Page 104 of Sweet Little Spies

“Miss Taggart,” a deep voice said. Carys started to slideoff the barstool but found herself dragged off by a tall man dressed in allblack. He loomed over her, staring down with a nasty smirk on his scarred face.“I’m afraid my boss would like a word. Not with you, of course. You’re nothingbut a pretty pawn. My boss wants to have a word with a man who we hope caresenough about you to not want you hurt.”

Another man moved around them, easily hefting Kala’sunconscious body over his shoulder.

Panic threatened to overtake Carys. Was Kala dead? What thehell was happening? Calm. She needed calm. What was she supposed to do? Kalahad gone over all of it, and it fled her damn brain now. Tris was here. Zachand Tash were here. They probably already saw something on the CCTVs.

They were supposed to be safe here.

She tried to kick back, but he was an unmoving mountainbehind her.

“She didn’t drink as much as the other,” Pierre said inheavily accented English, holding up a hypodermic needle. “You’ll need this.”

“Help,” Carys shouted out. There were other people in thebar. Or had it been these men? Had this whole thing been a setup? Except theycouldn’t have known she would be down in the bar. Her brain was moving athousand miles a minute, trying to process what the hell was happening. They’ddone everything right, down to testing the damn drinks.

A hand snaked around her throat. “Won’t help you. No onewill help you here. Now the boss is ready to start a fire. Let’s see if you getburned.”

Something sharp sank into her arm, and the world immediatelywent hazy.

And clear all at the same time. She loved them. She wasgoing to die and all she wanted was one more moment with them. The past? Didn’tmatter. The lies? She could forgive them.

All that mattered was loving them.

It was her last thought as the world went dark.

* * * *

Aidan didn’t want to leave Carys behind, but he couldn’tthink of a reason not to. Kala was with her. He stepped onto the elevator,following Tasha and Zach. He hit the button for their floor and caught sight ofthe camera in the corner. “Is someone watching us? Like from our team?”

Tash stared straight forward. “Of course. Lou took over theCCTV cameras before you checked in. I’m more worried about tomorrow. I don’tthink Huisman will have cameras all over his property. I wish we could havegotten someone on the catering staff.”

“We talked this through.” Zach’s tone was calm as thoughthey’d already been over this a couple of times. “There are going to be sixtydoctors walking around the compound at any given time. Aidan’s going to stickto the public places. He’ll be fine. The last thing Huisman wants is a scandalat his premiere event.”

“Unless Ben Parker is right and Huisman’s insane,” Tash saidunder her breath.

“What does your instinct say, Tash? You’ve met the man.”Tris hadn’t, but Ian and Tash had talked to him.

Tasha’s head shook. “My instincts tell me he’s kind andintelligent. But there’s something deeper that tells me I’m seeing what hewants me to see. After what happened with TJ, I think we have to consider whatBen has to say. I know Kenz is pissed at him, but I think he was desperate.I’ve thought a lot about it. What would you do if you knew there was a bombwaiting to go off but no one would listen to you? Ben might have been playingCassandra for years now. He didn’t mean to hurt Lou, but he felt he had noother choice.”

Cassandra. He knew that one. He was never going to admit heonly knew the story because of the Taylor Swift song. He hadn’t paid a lot ofattention to Greek mythology, though he could see where Parker might sympathizewith a woman who foresaw the fall of a whole civilization and no one wouldlisten to her.

The doors to the elevator opened, and Aidan led the way. Hekind of wanted those glasses now. He wanted to be able to watch over her.Despite what everyone told him, there was an anxious place in the pit of hisgut. He took his key card out and led them into the suite.

Thirty minutes before he’d felt safe and secure. Tash andZach showing up reminded him how fast things could change.

How had Tristan lived like this for so long?

“Yes, I do understand,” Tris was saying. “Uncle, you don’thave to tell me how stupid I am. I know. I’ll take a look at the glasses fromthis end.” He sighed. “I won’t know what could have happened until I look atthem. If it’s not a software issue, then I need to actually have them in myhands to check them.”

So Tris was having a fun night, too.

He would be so fucking happy when they were done with thisand they could be together without the threat of a mission over their heads.When he didn’t have to walk his fiancée around because she shouldn’t be withoutan escort.

“They’re here.” Tris nodded to Tash and Zach. “Yes, I willwork on getting my head out of my ass. Aidan can certainly help. It’s why Ipicked him.”

Aidan snorted. Sometimes the only way to deal with an angryUncle Ian was to concede everything.

Tris hung up and slid his cell in his pocket. “Tash, sorry.I have been properly yelled at, and I’m apparently looking forward to someserious torture, including being keelhauled. Your father promises he’ll buy abigger boat just for the occasion.”

Tash snorted and sank down to the sofa. “Dad thinks he needsa new boat. He’s looking for an excuse Mom will buy.”

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