Page 32 of Rhys

Despite her efforts, the macabre images of Rose alone and bleeding on that cold, concrete bridge made their way to the surface.

“What happened, Ness?” Rhys asked softly.

“I got there…” She turned to the man beside her. “It was about forty-five minutes before you and I met up. Rose was absolutely terrified and desperate for a way out. She was going on and on about how she couldn’t do it anymore and begged me to help her start a new life far away from D.C. She wanted me to set her up with a new identity, new job…the whole nine yards. Which, I had already promised to do once we had everything we needed to take Austin down. But then…”

“They killed her.”

A tear threatened to escape the corner of her burning eye, but she discretely reached up and swiped it away. “I was standing right next to her. Reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. Promising to help her.” Her voice cracked. “I was looking her in the eyes and promising to keep her safe when the bullet penetrated her chest. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. Whoever killed her was an excellent shot.” She blinked away more tears. “The bastard shot her right in the heart.”

I’m sorry, Rose. I’m so, so sorry!

Those were the last words Vanessa said to her. The last words Rose would ever hear.

“If the shooter knew Rose was working with you, then how come you’re still alive?” Kellan asked casually.

It was a fair question. One Vanessa had asked herself a million times since last night. And the only answer she could come up with was…

“I got lucky. Whoever it was did take a shot at me. Several, in fact. But my training allowed me to use evasive tactics long enough to make it out of the park and back to my rental car.” She decided it was important to add, “The car was part of my newest cover, since I’m supposed to have recently moved to D.C. upon accepting the job at Austin Avionics. If anyone were to ask, I could tell them I sold my car because I didn’t think it would make the trip and was renting until I found one I wanted to buy.”

“And if anyone were to run the plates, it would come back to the rental company and the contract that was under your alias.” Greyson nodded with approval. “Smart.”

Her lips curved in a slight smile. “If I was that smart, I wouldn’t have gotten shot in a museum parking lot.”

Rhys’s haunted gaze met hers once more. “You think you were made before or after you went to the park?”

“Honestly, I have no idea.” Something that burned her ass to no end. “Rose was the only one at the company who knew I was undercover.”

“She could’ve told someone,” Greyson pointed out.

“She could have, but I don’t think she did.”

“Why not?”

“Because Rose was a good person who knew the risks. She never would have put another innocent life in danger.”

“What about you?” Trace looked directly at her. “Anyone at Austin’s company who made you suspicious or threw up any red flags?”

Vanessa shook her head. “No. To be fair, though, it’s a huge company. Obviously, there’s no way to know that for sure when my cover was blown or how they knew where to find me.”

“Seems pretty clear to me,” Kellan spoke up again. “Whoever shot you must have followed you there.”

“Not possible.”

The former Marine frowned. “Then how do you explain the fact that you were shot less than an hour after your asset was murdered?”

Again, a valid question, but…

“I haven’t survived this long by not being able to spot a tail. And I do a sweep of my personal items and vehicle every morning and every night.”

“Man.” Greyson shook his head. “Sounds like you lead a very stressful life.”

The comment made her chuckle. “You have no idea.”

“So the gist of it is Kenneth Austin is planning to build a nuclear bomb and sell it to North Korea.” Asher ran a hand over his clean-shaven jaw. “Jesus.”

Vanessa couldn’t agree with the sentiment more.

“What’s the plan, Boss?” Kellan looked in Trace’s direction.

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