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  “Why did this have to be my assignment? Why me?”

  “Have you considered you’ve spent the most time with him? You have the best knowledge of how he operates.”

  “There is that. But I was his prisoner twenty-some years ago. Nothing stays constant. Especially not that long.”

  “A leopard doesn’t change his spots, love.” Lucien’s chest rose and fell under my cheek. “Viktor got a taste for taking over the world a long time ago. It’s why Lucifer stopped courting him as a recruit. In hindsight, we probably should have terminated him fully.”

  I snorted. “I wish you had.” I jolted upright. “Wait, was this before or after he’d held me captive?”

  Lucien’s lips angled downward in a sulky pout. “Before.”

  “Then yes, you should have.”

  Lucien had heard the story of my time in Koszlov’s dungeon. He’d kissed the disfiguring scar on my belly. Held me in his arms as I’d shuddered through the retelling, and he’d been there for the subsequent nightmares.

  But he never fully appreciated the psychic punishment I suffered because I’d been unable to save my compatriots. They call it survivor’s remorse, and it was debilitating. It was something I doubted I’d ever fully recover from. And perhaps that made me a better agent. I’d used the lingering anger and successfully put it into play against other evil villains.

  Imagine if Lucifer had ended Koszlov’s life before he’d captured me.

  “I know what you’re thinking, Jayne.”

  “You don’t.”

  “You’re imagining your life if you’d never seen him.”

  Maybe he did know what I was thinking. I held my silence.

  “Tell me what you really want, Jayne.”

  “I want him neutralized. I don’t want anyone else to suffer what I did.” He’d force fed me and my compatriots, then sliced us open to watch what happened inside us as he’d drained us dry. Bleeding a vampire dry caused cascading symptoms, the first of which felt like being dropped on a fire ant mound. And it worsened from there. The recalled pain choked me. “I don’t want anyone else to die at his hands. Especially mortals.”

  “Loyalty is very rare these days.”

  He’d accurately put a name to my dedication to saving any mortal from that insane pain.

  “Lucien,” I whispered, “his torture has made holding on to my own humanity so difficult. I know I should have let it die years ago, but I can’t let it go. I fear losing it entirely and becoming a monster to be feared. Just like Viktor.”

  He said nothing for a spell, patiently combing his fingers through my hair.

  Finally, another deep sigh lifted my head on his pec. “But consider this, my lovely vamp. You wouldn’t be the super agent you are today if the incident hadn’t hardened you. You’ve been tempered by pain and an impossible situation. You survived because you had to. And you haven’t become a monster. Just the opposite. You’ve become a champion of humans. And now you’re in a unique position to help save the mortals you love so well. See…loyalty.”

  I let go his calling my torture an incident because he had a valid point. I was harder and meaner, more calculating, thanks to Viktor.

  “Well, I won’t be thanking him once we catch up to him.” I mentally chastised myself for cowering in my tent back on Rapa Nui. I could have ended this mission if I hadn’t been such a coward.

  Lucien tipped my chin up with one knuckle until I looked him in the eyes. His were as dark as night but filled with warmth and understanding. He touched his lips to mine. “Not a coward. Unselfish. You did the right thing by not revealing yourself on Rapa. Ending him there would have been self-serving, and then we’d have been left with an unknown—his son to deal with.”

  “Stop reading my mind,” I complained, half-heartedly.

  “I’m right.”

  “You’re insufferable.”

  “Yes, but I’m right.” His chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Now get some sleep, Solo. Drax was also right. Even as beautiful as you are, you look done in.”

  The jet’s tires screeched on the tarmac as we landed at Farnborough, the private airstrip outside of London. The noise and impact jolted me from my uneasy nap. Although the time to taxi to the secluded hangar the VIS kept at the small airfield was minimal, it felt like ages passed. I wanted my boots on the ground and in action.

  We had a plot to foil, and nerves crawled under my skin with steady insistence. Time was running out.

  Like good foot soldiers, Penn and Drax had taken up positions at the base of the steps. Penn handed me a heavy satchel while Drax shoved a round bag into Bax’s clutches.

