Page 40 of One Last Stand
She tried to meet it, but he looked away, out the window, to the darkness.
Where, for such a long time, he’d lived.
Maybe now wasn’t any better.
“When Pike died,” London continued, “I was in the middle of my mission. My orders were to secure the funds from the Bratva, then hand over their bio card to the CIA. Between Pike’s death and my handover, a rogue faction of the CIA got wind of our operation. I already told you all that a rogue agent killed my contact and how I escaped. What you don’t know is that my coming here was all planned. Maybe by the Swans, maybe another group, I don’t know, but it’s no coincidence.”
No, it wasn’t. This part of the story, at least, Shep knew. Because he’d been the one to orchestrate it.
The rest, however . . . His jaw tightened as she continued.
“When I got here, Ziggy, my handler, reached out and told me how to secure the bio card in Pike’s vault.”
“Under my house?” Moose said. “Seriously?”
“Well, yes.”
Moose just shook his head. “I always thought the guy was just super paranoid.”
“Who tried to kill you?” Shep asked. Enough about the stupid past, and maybe the last thing he wanted was for the team to know that he’d actually been keeping watch over her since she’d arrived.
Great job at that, Shep.
“A hired assassin from Europe. I don’t know why or who sent her. Ziggy’s been trying to figure that out ever since she found out and intercepted her.” She met his eyes now, and this time he didn’t look away. “The assassin was waiting for me that night I got home from your place. I don’t know if she was going to kill me—maybe—or just maybe take my eye and my fingers for identification?—”
He didn’t flinch at that—at least, not on the outside.
“But Ziggy showed up and killed her. And then . . . tried to make it seem like she was me. The plan was to slow down another attempt while she figured out who was behind the hit. I was supposed to leave with her but . . .” She blinked, her lips tight. “I was worried.”
He refused to release his grip on the hot ball inside, even as she reached up and wiped a hand across her cheek. “I know you all were grieving. But I thought it was safer if you didn’t know?—”
“Safer for who? You?” Shep ground out.
Moose gave him a look.
He met it. “Just to clarify, I was kidnapped, so just wondering if maybe I was misunderstanding exactly who she meant.”
Her mouth tightened. “Yes, me. And you. Because I fearedexactlythis happening.” She looked at Tomas. “Although I can admit, the last person I expected to show up was you.”
“Never stop looking over your shoulder, love.”
Her eyes narrowed.
Shep set down his mug.
Moose shot him another look. Shep ignored him. He wasn’t a violent man, but sitting here with Tomas . . . there was only so much they could expect from him.
Now he looked at London. “Who did you think is hunting you?”
“Drago Petrov, maybe? But I’m not sure he knows that I took the money or that I’m even alive. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out how they—or anyone, for that matter”—she looked again at Tomas—“found me.”
“It wasn’t so hard,” Tomas said. “After all, your boy Shep made the news after surviving the avalanche, especially since so many had perished.”
Shep stilled.Wait?—
“And then he popped up again in that reality show.” Tomas smiled at him. “As soon as I saw his face, I knew . . . if you were alive, you’d be with him.”
Oh no.