Page 18 of Smoke and Shadows

“Bruiser!” Brian exclaimed. “Aw, fuck! I’m so sorry!”

Marissa laughed harder. “No, it’s all right. I’ll just send it for dry cleaning.”

“Send me the bill.” Brian’s face was flushed with embarrassment.

“Seriously, Bri, it’s fine.” Marissa went up a few steps so that she was eye level with him. Leaning in, she planted a friendly peck near his lips. “Don’t worry about it.”

“How about I bring some pizza over for dinner?” Brian suggested. “You staying in?”

“Really, Brian. You don’t have to,” Marissa said. “Kinda tired and thinking of just spending some time alone. No offense.”

“None taken. But I insist,” Brian pressed. “You don’t have to do anything. I don’t care if you fall asleep on me.”

Marissa shook her head, grinning. “Flirt. You’re still the master of double-meanings. But really, I’m not up for company.”

Brian looked disappointed, but being around her right now was not safe. In fact, she shouldn’t have conversed with him too long outside. But sometimes, the life of a spook was so lonely. She just craved some semblance of normalcy, such as hot sex with a hot neighbor. Except right now, her libido was channelled toward someone else.

“I really need to turn in and just laze around for the rest of the day,” Marissa stated with finality. It was 4:00 p.m., and there was nothing she wanted more than to sleep until the next morning. She grinned at Brian, and ascended the remaining steps and entered her house.

Marissa droppedher bag on the dining table and headed forthe kitchen to check the contents of her fridge. Shaking her head at the sparse supply, she tried to remember the last time she went to the grocery. Looked like she was having instant ramen for dinner. Her gaze dropped to her landline and sighed. Time to return some personal calls.

“I’m telling you,Trent, it’s not going to make any difference,” Marissa told her brother. “It’s only going to be his way or the highway. Dad will never change.”

“Have you talked to him lately?” Her brother’s baritone voice challenged her over the phone.

Marissa huffed in annoyance. Her father was disappointed in both his children for choosing a life outside their family business. Trenton Cole III was old money from Maryland and was the principal owner of Cole Nauticals, a shipping conglomerate. Her brother, Trent, chose to join the United States Army and was right now in Special Forces. He was coming home from God knows what after his eighth tour in Afghanistan, and was staying in Northern Virginia for a couple of months.

“It’ll be good business with both of us in this, sis,” Trent added when she did not respond. “I’d like to quit the Army and go into private security. A group of us just needs the capital. Dad might listen to you. Just back me up, please?”

“What is it with you ex-Army guys and private military companies anyway?” Marissa grumbled.

“We love what we do, Reesee. Just need to get paid more money for our skills.”

Loads of money, judging from what Marissa could see from what it cost to run AGS operations. Viktor had close to forty full-time agents and they were always deployed somewhere, not to mention any number of contractors who chose to work with them. Paid top-dollar, but non-official covers (NOC), therefore, Uncle Sam or any other client could disavow them if shit hit the fan. It was part of the contract.

“Are you going NOC or official?” Marissa asked.

“Not sure yet. What do you suggest, Ms. CIA?” her brother drawled.

“Damn it, Trent, this line is not secure.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry.”

“You just failed Security 101, baby brother.”

Just then, there was a sound of scuffing near the front door. Her alertness shifted into high gear.

“Hey, I need to go. Call me when you’re back stateside.”

When Marissa ended the call, she immediately reached for her gun. Gripping the weapon with both hands, muzzle pointing down, she slowly approached the door. A few steps before she reached the foyer, the doorbell rang.

“Who is it?”

“Your friendly neighbor.”

Brian.

Exhaling deeply, Marissa hid her gun in the credenza near the entrance. Out of habit, she peeked through the peephole, spying Brian’s distorted face.

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