Alice said, “Because your mission objective is uncovering evidence of money laundering in an office, we’ll teach you what to look for, how to cover your tracks online, and tactics for eavesdropping.”
Gossip—she didn’t need a course in that. Between her neighborhood and the moms at school, she was ninja level.
“Besides remedial covert procedures, we’ll also focus on basic self-defense.” Agent Strong paused, as if to think, and added, “While we’re at it, I’ll have Markus teach you how to shoot. We can’t send you out there defenseless.”
Self-defense, covering her tracks online, shooting… Gabby inhaled sharply and gripped the arms on her chair. And to think yesterday she’d almost filled out an online form to explore the possibility of selling Tupperware.
Friday afternoon, EOD headquarters
If nothing else, the EOD was efficient. Alice Strong had her headed for the basement to start spy training less than ten minutes after Valentina suggested it. It took Gabby about a week just to turn an idea over in her head before she acted. Then she’d have to start and stop ten times.
“Valentina, take her down to meet Markus. He can take charge of her training.”
A shadow crossed Valentina’s cover girl visage. It was fleeting but noticeable. Gabby might not have martial arts training but she had EQ, and Valentina just had some sort of feeling related to Markus, and it wasn’t good. Regret, loss, unrequited love—or maybe she was just being dramatic. That’s what Gabby’s mother would say.
Somehow Valentina’s beauty was even more pronounced under the shadow of disappointment. Gabby wasn’t one of those women who looked better crying. Her chin turned into a lumpy wad, and her eyes almost disappeared. After, it took a day for the swelling to go down.
Valentina made a play to wash her hands of the whole businessand make a break for it. She said, “Excellent. If Markus is in charge, can I get back to the field? I’d like to find Agent Dagger’s killer myself.”
“Stand by. Getting Agent Greene up to speed is our number one priority right now.”
Another shadow crossed Valentina’s face. Gabby was pretty sure this feeling was related to her and not Markus. There were so many dark clouds for Valentina this morning.
Turned out the man of the hour, Markus, was downstairs in the EOD gadget lab. The lab was state-of-the-art, stainless steel and sterile white. The only bold splashes of color were from the warning signs:CAUTION! STAY 10 FEET BACK! BIOHAZARD!
Gabby’s Mary Janes clicked on the concrete floor. Looking at the signs, she had a vision of that time she brought Lucas to the dentist with her. He had been three or four, and she couldn’t find a sitter. She’d been having recurring dreams about her teeth falling out that seemed about to come true, so there was no way she was skipping the appointment. He’d pushed the buttons on the hydraulic chair until the hygienist had nicked Gabby’s gums with her Captain Hook tool. While she was dribbling blood on a paper bib, the woman behind the desk put Lucas in a room with cartoons. Later she’d heard that dreams about teeth falling out represented losing control. That rang true.
“Do you have kids, Valentina?” Gabby decided to just call her by her first name. Valentina was probably twenty-five and looked good crying. It would be unfair to give her a title on top of that.
“No. Kids don’t really work with this lifestyle.”
Seemed like.
A guy at a workbench testing a motor of some type said, “I’ve got kids. Don’t know what you’re talking about, Val.”
Valentina looked flatly back at him. “Go back to your microscope, Gerry. If I had a wife, I’d think kids were no big deal too.”
Gabby gave Valentina a look of understanding. Men were idiots. Gerry’s wife was probably driving three kids through LA traffic to three different schools while getting her PhD in nuclear physics or running a day care.
When Valentina said, “Hey, Markus,” Gabby followed her eyes.
At the sight of Markus, Gabby’s ovaries overrode all of her lived experience. Markus Parks was the guy who should have been cast as James Bond—rugged good looks in a sophisticated package. More important, she knew why Regé-Jean Page had quitBridgerton. He had taken a job at the EOD and would be training her to go on a vital mission. This was now her life.
Markus held out his hand, and Gabby nearly swooned.
Valentina said, “Gabby, this is Markus Parks. He’ll be training you.” Her loud and pointed tone said, “Get yourself together.”
In a deep, authoritative voice, he announced, “It’ll be my job to look after you during this mission. I’m not going to let one hair get out of place.”
She must have been flushed, because he held out a hand to steady her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She waved off his concern. “This is my baseline, sort of perpetually in need of a V8.” She laughed awkwardly. Once she got used to the intense male pheromone levels in the room, she would be fine. Being around someone as attractive as Markus was like visiting Denver. It took a minute to get used to the lack of oxygen.
“Are you going to be in the office with me?” Gabby asked Markus. That would be a relief. Gabby was more than happy to let an armed protector open doors for her and make sure she didn’t die.
“No, but I’ll be with you every step of the way.” He pulled out a small, easily hidden earpiece. “I can talk to you all day long.”
Gabby nodded. It would be like when she stayed up all night talking to Jace Baxter in high school, twirling the phone cord around her finger and painting her toenails a shade of pink she thought he might like. Except it was the EOD.
