Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Vienna forced herself to remain relaxed in the cuddle chair. He watched her too closely, assessing her reaction, weighing whether or not he should continue. She’d pulled her share of dead bodies out of lakes and rivers and snowbanks. She’d seen young people crushed from falls while climbing rocks they never should have been on. She knew how to school her expression, and she called on that discipline now.
“I texted my people to hit the security tapes fast, because I knew that tape would be pulled to cover for whoever had attempted to murder Rainier, if they hadn’t already messed with the camera, which was far more likely. I had been watching Rainier closely because I’d been worried for his safety, more so recently.”
“Why?”
“I cautioned Rainier several times against asking too many questions a man in his position wouldn’t necessarily be asking of security guards, but he didn’t want to wait and leave it to me. He’s used to being in charge. Sam, Rainier, Zyair, Wilder and I mostly work alone. You met them all when Sam needed us, and they’ll all be at Sam’s wedding. We trained together and we back one another up. Occasionally, we’re sent in as a team, but for the most part, we work alone. Rainier just got impatient. Hotels aren’t his environment. He prefers outdoors and wants to get back to it.”
“At the cost of his life?”
Zale paced across the floor with fluid, restless steps that made no sound. He looked like a large jungle cat, trapped in a cage, ready to spring free at any moment. “He wouldn’t view it that way. He’s nearly always the smartest man in the room. He’s lightning fast when he’s not weighed down with all the latex and prosthetics he has to wear. It doesn’t occur to him he is going to be vulnerable.”
Vienna refrained from pointing out that the other dead agents most likely viewed themselves as being intelligent and fast as well. “You were watching him closely at the craps table. Did you see anything suspicious?”
“I noticed that the waitress bringing him the cocktail was one of several people we’d spoken casually with a few days earlier. We’d asked her a couple of questions, nothing that should have raised a red flag, but right after we did, that was when we were attacked by the three men with the knives in the parking lot.”
“You paid closer attention because of that?”
He frowned. “I don’t know if I can honestly say that. I was already in that mode, aware of everything. I’d noticed the dealer spent a good amount of time glancing up at the security cameras. That’s unusual. He seemed nervous to me. I almost gave Rainier the signal to get out of there, but I didn’t have anything concrete to go on, just my gut, and I was afraid he’d balk. I didn’t want a scene with his security man.”
“Would he do that?”
“I didn’t know. He’s been cooped up for a while now. He’d sustained an injury and they’d sidelined him. He didn’t take it well. Then he was given this role.”
“Tell me about the woman serving the drink.”
“She brought the drink on a tray, with a little napkin. She smiled at Rainier, but kind of absently, not really looking at him. She looked up toward the camera and then at the dealer. A server bringing someone like Wayne Forsyne a drink is going to expect a huge tip. He has that reputation. She should have engaged him in conversation. Flirted a little. She didn’t. She turned and walked away fast. That raised red flags.”
“That’s when the woman took the drink from Rainier and collapsed.”
“I pulled Rainier back, trying to get in there to retrieve the glass in order to send it to our people. It hadn’t shattered on the carpet. Two security guards were there before me. That told me something right there. For them to get to the glass and remove it before I could get there means they were expecting someone to go down. They immediately called for a medic. I made certain to get photos of them and the dealer. I spotted the server in the crowd when I was taking Rainier to the elevator and he got one of her. Those were sent to our people. The video feed had been pulled all right, but there are backups and our people are looking into getting them. They are also tracking the server’s movements to see everyone she interacted with.”
“You think they’ll try again.”
“I know they will. I want him pulled. He says no. If they pull him, they have to pull me. I’d have no reason to be here. In any case, it would stand to reason they would think I’m an agent as well.”
Vienna’s heart sank. It was clear. Zale wanted Rainier safe, but he wanted to put himself in the line of fire no matter what. She studied his face. That face. Every line and angle. He wouldn’t stop. He would never back down. She saw him very clearly in that moment. He was a hunter and he was hunting. It didn’t matter if his prey was hunting him. It wouldn’t matter if he were called off by the people he worked for. He wouldn’t stop until he found the ones who had killed the other agents. It was already far too late for her to spare her heart. Even knowing the risks he took and the compulsion that gripped him to continue to hunt, just as he had when he’d been so young that first time, she knew Zale was her choice.