“Once the vault is open ...” I swallowed. “We kill him.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Alejandro
“Nicole Kidman.”
That out-of-nowhere name from Reed’s mouth had me shooting him a funny look. “What about her?” I ran a quick memory lap trying to recall what I knew about the actress and why Reed was bringing her up now while we waited on my evil ex to appear on screen.
We were currently in the den, staring at a small room with a single chair, a spotlight overhead, and nothing else.
“That’s who Beth reminds me of. I don’t know why I never thought of that before.” Reed adjusted the sling holding his rifle across his body as he stood guard next to me.
He’d refused to let me lone-wolf this conversation despite my request to do exactly that. Something told me he had concerns Beth might turn into the girl fromThe Ringmovie and crawl through the screen so he could finally kill her. Maybe that was why he was packing heat for a phone call?
When I continued silently staring at him like he was a few cards shy of a full deck, he scoffed. “You don’t think Beth looks like a younger Nicole?”
“Just when I think I have you figured out, you go and say something to throw me off.”
He kept his hands on his M4, casually shrugging.
It took two seconds too long for it to click. For me to understand what the man was actually doing. “You’re distracting me. Lowering my pulse rate before the call.” I waved him off.
Reed rolled his eyes and faced the screen.Thatwas more like the guy I knew.
I dragged my hand across my chest, realizing my heart rate had noticeably slowed down, only to pick back up again the second I saw two bodies on-screen.
A guard was walking Beth toward the chair. A nightmare in orange.
Her blue eyes found mine as the guard cuffed her to a chair in front of a table that was bolted to the concrete floor.
My spine straightened at the mere sight of her, remembering I’d flatlined and died for a few seconds because of her.
The guard walked around and stood behind her chair. “You have ten minutes.”
“I’ll only need two,” I remarked, eyes back on the woman who’d ruined my life.
She angled her head while staring at me, and I held my breath, anticipating her to use her CIA mindfuck tricks on me. “Alejandro.”
“Don’t say my name.” There was only one woman outside my mother allowed to call me that, and she was in this cabin. “I know you’ve already been briefed by Secretary Chandler about what I want, and he’s agreed to meet your demands.”
“While I can make even a potato sack look couture, I’d prefer a new color and something a bit more pleasant to wear.” She dropped her eyes down to her orange jumpsuit as if feeling the need to explain the first demand she’d made. “And the typewriter ... since they won’t give me a laptop ...” She met my eyes. “I’m going to tell my story.”
“I’m sure the CIA would love to publish it,” I said dryly as she pivoted her attention to Reed. “As for your last demand,” I hissed atthe memory of what Secretary Chandler had said he’d agreed for me to do, “you want an in-person visit with me after this mission ends?” No Reed or anyone there to have my six per this demon-woman’s request. “Why?”
“I’m helping you without asking for my release, aren’t I? I know they wouldn’t say yes to that, but I do need to see you. They’ve turned down every request I’ve made in the last few weeks to talk to you in person.”
This was news to me. I’d had zero clue she wanted a one-on-one. I’d have denied her as well, but what was her endgame?No, don’t take the bait, don’t ask. Just focus up. Mission first.
“I’ll tell you when you’re here. And just so you know, I’d have told you what you wanted regardless.”
I didn’t buy that for a second, but I wound up asking anyway: “Why?”
“Because I’d do anything to help take down Mitchell Langston.”
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Reed stepping forward, his interest as piqued as my own. I had no clue if this was a mind game from her, or if Mitch was an enemy of hers now making this an enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend situation.
“Talk,” I demanded, checking my watch, hating that we’d already used up one more minute than I’d wanted. When she didn’t do as I said, I quickly figured out why. “Yes, I’ll come visit you after this is over.” A chill beat down my back as I bit out what she was waiting to hear. “You have my word.”
