Page 51 of Rhys

“Oh, it shows.” Greyson came through faster than expected. “I’m looking at his checking and savings, and the guy’s not hurting at all. He also paid off his first and second mortgages two weeks ago.”

A heavy sadness threatened to steal Vanessa’s focus. John had been her friend. A mentor and father figure.

He’s also a professional liar.

“I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised,” she muttered low. “I mean, the guy’s been in the spy game for over two decades. If anyone could pull something like this off, it’s him.”

“Hate to say it, Vanessa”—Greyson spoke up again—“but I’m willing to bet that’s how you and your asset were burned.”

She nodded but said nothing.

“I’m sorry, Ness.” Rhys reached over and covered her hand with his. “I know you cared about him.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I cared about a fictional version of him. This man…the one we’re watching right now? I don’t even know him.”

It was harsh, but true. And it was the only way she could think right now for fear she’d break down into a blubbering mess otherwise.

“Wait a sec…does it look to anyone else like they’re arguing?”

Vanessa looked through the binos again. “Oh, yeah. Austin looks pissed.”

“Shit. He’s heading back to the van.”

“We can’t let them leave.”

Rhys took another picture then looked over at her. “We have nothing to hold them on.”

Just then, one of Austin’s goons pulled out a gun. Before anyone could react, he pointed it at John’s head and pulled the trigger.

John’s body jerked a half a second before falling to the ground.

“Oh, fuck!” someone from Rhys’s team exclaimed.

Vanessa was reaching for the door before she even thought about what she was doing, but Rhys stopped her with a hand to her wrist.

“Vanessa, wait!”

“We can’t! He just killed John, Rhys. We all saw it. If that isn’t cause to go after him, then—”

“You’re right, Vanessa,” Trace’s voice broke through her shock and horror. “But we need to hang tight a little longer.”

Hang tight?“The man’s guard just shot a CIA agent in cold blood, and you want me to hang tight?”

“That’s exactly what I want you to do.”

“And why the hell would I do that?”

“Because there’s a third car pulling up, and we have no idea who’s inside.”

A third…

Vanessa lifted the binoculars and brought them back to her face. Watching closely, she did her best to calm her racing heart and not think about the fact that a man she’d known for ten years—the man who’d taught her everything she knew about being a field agent—was dead.

Not only that, but he’d most likely been the one to give up Rose and hang her out to dry.

Don’t go there, Ness. Not now. Later, you can process that shit. Right now, you need to focus.

Just as John had trained her years before, Vanessa drew a slow breath in through her nose before blowing out in a controlled stream through her mouth. Locking everything else away for now, she returned her focus to the incoming vehicle and waited.

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