Page 19 of Rhys

Poor, unsuspecting bastards.

Well, most of them were unsuspecting. The one in the middle of the deliberately constructed collage knew exactly what was coming for her and why, which made this particular hunt all the more fun.

“Pretty, pretty Vanessa,” he whispered her name to himself. Lifting a finger to the grainy image he’d snapped less than a minute before he’d taken the shot, he traced the length of her profile. “You and your handsome hero can run, and you can hide, but I’m going to find you. And when I do…”

He removed his hand from the photo and bent his fingers in a way that appeared as if he were holding a gun. Then, with his index finger pointed directly at C.I.A. Special Agent Vanessa Marsh’s forehead, he pretended to pull the trigger.

* * *

Vanessa staredat the lacey white bra in her hands and sighed. There was no way she could put it on the normal way, which left what she affectionately referred to as the grandma way.

Using her left hand as little as possible, she held it upright and then brought it around her back. The goal was to bring the two ends together in front, beneath her breastbone, attach the metal hooks to their corresponding eyes, and then spin it around and slide her arms through the straps.

On a normal day, she could do it in seconds. With her eyes closed. But this day was anything but normal.

Son of a…

Tempted to growl out her frustration, she tossed the bra back inside her bag and grabbed the dark green hoodie she’d brought with her. It was baggie, so itshouldconceal the fact that she’d be braless. She hoped.

Although it did make her girlie parts jump for joy when she caught Rhys checking her out earlier. Oh, he’d tried to hide it, those eyes of his hopping right back up to hers at the last minute. But he’d been a smidge too late and more obvious than he probably realized.

Vanessa’s mouth curved into a smile. She couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. Not a genuine one, anyway.

The smiles she wore these days were all part of the show. An act designed to help her reach her goal. Or rather, the Agency’s goal.

Her lips fell, the rare moment of genuine happiness gone as quickly as it had appeared.

God, she was a mess. In fact, the whole damnsituationwas one giant clusterfuck, and the only way out she could see was to find proof of Kenneth Austin’s plan and then stop him before it could be implemented.

And that’s where Rhys and his team came in.

Vanessa was good at what she did. Damn good. It wasn’t arrogance or a false sense of her abilities. It was the truth.

But even someone as good as her needed help now and again. And if there was ever a time to ask for it…

Charlie Team has to help me stop Austin from destroying this country. Rhys and the others…theyhaveto believe me.

She’d make them believe her. Because if she didn’t…

We’re all going to die.

Minutes later,after a painful struggle with the hoodie, Vanessa was dressed in that, the lacey white panties that came with the bra she wasn’t wearing, and a pair of black leggings. After slipping her socks onto her feet and making a mental note to see if there was a Walmart or Target that would deliver some cheap shoes to his neighborhood, she ran a brush through her damp hair and went in search of the man she prayed would help her save the world.

She found him standing in his kitchen with his back to her, and he was talking to someone on the phone. Thanks to her socked feet and soft steps, he hadn’t heard her coming down the stairs.

For the first little bit, he didn’t say anything. He simply held his phone to his ear and listened to whoever was on the other end of the call.

It was the first opportunity she’d had to look at the man who was always there in the back of her mind. A man who starred in every fantasy…and every dream.

But standing here now, taking in the glorious view, she confirmed what she already knew.

Fantasy has nothing on the real thing.

Just as it had been when they met, he kept his dark brown, almost black hair short and neat on the back and sides. The top was a smidge longer, allowing his thick natural waves to come through.

God, I’ve missed those waves.

She smiled wistfully as the memory of a particular day filled her mind’s eye. It was just the two of them lying in bed together. His strong, loving arms holding her close.

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