Page 109 of Dark Embrace

“Aye, I think to stay…an’ tomorrow ye will let me die.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“HEY, BRIE?” SAM LAID HER HAND on Brie’s shoulder.

The pain of the godawful leap and landing was finally receding. Brie’s temples still felt as if they’d been split open, and her body felt as if it had been in a really bad, really long game of Twister.

She lay on the floor of Nick’s office, curled up in a ball, her face wet from so many tears. Sam knelt beside her, still in her camouflage, smiling reassuringly at her. “You’ll be okay. Hey…you’re home.”

She didn’t want to be home! Brie somehow sat up, moaning. And then she saw Nick, standing by the huge window behind his desk, arms folded, stance braced, his back to her as he stared outside. It was raining.

“Damn you!” Brie cried, heaving to her feet. Sam kept her hand on Brie’s elbow to steady her. “Send me back! Send me back now!”

Nick turned. “What happened to you?”

“Aidan happened to me. You’ve even admitted it—he was turning back to us! I cannot let him hang.”

Sam put her arm around her.

Nick said, “It’s September 26, 2008, Brie. He was executed in 1502.” His stare was cold.

Brie’s heart stopped. He was telling her that even though a moment ago Aidan had been very much alive, he was currently very dead. “History is often wrong.”

“I don’t give a damn about history,” Nick snapped, “unless I’m hunting a coincidence. But Fate is Fate.” He picked up a folder from his desk and handed it to her. “You’ve got one hour to eat, shower, whatever. I need a complete debriefing.”

Brie was dismayed. “I am going back to save Aidan from execution!”

“If his hanging is meant to be, it will be. You’ve got one hour, kid. I suggest you look at the file.” Nick walked to his door, opened it and waited for them to leave.

Brie shook with rage. “I quit.”

His dark brows lifted. “Fine. And when you change your mind, I’ll rehire you. You’re damn good in the basement.”

Brie began shaking her head. Tears battled her eyelids.

“You’re still getting debriefed. Thoroughly. Your love life is not going to get in the way of what I do here at CDA.”

Brie decided to take the file and walk out of his office, the building, this life. She hoped never to lay eyes on Nick again.

Obviously he could read minds as well as any Master, because his smile was hard. “You’re not allowed out of the building, so don’t even think it.”

Brie cried out and stormed past him, fighting her terror for Aidan. Sam followed, putting her arm around her. “We can use my office,” she said, her gaze kind. “You’re acting like a thirteen-year-old.”

Brie looked at her as they slipped into a small, corner office on the other side of the building. Sam was right. Ranting and raving wasn’t going to help. Sam shut the door, removing her vest. She went to a small fridge and took out two bottles of water, handing one to Brie. Brie had never seen her so kind. She was used to Sam being tough and angry, in warrior mode.

“He hired me the moment you vanished with Aidan,” Sam said, flopping in her desk chair. “Brie, you know him better than I do. The man can be a royal bastard, but he has loads of integrity.”

Brie sat down on the only other chair in Sam’s small, very sterile office. She realized she still clutched the file to her chest. She eased her grasp and finally breathed. “How does he go back in time?”

“I have no idea. Probably the way the Masters and demons do—a dash of otherworldly DNA.” Sam smiled.

Brie did not smile back. “I have to go back. How can I convince him to let me go?”

“Maybe after the debrief you can talk him into it. Look, Brie, truth is, Nick cares about you. I’m pretty sure that there are a few agents lost in time, and Nick has some personal issues going on here.”

Brie’s eyes widened.

“Maybe you should read that file. When he said an hour, he meant an hour. Burgers or pizza?”