  “Change of clothes for you,” Penn explained. “T wanted you to have suitable gear. There are also some fun toys in there, courtesy of Drax.”

  Brilliant! I loved Drax’s toys. “Thanks.”

  I patted Penn’s arm and trotted toward the hangar, noticing for the first time a stunning brunette with bright cherry-colored lips, wearing a skin-tight, leopard-print catsuit, chatting up Lucien. An unfamiliar wave of emotion crashed over me with the proprietary thought of he’s mine. I cringed at the burning sensation in my chest. My fangs elongated, but I held them in place at my gumline as I beat the unwelcome emotion down.

  Lucien and I were merely friends, albeit with exceptional benefits. But I had no claim on him. And no true knowledge of his life outside our missions.

  Cherry threw her head back at something Lucien whispered into her ear. Mercy, I must be tired if the little green monster was having a laugh at my expense. I guess I’d been wrong about no longer being capable of jealousy.

  Lips seamed together tightly, fangs blazing with the need to rip out Cherry’s throat, I turned a cold shoulder to the pair

  “Jayne!” Lucien called after me.

  Shooting him one of my if-looks-could-kill-you’d-be-toast glares, I stalked into the hangar.

  Seeking privacy in an unused office with a lock on the door, I stripped off the boots, socks, the shorts, and T-shirt I’d been wearing for more than two days. Heaven bless Penn’s thoughtfulness. He’d included a change of underthings in my bag. Not the sexy, lacy sort I was used to, but comfortable, utilitarian cotton. The kind that fit perfectly under skinny, black tactical pants, a long-sleeved water-proof compression shirt, and a jacket with a concealed carry pocket, making access to my Walther easy.

  Most of the weight in the satchel came from an armored vest Penn had included. He’d also thoughtfully tossed in a Ka-Bar knife with a wicked, serrated edge, a shoulder holster, and a sleek black torch with a high intensity adjustable beam.

  I checked the light, flicking the ray over my palm, then into the dark corner of the room. It was plenty bright to illuminate wherever we might be heading.

  The only thing Penn hadn’t included were boots, so I dragged my discarded ass-kickers back on. At least my fangs had stopped burning with the urge to end Cherry’s existence.

  My heavy sigh filled the quiet room as I dragged the bullet-proof vest over my head and fastened the hook and loop straps, cinching it closed. Yeah, it might be overkill to protect the undead from bullets, but a spy could never be too cautious. Silver-tipped bullets could spell doom for a vamp like me.

  With a satisfying snick, I slotted the knife into the sheath belted around my waist and holstered my weapon before donning the jacket. I tugged my hair into a severe ponytail, more utilitarian than fashionable. The last thing I needed were my long tresses obscuring my vision as we attempted to stop Koszlov from deploying his poison. I jerked the tail into three pieces and plaited them together and tucked the end under the cap emblazoned with the VIS logo.

  Satisfied I looked badass enough, I left the office and ran smack into the immovable wall of Lucien’s chest.

  “Are you mad at me?” he asked without preamble.

  I fingered the hilt of the knife strapped to my belt. Lucien’s eyes darted toward the motion then flashed back to my face.

  “Why would I be mad?” I kept my tone light an
d sweet, despite my natural tendency to want to snarl and snap. And quite possibly take his head off.

  “I don’t know, Jayne. It seemed you were dealing with some strong emotion just then. You seemed almost mortal.”

  I widened my eyes, going all innocent on him. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

  “When I was speaking to Jordie.”

  “Who’s Jordie?” I hated myself for the resentment blooming in my gut.

  “The woman I was talking to.”

  “Oh,” I sang out, “your girlfriend.”

  He blew out a breath. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s Lucifer’s concubine.”

  That gave me pause. “Lucifer has a squeeze?”

  “Not exactly. But she’s important to him. He trusts her with things, so she was a natural to send with some pertinent information.”

  I guess I had egg on my face. “What kind of information?”

