Page 7 of Redeeming Meg

Her target was shelving a few volumes in a designated area containing a collection of materials on topics covering US culture and lifestyle. The American Corners program had been instituted as a partnership program between the US Embassy and the library, to provide information, programs, and exhibits to further positive relations.

Contessa Vulpe, known as The Architect to those in Flynn’s Army, had adopted the look of a nondescript librarian—her richbrown hair was pulled into a tidy bun, oversized glasses sat on her nose, a simple pleated skirt disguised her generous hips—but as her name suggested, she was both a countess and a fox. The former label she’d done her damnedest to escape, but the latter she embraced wholeheartedly. She spoke without turning, her hearing as sharp as ever. “May I help you?” She repeated the question in Romanian, her accent—a good one—thicker as her tongue flowed over the words.

Meg brushed a wet strand from her cheek. “I hope so.”

Tessa’s hand stilled in mid-air, the book suspended for a heartbeat before she finished sliding it between two other volumes. She didn’t turn but lowered her voice to a low growl. “What areyoudoing here? I told you I never wanted to see you again.”

Taking a step closer, Meg surveyed the area. Discreet cameras blended into the corners of the large expanse, and probably more were hidden in the overhead lights. There was no reason to bug the library, however. “I need your expertise. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t critical to saving a life.”

“I can’t help you.” Continuing to avoid her eyes, Tessa turned to her cart and pushed it down the row. “I don’t do that anymore. We’re about to close. You should leave.”

“Tommy’s missing. Could be a kidnapping, or could be he’s…” Dead. She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

This brought Tessa’s attention, finally, to Meg. “I’m sorry to hear that. What does that have to do with me?”

Good thing she couldn’t hear Flynn over the earpiece. At the sight of Tessa, Meg imagined he was having a coronary. “I need to get into the embassy. Tonight.”

Never taking her focus from Meg, she positioned the cart between them, removing a book from the lower shelf. She held it to her chest. “That isn’t an answer. How did you find me?”

Meg had no doubt there was a small but accurate pistol hidden in the book. “I keep an eye on my enemies.”

Her lips twitched. “And your friends?”

A low blow. Meg fought not to break eye contact and reveal her soft spot. “I’m not here to discuss what happened to Jessie. I need to get into the embassy undetected. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Tessa snorted. “Perhaps if you and your government paid more attention to your so-called friends, the chaos at the embassy wouldn’t have happened.” Placing the book in reach, she chose another from the cart and examined it. “Why can’t you walk in the front door?”

Another dig, and it probably had layers of meaning, but Meg didn’t have time to dissect them, nor did she care. “It’s your government, too, and I know they had you design a backdoor into the place when it was built. Service tunnels, secret entrances, hidden passageways. Show me the plans, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“You think I keep such things here? What, I have them tattooed on my ass?” Her dark brown eyes flashed from behind the thick lenses of her glasses. “Go to hell and take whoever sent you. Get out of my library.”

“No one sent me. This is all me. Hagar is watching. He’s the one stirring this up. You’re my only hope to get in and out without him knowing.” She didn’t want to divulge everything, but… “I suspect Tommy stumbled over something damning, and Hagar knows it. That intel is buried inside the embassy. My mission is to retrieve it.”

“Easy job. You don’t need me.” But her eyes told a different story. The fox was curious. She loved a challenge. More so if she would outwit a terrorist with her skills. “Even if I could help, why would I? You let her die.”

Bad blood ran deep. Too many years ago, Jessie had been Tessa’s star pupil at The Farm when Meg and Jessie were in training. Tactical stealth entries and exits had been taken to an entirely new level with the fox. “Her death is on me. I’ve never claimed otherwise, and you have no reason to believe I have your back, but it’snotan easy job, and you know it. I can’t trust anyone else.”

A thin eyebrow rose. The fox wanted more, and although she’d never admit it, she, herself, had a backdoor—her heart.

Give her a reason to take the bait.“I’m only doing this for Jessie,” Meg admitted. That much was true. “And Tommy. I can’t ever make it right, but I can make Hagar pay. My team will assist, but I have to watch their backs as well. It’s all on me. I need to get in and out as quickly as possible.”

Endless seconds passed. Tessa returned to shelving, purposely making Meg sweat. “No,” she finally said. “I won’t help you.”

Damn. Meg buried her frustrated sigh. She’d known it was a long shot. “I understand.” Truth was, she did. She wished she’d stuck to her guns with Flynn. “I’m sorry I bothered you. Have a good life working in this Romanian library, where your skills and talents are going to waste.”

With that, she turned, a brief feeling of satisfaction at Tessa’s gasp making her lips quirk.I’ll figure it out. I’ll find another way.

“I said I won’t helpyou,” Tessa called. “I never said I wouldn’t help Declan and Spencer.”

Meg pinched her lips together, keeping the triumphant grin off her face as she stopped and faced the woman. Declan was good for something, after all. “They’ll meet us.”

Tessa shoved the cart away, grabbing the book with the gun. She reached for the back of her bun, and her hair cascadedover her shoulders. She removed the glasses and headed for the escalator. “Let’s go then. They need me.”

FOUR

Midnight

Service tunnels under Bucharest

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