I will be going as myself but you’ll need a new identity.”
“To meet your family? Your real family?” Her brow knit as she glared at Jack. “For the first time?”
“Well, I didn't want you to blow our cover—”
“We can use my old identity. My real one.” She tilted her head, speaking to him like he was a five-year-old she wasn't fond of. “Unless of course you don't think I’ll be in the picture long enough to require a real identity.”
“That's not what I’m saying.” Jack was red-faced.
“Pretty sure you two can hash this out later,” Coop said impatiently. “The important thing is we all know our role. Evie, you’ll be an English duchess staying on the top floor here.” He tapped one corner of the paper. “Penthouse of the hotel. It’s massive but also has the best bird’s-eye view of everything. Helena, you will be Jack’s aunt. You’re staying in the suite on the opposite side of the hotel, giving us the other viewpoint. Here.” He touched the opposite side. “I’ll be staying with one of you two as a bodyguard. Jack, when you aren’t with your family, or parading as Jack Hollander, you’ll be holed up in Helena’s suites. Your equipment will be there. Luce, you will stay with Evie. You will have to multitask his family and the bomb. You and I will be the ones getting the explosives inside. Servario won’t make contact with us unless something’s going wrong, so everything has to go according to plan. It’s possible Servario will be watched because of the Saransk thing. So his plan is to be as detached from us as possible.” Coop’s eyes darted to me and then Simone. “And, Simone, you will be here as our main tech, detonating the bombs and ensuring everything is running smoothly. Fitz you have the kids,” Coop’s tone lowered, “and you are the emergency backup plan for escape.”
“What are we telling CI?” Jack scowled. “How are we getting all this out of them without an explanation?”
“I told the commander we have the Burrow, and it will be delivered once the Organization is taken care of,” Coop said with a grin.
“That’s a filthy lie.” Jack scoffed.
“It is. But once the Organization is gone, we will all assume the Burrow blew as a safeguard against the attack on the Organization. CI and the CIA will be disappointed but there was nothing we could do about it.”
“And what about the Burrow?” I wasn't exactly sitting well with the deaths of innocents. “All those innocent people?”
“I’ve taken care of that, Evie.” Jack winked at me. It was cocky and unsettling, but I assumed he meant it. He wasn't completely heartless.
“Anyway, the explosion at the casino will go off at ten at night, ensuring any children who have been brought to the party—even though it specifically says, ‘no kids welcome’—will be in bed,” Coop continued. “Servario will take care of the security, making sure the terrace of the old casino is empty and no innocents are near the explosion area.”
“And Jack’s father has already been assigned the duty of a dance at that moment. He and your mother have been asked to dance to a song composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins called And the Waltz Goes On. It’s stunning and will draw a crowd away from the explosion. Your mother’s gown is being prepared especially for this dance to wow everyone.”
“Anthony Hopkins? Like Hannibal?” I wrinkled my nose at my mother.
“He’s a brilliant composer,” my mother defended him. “Anyway, clothing that’s already been bugged will be delivered to the hotel for everyone. You will all wear an eye cam and an earpiece when you can. We can’t have a single thing go wrong. Everyone needs to be on their best behavior.” Her eyes slid my way.
“What?”
“She means no side missions or going rogue.” Coop folded his thick arms, flexing them in his tee shirt.
“Whatever. What are our weapon options?”
“You will have minimal weapons. Everyone will be checked through security going into the ball. And security will be tight. The President of France coming is a huge deal. This is a no-kill mission. So you shouldn't need to slaughter anyone.” Again, Mom eyed me up.
“Best laid plans,” I muttered and gave Fitz a look.
“As far as the mission going wrong”—Fitz eyed Luce—“my money is not on Evie this time. I’m betting on Luce. Meeting Jack’s family at this event is a mistake.” He sighed, offering an apologetic shrug. “You two have bad juju with this already. And, Jack, your family makes you uncomfortable. Maybe we should hold off on this part. Your family needs to be your problem alone. Luce, you should save the first-date nonsense for another time.”
“I agree,” Coop added.
“Me too,” Mom agreed.
I bit my lip as Luce’s eyes darted to me for support.
