Elimination.
It was a dangerous job that could go wrong more ways than it could go right.
Fred stood there gawking at the bouquet. “What the— okay, so yougottaspill. Who is this from? What kind of wild sex happened to get a bouquetthatbig?”
Simone emptied her coffee in the sink and filled a glass with water. “You won’t believe me.”
After inhaling the beautiful scent of the flowers, Fred said, “These are not grocery store roses. This isthereal deal here, like, from a high-end florist.”
“I know. My kitchen has never smelled so good.”
“I’m starving.” Fred opened the refrigerator door. “You made brunch!” A squeal of delight had her pulling out plastic containers.
She slid an English muffin into the toaster, popped a plate of scrambled eggs with chopped mushrooms and onions, and three pieces of bacon, into the microwave.
“You missed your true calling,” Fred said. “Chef.”
A flicker of melancholy washed over Simone. She knew her true calling, but she’d walked from it years ago. Being an Op had been the best job Simone had ever had.
As if sensing her sadness, Fred put her arm around Simone, gave her a quick hug. “ALPHA would welcome you back just likethat.” She snapped her fingers.
Shorter than Simone, Fred was more muscular, and someone who lived for work. At thirty-five, she was three years older than Simone. She’d never married, but had been engaged twice. No kids, no pets. She was a phenomenal ALPHA Operative who gave one-hundred percent on every single mission.
“You know the secret to my cooking,” Simone said.
“Yup. Butter.” Fred slathered some on the English muffin, pulled the plate of bacon and eggs from the microwave, and sat catty-corner at the table. After taking a bite, she said, “I’m still waiting.”
“For what?”
“Who sent you the flowers, Red?”
She loved the nickname Fred had given her during their training at Quantico.
Simone chugged some water. “I went to Burke’s last night. I hadn’t been in a while, but I got myself on the list.”
“Nice.”
“Turns out, I was being stalked.”
Fred furrowed her brow. “For real?”
“By one of the men I’ve been watching.”
“No shit. Turned the table on you, huh? So, what, you hooked up with him? Must’ve been someone pretty hot for you to do that. Good thing Z is gone. He woulda canned your ass for sure. Okay, drumroll…hit me with it.”
“Luciano Santini.”
Fred’s eyes widened, her eyebrows crowding her forehead. She opened her mouth, but said nothing.
“Yeah, so you’re speechless,” Simone said. “That’s not something I see very often.”
“How did that even happen?”
“He said, and I quote, ‘You’ve been watching me from a distance for over a month. Time for a closer look-see.’”
“I love that. He’s definitely my kind of man. Went on the offense and cornered you at your secret hideout.”
“I know, right? Pretty slick.”
