Page 106 of Poison Evidence

Dimitri jerked toward Ian’s position, hardly able to believe he’d done it. No. Ian was a professional. No way had he fired the shot.

Leaves rustled, drawing Dimitri’s attention to the right. Ivy was thrust through the branches, Zack Barrow behind her, shoving her slack form forward. “What a perfect entrance line. There I was, wondering who I should shoot, and you gave me that little gem. Thank you—is it Alyssa or Sophia? I can’t quite keep up with all the aliases.” Zack pointed his gun at Dimitri. “Hammer, Jack, Parker, Dimitri. So fucking confusing. Pick one.” The gun switched to Julian. “Even the boy has two names.”

Dimitri held his breath. He’d blow the AUUV if he believed Zack would fire, but the moment he hit the button, any leverage he had was gone.

The gun returned to Ivy’s side, under her arm, where a bullet would pass through a lung before reaching her heart. “And then there is poor, sweet, one-named Ivy.”

Ivy’s head lolled, and her body was limp. At five-nine, she wasn’t light. Zack was expending a fair effort supporting her deadweight, something Dimitri could use to his advantage.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked. “What did you do to Ivy?”

“Sleeping beauty here was tagged by a tranq dart. I didn’t think it was fair you excluded her from the fun, and I knew my buddy Ian would take potshots at me if I didn’t have a human shield. Where is Ian?” He glanced around the jungle. “Ollie ollie all come free.” Zack’s voice lost its playful edge. “Or I shoot the bitch where she’ll slowly bleed out.”

Branches parted, and Ian descended from his position in a tree. “It’s ‘oxen free,’ asshole.”

“Drop your gun.”

Ian stooped down and set his gun at his feet.

“Where’s your new SEAL buddy?” Zack asked. “The golden boy who doesn’t take a crap without alerting the media. Surely he’s up a tree somewhere?”

“He’s in Koror holding a press conference,” Ian said.

Zack forced a laugh. “Sevick better get his ass in the circle, or I’m going to start shooting.” He glanced toward the dead DIA man and added, “Again.”

Did Ivy’s eyes flutter? Dimitri couldn’t be certain. “Do as he says, Luke,” he said.

Luke followed Ian’s lead and emerged from his hiding place, setting his gun at his feet.

“Sophia/Alyssa, give the boy to Veselov,” Zack instructed.

“No,” Sophia said. Her arms tightened around her son.

“You don’t understand, you aren’t calling the shots anymore, sweetheart. I am. And while I’m sure you’re a cunning spy and deserve all sorts of credit for how you’ve been playing everyone for years, I’m fairly certain you aren’t the fighter Veselov is. Which is why I wanthimholding the goddamned child.” Zack let out a low whistle, and four armed men emerged from the jungle behind him.

Shit. Their hidden ace—Palea perched with a sniper rifle above the bomb shelter—didn’t seem adequate against Zack’s small army.

Sophia stepped forward and offered her son to Dimitri. He took the sleeping child. His nephew. He’d dreamed of meeting him. But not like this. Never like this.

“I’m sorry,” Sophia whispered as Julian settled against his chest.

He couldn’t even take in the weakness of her apology versus her actions over the years. “Do you hate all people, Soph, or just me?”

She shrugged. “I didn’thateyou, exactly. I just…wanted something different. I found a way out, but it meant using you.”

“Everything I did was to protect you.”

“I never asked to be protected. Your protection was a curse.”

“How is it you had a lead on where the AUUV was hidden?”

She flashed a proud smile. “Because it was one of my men who stole it and hid it before he was captured. His final message included the area, but not coordinates. Even he didn’t know exactly where in the Rock Islands he was.”

“You stole it from Russia with one hand—and then received information from the GRU about their interrogation of your own operative with the other. Information you then passed on to me so I could find it for you.”

“You say that like it surprises you, brother, that I am a very, very good spy. And yet we went through the same training. You always underestimated me. Everyone underestimates me. That’s why the GRU never guessed I was both their faithful spy and their biggest enemy. They never knew I cultivated China and Cuba as clients for my intel. I am loyal to no one but my son.” She stroked Julian’s head.

“The family reunion is touching but I’m ready to take my AUUV and go now,” Zack said.

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