Page 73 of Between Love and Honor

“I want this taken care of tonight,” the president insisted. “Or I bring in the rest of the team.” He stood and glanced at his chief of staff. “I take it this is one of those situations where the less I know, the better. Just make sure no civilians are hurt.”

“Keep me updated, Sabrina,” the chief of staff ordered before following the president out of the room.

“Are you positive the only two aliases the traitor has used are the Phoenix and the Mariner?” she asked as soon as the two men had left.

“So far, yes.”

The secretary dropped her head into her hands. “I’m not so sure our traitor is interested in money.”

“Ma’am?”

“Well, at least that may only be part of their motive.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to need more if you want me to make sense of what you’re saying.”

She scrubbed her fingers through her dark, shoulder length hair. “This is about revenge.”

“Revenge?”

“Yes. This is personal. The Phoenix and the Mariner are the only two aliases that can be traced back to me.”

His mind was whirling with questions, but he didn’t dare interrupt her. Not when he sensed a huge revelation on the horizon. She rose from her chair and began to walk toward the screen where Ronoff still stared back at them mutely.

“You asked me if I was sure the Phoenix was dead.”

“And you said you were positive.”

“Knowing your bionic brain, my word isn’t enough evidence for you to be fully convinced.”

Ben wasn’t sure if he was meant to answer, but the words were out before he could stop them. “There are rumors—”

“And they’re exactly that. Rumors. I am sure of this because the Phoenix’s real name was Ethan Lyle.”

Holy shit. “Your late husband?”

She didn’t immediately respond, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

He leaned back in his chair. “How many people are aware of that fact?”

“Aside from the president, the members of the national security team and British Intelligence? Apparently one other.” She turned around. Her eyes were steely. “Ethan would never have used an untrained young woman as an asset. Never. Which means someone else did. And that person is our traitor. A traitor who is going to great lengths to link me to their crime. And before you ask, Ethan never shared the names with me. I knew enough never to ask.”

He was still trying to wrap his head around what she’d just revealed when Dorothy strode into the room.

“She’s gone,” Dorothy announced.

“Who’s gone?” he asked, even though he had a bad feeling who had disappeared.

“How long?” the secretary demanded.

“Best I can tell, thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes!” Ben was out of his seat and racing to the door. “How could you let this happen?”

“She let it happen per my orders, Agent Segar.”

He stopped in his tracks and turned to face the secretary. “Are you crazy? Have you forgotten that Ronoff wants her dead?”

“And have you forgotten that Ronoff believes she is already dead?”

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