I point my finger at them. “First, I don’t like being tag teamed.”
“You sure about that?” Jules teases.
They both chuckle—traitors.
“Second, I really didn’t think you two would be so quick to throw me to the wolves. Shouldn’t we be keeping our distance from these men? Aren’t we assuming this alliance isn’t going to work out?”Ugh.I take a breath, ready to change the subject.
“It’s nice having more people to work with,” Jules says suddenly. “Enzo and his team are…solid. And Luna, I’m sure having another hacker to partner with is making it easier, right?”
I know Jules is right, but I hate hearing it out loud.
Luna doesn’t respond right away, but then she lifts her chin. “I guess it’s my turn to confess, then. Eva asked me out. Like, on a date.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask.
Jules laughs under her breath. “Actually, that tracks.”
Luna’s smile seems calm and satisfied. “It does.”
“I need so much more information,” I say.
“I like her.”
“She’s great,” I agree. “I like her, too. And I mean, I’m sure her runway-model looks don’t hurt.”
Luna blushes.
Jules smiles.
“Pippa, I understand what you’re saying about Hudson and Enzo—it’s messy, but I’m not sure I want to ignore how I’m feeling about Eva, and I don’t think you should ignore your feelings, either.”
“I get that.” I really do. I take a deep breath.
Our little triangle goes quiet. Not tense, just full. Heavy with concern and secrets and anticipation of whatever comes next.
I raise my glass. “To…bad decisions.” We laugh as we clink our cups together.
The three of us get back to work, locking in the plan for the Malin op. Jules will lead the ground operation with Hudson and Enzo’s men. Luna and Eva will be back at the mansion running comms and tech. I will be in the van with Luca keeping an eye on the exterior.
Once Jules and Hudson administer the syringe I’m working on, they’ll join Enzo in Malin’s office to breach the systems and extract files with support from Luna and Eva.
We need Malin to die right away, which is different from the previous drugs I’ve concocted. It needs to look like he died in his sleep. Fortunately for me, you can take the guy out of Russia, but you can’t take the Russia out of the guy. It seems he still drinks vodka like water. We decided on cardiac arrest, which will come as no surprise when they run his bloodwork and find that his liver is hanging by a thread.
The plan is solid.
For a moment, inside this warehouse full of screens and shadows, it feels like hope.
FIFTEEN
bound
Enzo
Saturday Evening, Day 17
Pippa agreed to meet with Hudson and me tonight to talk. Evidently, we all agree that is the right next step, but as I stand with my best friend in his apartment, my stomach, my chest, and my head have decided this is not a good idea at all.
What good could possibly come from talking about all these charged feelings? I don’t know exactly where tonight is headed, but I know it’s already on unstable ground. I should just step back. They are the two with history. I’ve only known the woman for two weeks. I’m considering telling Hudson as much when?—
