Page 34 of Smoke and Shadows

Viktor. Nathan Stark was riding shotgun.

“Get in.” The AGS top man sounded pissed.

“You can’t leave,” the police officer protested.

“I’ll call you,” Marissa quipped as she dove into the back of the Charger, Olsen right behind her.

Viktor resistedthe urge to park the car, drag Marissa out, and blister her ass. Instead, he concentrated on navigating DC’s most notorious intersection. He’d not spoken a word to Marissa or Agent Olsen since they took refuge in his car, preferring to let Nathan deal with the women and handle the logistics of retrieving the AGS vehicle.

Marissa was bleeding, and she likely also had a concussion. There was nothing more that Viktor wanted to do than tend to her, but he was struggling even to get the words out, so he simply brooded.

“I double parked on T Street,” Olsen announced.

“I hope you locked the car,” Nathan muttered. “Ms. Cole, are you all right? Do we need to take you to the hospital?”

“I’ll live,” Marissa responded with a wince. Her eyes met Viktor’s in the rearview mirror. “I need to get to Langley.”

“Not happening.” Viktor spoke up for the first time.

“I need to report this.”

“Call it in.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Viktor, my phone got incinerated in the car bomb.”

Viktor clenched his jaw. He’d nearly lost her. Again. Twice. The enemy was not hiding now. They were sending a strong message that they meant business. He punched a number on his Sec-phone.

“Yeager? It’s Baran.”

“Viktor, what can I do for you this morning?’

“Marissa can’t make it to your meeting.”

There was a pause and then, “And the reason?”

“She nearly got blown up in her car and shot down by a sniper this morning. Reason enough?”

“Christ! Is she okay?”

“Ask her yourself.” Viktor handed the phone to Marissa. He had a bigger issue to tackle right now—getting through T Street, which was currently being blocked by fire trucks and police cruisers. He cursed and made an illegal U-turn to head back on 19thStreet to cut through S Street and get to Swann. He pulled up by the abandoned AGS vehicle, which was in the process of being written up by a uniform for a parking violation. “Take care of that, Stark—Olsen.”

Marissa made a move to follow Olsen.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Viktor gripped her arm to hold her back.

“Langley. I’m sure you can spare Olsen for a few hours. I might be able to commission a vehicle and send her back sooner.”

Viktor glared at her. She glared right back.

“I need to talk to Yeager,” Marissa pressed stubbornly.

“Fine. But Olsen’s not taking you. I am.”

Marissa’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you were tied up at AGS?”

“I was. I still am. But someone can’t stay out of trouble.”

“I’m not your problem.”

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