Page 28 of Black Widow

They ran to the track they’d been on earlier.

“Here,” James said as Lachlan put Jenna on the ground. James grabbed her foot and wrapped the red cable around it, padlocking it in place.

Once James was sure the cable was secure, he nodded to Lachlan.

“Make sure she doesn’t move,” James said.

Jenna was in position, now it was time to meet Lisa. But James couldn’t meet her in the tunnel—she would never have agreed to it. There was no cover for either of them and it posed too much of a risk. He handed Lachlan the second syringe.

“It’s a reversal, give it to her in a few minutes,” James said. He didn’t need to instruct Lachlan how to use it, all CIA assassins had training in poisons, how to administer them, and how to reverse them. Because although the sedation had made Jenna compliant, he wanted her awake and alert once Lisa arrived. If Lisa thought James had already killed her, his plan wouldn’t work.

His eyes dropped to his watch then he turned and sprinted toward the platform.

“Samuel, confirm everyone except Lachlan is out of the terminal,” James said, knowing Samuel should’ve issued the command once they’d made it to the track.

If Lisa saw any of his men here, she’d think it was a trap. James needed to do this alone.

“Confirm,”Samuel responded.

He put his hands on the platform and launched up, landing softly on his feet.

“Samuel, lights on but hold the trains,” James said.

“Copy. I’ll do my best,”Samuel said but James didn’t doubt him. He’d never doubted Samuel’s abilities, but with Kimberley working beside him they were a formidable team.

The lights flickered then stayed on.

Come on, Lisa.

If she didn’t show up, they were back to square one. He shook his head, dismissing that concern. He’d made it so easy for her to follow him that there’s no way Lisa would’ve missed the breadcrumbs. The question was, would she come to talk? Or would she come to kill?

She had no reason to trust James, so he had to earn her trust and he had twenty minutes to do it, maybe less because he had to get Lachlan off the tracks before the trains resumed.

He took a deep breath, clearing his mind. He couldn’t be focused on the outcome right now, he had to focus on what he could control.

James quickened his pace, heading toward the east staircase. He took the stairs two at time, looking up to the arched windows. Was Black Widow already there? Or was she behind him?

He didn’t stop to look. The best thing he could do right now was keep moving fast.

He headed for the elevator, pulling the pass from his pocket. A pass had been taped to the back of a column in the concourse for Lisa, and she should have her pass now.

James stepped inside the elevator, exhaling a long breath when the doors closed and the chaos of the terminal faded away.

He focused on his breath, keeping it steady. He’d wasted so many years hunting her, and it had all been for nothing. He’d seen his inability to kill her as a failure, but now he realized it had been a gift.

“I’m sorry, Fred,” James said under his breath.

The carriage doors opened and James strode out.

“Go left,”Samuel said.“Across the walkway. I haven’t seen her enter the terminal.”

“Copy,” James said, quickening his pace. As he stepped onto the glass walkway, he felt exposed. He was exposed. If Lisa was in the concourse, she would see him now. He looked over his shoulder, checking for movement behind him.

But it was the gunshot that echoed, and the sound of splintering glass beneath his feet, that made his pulse race.

Lisa had arrived.

JAMES

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