  “The DIA statisticians have narrowed his potential targets to three locations. Wembley Stadium, the Beckton Desalination Plant, or the Thames Barrier. Since Viktor mentioned the estuary, the odds favor the barrier.”

  I checked the time. “High tide is at half two. Less than three hours away.”

  Lucien nodded grimly. “If I were out to poison the population of a major city, I’d do it from a tidal river. A wave of contaminated water as the tide was rushing in would wreak havoc on the capital. Depending on the chemicals released, the result could be devastating.”

  Baxter joined us, studying the readout on his phone. “Koszlov’s jet arrived an hour ago at Heathrow. He and his cargo cleared customs within thirty minutes.”

  Damn, we were out of time. “And from there, smart money is on him going toward the sea.” I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted. “Penn!”

  “Right here, Solo. No need to bellow.”

  That was Penn, always at the ready.

  “To be safe, we should send extra troops to protect Wembley and Beckton. Direct them to watch for Koszlov and his goons. Check every door and lock on mechanical rooms and sensitive areas.” I swiped through my phone until I found the photo of Viktor that Bax had snapped at the campsite. I texted the image to Penn’s phone. “Make sure they all have this.”

  “Smart thinking on someone’s part to snag a current picture.” Drax joined us and thumped Baxter on the back.

  Bax’s ears turned red.

  “We’ll need to helicopter to the estuary and then take a Zodiac to the Barrier. If he’s heading there, I want us in place first.”

  “There’s a bird standing by.” Penn led the way from the hangar.

  Strides purposeful, I swept past Jordie, pausing long enough to send the woman a nod of thanks for delivering the intel. The helo’s rotors revved up within seconds after I settled into the co-pilot seat. Bax and Lucien crawled into the back and hastily donned their headsets.

  “I know you have a plan, Jayne,” came Baxtard’s sarcastic tone through the earphones. “Care to share?”

  I snorted. “You’re on a need to know basis, Duet. And the second I know what my plan is, I’ll be sure to share.”

  9

  Mission Day 5

  The Thames Barrier

  The rigid hull of the skiff sliced through the water of the Thames without too much slapping. The deep V design of the Zodiac kept the motion of the chop minimal. Midday sun gleamed off the steel roof of the Thames Barrier’s seven domes. Truly, the structure was a testament to modern engineering, deserving of all the awards bestowed on it. When tidal flooding from the North Sea threatened the Capital, all ten of the gigantic hollow gates rotated up, reaching five stories high, to block the waterway. The sun also glinted wickedly on the barrels of the machine guns clutched in the hands of the VIS military police escorting us. Normally I’d be thrilled to be the only female among such a large contingent of men.

  Not today.

  I checked the time on my phone. Time was running out. “Captain, can you go faster?” I hollered.

  Chilly spray buffeted my face, but the icy water wasn’t as cold as the dread gripping my gut. I hated feeling like I was behind. How the fuck did Koszlov beat us to London?

  Our speedy trip down the Thames wasn’t discreet; we were flying across the water at breakneck speed. Like everyone else aboard, I crouched on one neoprene gunwale, steadying myself on one of the handgrips. Bax and Lucien were dressed like the soldiers accompanying us. Dull black Kevlar vests over urban camouflage T-shirts, multi-pocketed tactical trousers, and military grade black lace-up boots. They looked like the badasses they were.

  Mentally, I reviewed what I knew about the manmade miracle dam. The inflatable’s driver steered us to the first pylon on the right, where we could enter the access tunnel that ran under the river from one side of the structure to the other.

  I’d only been in the tunnel one other time, for a training exercise after it opened in the mid-Eighties. I’d been impressed by the glowing pinewood interior of each gate. Overall, the barrier was a structural masterpiece, as stunningly beautiful as it was ingenious in protecting London’s west end from flooding.

  “Jayne, now would be a good time to share your plan,” Lucien shouted over the noise of the outboard.

  His voice had taken on the same impatient quality that Bax had displayed earlier. The tone annoyed me almost as much as not knowing what my damn plan was.

