Page 2 of Toxic Vengeance

But the rules were about to change.

The Valkyrie Program had been scrapped, and the handler she’d kept infrequent contact with since had gone silent several weeks ago. Eden wasn’t sure if Chris was dead or not. Either way, she was on her own now. And that meant she no longer had to stay within the parameters imposed on her for so long. It was incredibly freeing to do things her way.

Terzi had been allowed to live for far too long already, by too many powerful people willing to overlook his evil deeds. Eden was here to change that. Not only was he a threat to global security, but recent intel she’d gathered confirmed he was a direct threat to her and her kind. Several months ago he’d been involved in the death of at least one Valkyrie. Rumor was he was currently on the hunt for others, to reap the bounty being offered by a wealthy source Eden hadn’t been able to locate yet.

For her the stakes had never been higher. Coming here was a huge risk considering he and his people might have information on her, but she had to take him out before he got any closer to her and the others. Wherever they were.

“Sonya, are you finished serving the prawns?” a woman asked in clipped Russian.

Staying in character, she turned to the head of the catering company hired for this event and put on a smile. “Yes, I was just headed back into the kitchen to get the next platter.”

The woman gave her a stern look and strode off to check on another server. Eden bustled back into the kitchen to get another silver tray of hors d’oeuvres. She’d set up a fake ID for this background weeks ago before applying to the catering company, because the host was every bit as cagey as Terzi, and had his security vet each catering employee’s credentials before granting them access to the estate. Luckily her credentials were impeccable, thanks to prior help from her former handler.

For all his brash arrogance and illusions of being untouchable, Terzi had proved frustratingly difficult to isolate. She’d been trying to get to him for almost three months now, and tonight was the best shot she was going to have.

Out in the dining room she circulated among the guests, keeping careful watch of who was here and where everyone was positioned. Her light-brown complexion and eyes made her stand out somewhat amongst the crowd, so she needed to otherwise make herself as unnoticeable as possible in her black uniform. Terzi was still at the table, now sipping on a flute of champagne, all smug and feeling invincible.

Eden would make sure he found out otherwise tonight.

His chief bodyguard was positioned in the far corner of the room, keeping watch. Two weapons were hidden in shoulder holsters beneath his custom-tailored suit jacket, and another in an ankle holster made visible by the slight bulge every time he took a step. The host’s security was more discreet, stationed throughout the house and dressed in formal wear. Eden had memorized their placements earlier, as well as their schedule during previous recon of the estate over the past two days.

She wasn’t worried about the tight security. She’d killed in front of an audience before and no one had ever been the wiser. All she had to do was deliver the fatal dose and disappear before they sealed off the mansion to question the staff. Once she did that her ID would be burned, but it didn’t matter.

She had several points going in her favor tonight. The number of guests and staff would make it easier for her to slip out unnoticed in the ensuing chaos. And Terzi had a fondness for marzipan she was about to exploit to the fullest.

She stayed as invisible as possible throughout the first three courses. After the main meal was served, while everyone relaxed around the table with another round of drinks, she got busy in the kitchen gathering the tools of her trade.

When she got the cue from the head of the catering company, she picked up the tray and followed another server bearing a tray of cocktails into the dining room. Several others were already there pouring tea and coffee for the guests, along with serving different kinds of dessert.

Eden kept her expression neutral as the server with the cocktails moved around the table and stopped at Terzi. He smiled up at her, taking the Amaretto Sour and saluting his host.

Eden waited until he’d taken a large sip before offering the guest beside him an exquisite, handmade marzipan fruit from the plate she carried. Terzi’s gaze cut to the pretty little morsels, a smile spreading across his face.

Certain of her mark, Eden lifted the tray to avoid another server passing by and quickly placed the laced marzipans in her clenched fist on the plate. Deftly turning it as she positioned herself beside Terzi again, satisfaction punched through her as he took four of them.

The dosage was tricky. He needed to eat at least two of them for it to be fatal, and she didn’t want to make it too obvious that it was poison. Better if it seemed like food poisoning at first, or a reaction to his blood pressure and heartburn meds. The cocktail would help. It was fortunate that Terzi had a weakness for almond-flavored things, disguising the scent of the cyanide.

Lifting the tray as she moved to the next guest, she “accidentally” knocked the final laced marzipan off the tray. As soon as it hit the floor another server swooped in to pluck it up and discard it, allowing Eden to move to the next guest without fear of poisoning them.

A few minutes later as she made her way to the other side of the table, she cast a surreptitious glance at Terzi out of the corner of her eye. He’d only eaten one marzipan and already looked ill.

He was sweating lightly, frowned as he put one hand on his protruding stomach. Dabbing at his face with his linen napkin, he reached for his Amaretto Sour and took another gulp. Then he picked up a second marzipan, paused to examine it, and popped it into his mouth.

Excellent.

She was headed through the kitchen doorway when she heard the first indication of alarm. At a sharp gasp and a cry, Eden ducked around the doorway into the kitchen.

Hidden from view, she glanced back in time to see Terzi lurch from his chair. He made it two steps before doubling over and vomiting all over the priceless Persian rug beneath the dining table. People gasped and shoved from their seats as security moved in.

Time to go.

A thud sounded somewhere behind her as Terzi hit the floor in the other room. She pushed her way through the flurry of people moving around the busy kitchen. She didn’t have to see Terzi to know what was happening. He’d be convulsing now, helpless as his body struggled for oxygen it could no longer absorb, foaming at the mouth even.

Good. Bastard deserved to die in terror.

Three more servers were bringing fruit trays down the hallway when she got there. Security agents rushed past them, faces grim.

Eden gave them blank looks and moved out of their way, staying in the periphery. As soon as they were past her, she rushed down the hall, heading for the powder room she planned to escape from.

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