Page 95 of The Art of You

The problem? The head of the CIA swore up and down he never gave such a command. Considering the director had beenin the Situation Room with the President at the time the email had been sent, it was safe to say someone with damn good skills from inside the Pentagon had set up the director. That same person set up Seth Maverick, too.

The President ordered the assault team to stand down. Doing what was morally right, he alerted the Spanish authorities that their black site was probably compromised. Hence the call from my old man afterward about his girlfriend getting in trouble because of the calls we’d made.

“Someone went to a lot of trouble to ensure the head of this terrorist cell doesn’t—” I dropped my words as it finally fucking clicked. I let go of my hold of Bella’s hand and stood. There was the big-picture moment we’d been missing. “It’s about the last of the twenty files. Two Marines died in the embassy bombing last October. Good intel—intel that was ignored—could’ve saved them.” I checked the date on my watch. “The one-year anniversary of that attack is in a day and a half.” I shook my head, remembering something else. “The Instagram account has 363 posts up.”

Bella abruptly unbuckled and stood. “What if that’s some sick countdown to whatever they have planned?”

“That means someone has been plotting their revenge for almost a year,” Alessandro said as a call came over his phone. “How the hell are any of us tied to that bombing, though?”

“This asshole pulled us in for a reason, but maybe it’s not for the reasons we originally thought.” I planted a hand on the wall at my side for support as Alessandro accepted the call, placing it on speakerphone.

“Tell me you have something,” Alessandro remarked quickly.

It sounded like Enzo was hacking up half his lungs from coughing so hard. Sirens blared in the background.

“What is it?” Bella asked, beating me to the punch.

“There was an explosion,” Enzo choked out, still coughing. “We’re fine. The house blew before we got to the front door.”

“What the fuck?” I looked around at the others, trying to grapple with the news and the fact Enzo, Adelina, and Malik could’ve died.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Bella’s voice broke as the reality ofwhat-could-have-beenslammed her back into her seat.

“If someone is after us, why not wait until you were on the doorstep? Or inside?” I hated raising that point, but it had to be said. They could have easily been killed. So, why were they alive?

“Well, we were saved alongside that road, too,” Bella murmured, and I dropped my gaze down to peer at her. Her quivering lip nearly did me in.

I wanted to wrap her up in my arms and comfort her, but right now wasn’t the time. Turning to one of the two operators who were on board with us, I requested, “Nick, can you get the bear from the duffel bag in the middle cabin?”

“Thank you,” she mouthed, and I wasn’t trying to treat her like a baby. But she was mine to take care of.Mine to protect.

The reality of the situation slammed into me again. I could’ve lost her Friday. And Enzo today.

I dropped down next to her as Constantine muttered, “Whoever is behind this whole damn thing is no guardian angel.”

My hands tensed in my lap, and Bella reached over the armrest and uncurled my flexed fingers to clasp my palm.

“He’s the grim reaper,” Alessandro said in a deep voice, drawing my eyes, “and we’re all still alive because he wants us to die on his own timeline.”

We had a day and a half to get ahead of this fucker before he checkmated us.

“I need to call my wife,” Enzo said, his words barely audible. “Be in touch when I know more.” He ended the call before we had a chance to check if he was truly okay, mentally and physically.

I didn’t blame him for wanting to get on the phone with Maria ASAP. The only person I’d wanted to talk to or see after the accident Friday night had been the woman currently holding my hand.

“Whoever is behind this is looking to end things on the anniversary of the day someone they cared about died, right?” Alessandro’s question had my attention flying back to him. “What in God’s name do any of us have to do with that attack in Algeria?”

“The photo,” Bella whispered as if that was the answer. “Somehow, in some crazy way, I think everything ties to Bianca’s death. Right down to that embassy bombing.”

Chapter 36

Isabella

Barcelona, Spain

“I was expectinga creepy old bomb shelter or something, not a five-star hotel for a safe house.” I looked around the fancy suite, my eyes finally settling on Roman. “Since your name is on the building, I’m guessing you have strong ties to the place?”

He casually lifted a shoulder. “It’s a long story. But this place is safe. We have the entire top floor to ourselves. No one will breach this property, trust me.”

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