  “Remember me? I work alone for a reason. I’m always going off script. In this case, I don’t have a bloody script to deviate from,” I shouted back, fighting panic. I had to stop Viktor. I couldn’t let him kill the unsuspecting population. “Once we are in the access tunnel, I’ll have a better idea of what to do.”

  Bax rolled his eyes. “Not helpful, Jayne.”

  “Don’t roll your damn eyes at me again, probie. It’s the best I have at the moment.” I shifted my gaze toward the rapidly approaching pylons.

  Silence settled uneasily on the three of us. The driver cut the engine, and we bumped against the concrete pier. One soldier steadied the watercraft as the rest of us debarked. Preparations to stop Koszlov had begun; the massive steel gates had been activated and were slicing through the water to stop the tide from rolling in. In emergencies, those twenty-meter monstrosities rolled up from the river’s bed to hold back a potential storm surge. God knows, today we didn’t want the tidal waters washing into any segment of the river. Without the unrelenting force of the tide behind it, we had a prayer of containing any discharge of chemicals. Up river, members of the Port of London Security Force worked to deploy large yellow booms, the kind meant to contain oil slicks. The rigid hulled inflatables skimmed from one shore to the other.

  There was a contingent of Barrier workers waiting near the entry. They’d serve as guides to the facility to help us pinpoint anything that looked out of the ordinary.

  Every pair of eyes looked toward me. Talk about putting a girl on the spot. I forced my shoulders to relax into a more normal position.

  “Captain,” I said to the man in charge of our military escort. “Take your men and fan out through the access tunnel. Each man should work in tandem with a guide. Each guide is under your protection.” They were brave to offer to help, given we didn’t know what Koszlov had manufactured, other than it likely contained cyanide. “I want a guard every four meters. Keep your line of sight clear and report any problems immediately. We’re looking for anything suspicious. Stay alert and stay safe. Koszlov and his men are likely still here. You all have pictures of the man. Let’s find him.” I paused. “Lethal force is sanctioned.”

  Killing Koszlov wasn’t really my call, but I felt confident in my assumption T would approve shooting the bastard on sight.

  As the troops began to leave, Lucien came forward, a short man bearing an electronic tablet trailing closely behind. I’d never seen him before.

  Lucien introduced him. “Jayne, this is the engineer, Jamie.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Bond.” Jamie thrust out his grease-stained hand.r />
  Pushing aside my aversion to germs, I clasped his palm in mine. “Same. Do you have plans for us?”

  “Right here.” He swiped his finger across the screen, leaving a black smudge, which he wiped off with the cuff of his fluorescent green coat. He pointed to the largest central pier. “If I was a terrorist, I’d plan my point of attack here. We’ll need to use the access tunnel to get there.” He indicated a segment on the floor plan he’d brought up.

  I traced the outline with a steely gaze and found I agreed with him. Each pylon had underflow grates that allowed a natural amount of water out during high tide. While the gates were engaged, the pressure behind them was massive. Some of that force had to be alleviated, hence the grating system.

  Unfortunately, the conduit was also a perfect location to discharge poison into the river should the barrier be engaged when Koszlov arrived.

  “It makes sense.” I gestured to Lucien and Bax, finally comfortable with a plan to stop the maniac. “The three of us will start a search near the pistons that operate the hydraulic system. Keep your eyes open. I want that chemical found.”

  I led the way into the cavernous dome. Our boots stomped as we crossed the concrete floor, echoing in the dank, stagnant air. Smells from the river tainted everything.

  The power of the water around us flowed through my system, the elemental energy recharging me the way a steak dinner might do for a human. I spared a guilty thought for Bax. As a mortal, the past two days had to have been hell on him. I couldn’t remember seeing him eat, but he must have. I glanced over my shoulder and sent him an encouraging smile.

  Judging by the look of shock on his face, I’d taken him by surprise.

  Whatever. I located the door leading to the mechanical room then slipped my Walther free of the holster. I tested the link on the comm system strapped around my neck. “Check in.”

  One right after the other, responses came from the troops in the tunnel. Every soldier was in place. Lucien adjusted his earpiece and gave me a thumbs up.