Jack’s face flushed as he lowered his gaze.
Luce swallowed everything she was about to say but it burned; evident in her crimson cheeks and slightly flaring nostrils.
“Luce—”
“It’s fine.” She pressed her lips together. It was abundantly clear it wasn't fine. “Mission always comes first.”
“Good, glad we agree,” Coop said foolishly. “I guess that’s it then. First night in Monaco, after dinner, we will use Helena’s room for our group meet up to ensure everyone and everything has arrived safely.”
Jack gulped and I stepped back, hoping to slink for the room and spend the last few hours here with my kids, playing video games and avoiding the Jack and Luce drama.
I had enough of my own.
18
Unhappy ending
“What did you pack?” Luce asked absently as we rode the train to Heathrow, just the two of us.
“I brought the bare essentials. Comfy underwear, deodorant, hairpins, and makeup. Mom said all our clothes would be waiting for us. I’m sure this means mine will be in the suite already unpacked like I’m some sort of queen.”
“Which means Servario has probably stocked your closet and turned you into his personal Barbie doll again.” She wrinkled her nose. “Lucky.”
“Right. I have to admit his taste in clothing is amazing. Unless of course you’re playing a whore. Then it’s dodgy. What did you bring?” I was almost afraid to ask but it would’ve been weird if I didn't.
“Not much. I’m guessing my servant clothing will be there for me. But I’m stealing one of your dresses for the ball. I’m not going as a servant.”
“I’m sorry the mission is ruining your chance to meet his family.” I offered a sympathetic smile. I genuinely hated that we had interfered with her plans.
“It was a stupid idea. Doesn't matter.” She brushed it off but there was no masking the disappointment. “Besides, missions ruin everything.”
“True story,” I lamented. “Changing the subject though, what do you think of Simone now that we’ve spent a couple of days together?”
“I like her but she’s not really my cup of tea. Too sweet maybe. She didn't laugh at any jokes I made, and she acts nervous around Jack. Like who’s scared of Jack? And she’s clearly strung out on Coop, and he’s still head over heels in love with you and your kids. Bringing her to the house was an awkward mistake.” She winced. “I actually feel bad for her.”
“I don't think—”
“Stop, Evie. I’m way too annoyed with Jack to deal with your ‘Coop doesn't love me’ act today. We both know he do
es. He’s not over it. At all. And neither are you. Which means it’s Servario’s turn to sit on the sidelines with his broken heart.” She groaned and covered her face. “Oh, that came out way too bitchy. I’m sorry.”
“No, it was the right amount of bitchy,” I tried not to sound upset but her words made my stomach hurt. I wished they weren’t true.
She lowered her hands and met my stare. “Dude, for reals. You need to do the four seasons thing.”
“What?”
“Four seasons of single. I told you about this before. It’s a thing. Totally from one girl to another, you need it. Four seasons where you just date yourself and get to know who you are again and spend some Zen time alone. Then you choose who you want to be with. If they really loved you, four seasons is nothing. And you can start fresh. Or you can not date any of them. Stay single. Find random dudes to hook up with. Whatever floats your boat.”
The idea of not choosing Coop or Servario was scary. I couldn't imagine my life without them. Coop was my safety while Servario was every fantasy I ever imagined coming to life.
“This isn’t me offering you advice. This is me telling you what you need. From an outsider’s perspective, this is essential. You’re lost. You don't know what you want, which means you shouldn't pick anything. It’s not fair.”
“You’re right,” I admitted. “I don't know what I want. I shouldn't pick either of them if I want them both.”
“Unless of course you can finagle that ménage situation we talked about earlier.” She winked and was suddenly back to joking Luce.
“That would be heavenly on paper. But listening to them both nag and order me about, insisting they’re both right and know more than I do, would make me insane. Can we make them obedient?”
“No!” She waved her arms animatedly. “The best part of S is the scary stuff. I love how on edge he makes me.” She fanned herself.
We kept it funny the rest of the way. She joked about how she was going to pretend to meet Jack for the first time at the ball and flirt with him, while I pretended I was fine with the impending doom facing the scientists Jack swore he was taking care of.