TJ deserved his happily ever after. Lou was the best. She wasn’t going to die at fucking Manny Huisman’s hands.
He didn’t get to use her genius to his own ends. That man thought he ruled the world and that women were walking wombs who should serve men.
It was time to show him how she served him up.
On a silver platter. Or maybe one made of nanites.
“Uh, it looks like Gabby and Claire are trying to get into the air ducts,” Tris pointed out. He gestured to one of the monitors.
“Tell Damon. I’m pretty sure he has a nasty surprise for anyone in his air ducts.” Her dad had tried to pull a prank once and had never stopped complaining about it. She sat back at her desk as the cell pinged.
Kala’s cell pinged.
Huisman was right on schedule.
It was time for the show to begin. It was a part she’d been preparing to play all her life.
Fourteen hours later, Kenzie snuck out of her room. It was fairly simple since Lucy was in France with Sami, preparing for the rescue of Ben Parker. Naturally she was supposed to be leading it, but she’d left detailed instructions for her twin, who would be surprised to find herself leading the op again. But she would do it. She would go into the field.
I know you don’t like him and you think he’s bad for me, but I’m asking you to save him. Play the part Huisman set for me. You know you can do it. Save my stupid, foolish heart, and I’ll save the piece of yours that will die without Lou.
She’d dressed in the nanite “fabric.” Tris had quickly learned Lou’s protocols and had programmed a tactical suit. He’d also programmed the nanites to shed single “cells” every half hour. The nanites would simply make more and fill in the spaces so no one would notice.
Ben was in France. He was at the chateau.
“You’re going in.”
She winced and turned. Sosa stood there looking worse for the wear.
“I’m not to be telling. You are saving your sister,” she said quietly. “He will kill you if he figures out you’re not her. How did you keep her from getting his text? I assume that’s how he did it. He’s trying to lure goth Bratz doll out so he can have her. He’s using her friend. You have to know he won’t exchange you.”
“I know.”
“So this is suicide mission?”
“I have plans,” she assured the young woman. “Are you all right?”
Sosa nodded. “I’ll be weak for a while, but I know how to fight for me. They come and take Gabby and Claire away. Will they take me in the morning?”
MI6 had come this afternoon and taken Gabby and Claire. They were being questioned, and what happened to them was no longer Kenzie’s worry. Sosa was another story. She did feel responsible for the kid. “No. My parents have agreed that you should stay here and work with Ariel. Her husband is an investigator. He’s going to look into what happened to your parents and how you got taken.”
“Your mother is… She is who I hope to be. Maybe if she survives, I can, too. I won’t lie again.” Sosa hugged her arms around herself as though trying to get warm.
“But you will keep your mouth shut.”
Sosa nodded. “You are trying to save your sister. I would never stop you, but I would say that you should keep your eyes open. He’s arrogant and makes many mistakes. He likes to call his guards his army, but they are mercenaries. They’re not as careful as they should be. I hope you are safe. He loves you, you know.”
That was the rub. “He doesn’t. Or if he does, then he won’t admit it. He can’t.”
She started down the hall again.
“You are good Bratz doll, Kenzie Taggart.”
Kenzie wiped a tear away and walked off to meet her fate.
* * * *
Ben’s fingers twisted around the bars of the cage he was being held in. He could feel the hard press of the gun Kenzie held against the back of his neck. “Do it.”
