Page 6 of The Ghost

“There is,” Lukas assured us. “And I’ll stop by as soon as I get you situated.”

“We can find our way around,” I offered.

Lukas shook his head. “I’m sorry. As much as I trust you, I can’t have you wandering around the base on your own.”

“Worried we might steal your secrets?” Clark teased.

“Something like that,” he agreed. “We need to talk, and the doctor can wait.”

We left the hangar and walked back to a different elevator. So far, if I was keeping track, this underground base had a massive footprint. I’d been beneath the Pentagon, and it wasn’t quite that impressive, but it beat all but the most expensive MI6 installations. I had no idea that Dark Sparrow was so well-funded, and I had to wonder where the money was coming from. Their stated goal of saving the planet from pollution and corporate greed didn’t sound like it paid that well.

“Where did you get the money for all this?” I asked as we filed into the elevator.

Lukas pushed a button, and we sank even lower. “We have some benefactors with deep pockets,” he said, keeping the names and details to himself.

The next floor was designated as living quarters. I could tell by the narrow doors and packed rooms that this was no five-star hotel. Lukas took us halfway down the hall before pausing at one door and pushing it open.

Inside, there were two twin beds, a set of drawers, and a tiny bathroom. It wasn’t a honeymoon suite by any stretch of the imagination, but we could push the beds together and work something out. At that point, I didn’t really care, but our work wasn’t over.

“Z, you’re next door,” Lukas said.

“Gotcha,” Z replied.

“I’ll meet you back in the control center,” Lukas said, dismissing his former foster sister.

“Roger that,” Z answered with more enthusiasm than I felt.

“After you go see a doctor,” Clark admonished, taking a seat on one of the beds.

“I will,” Lukas agreed. “But right now, we need to talk.”

I nodded my head, sitting down beside my lover. It was time to talk indeed. There were a million questions that needed answers, and I was eager to get underway. As cozy as the little room looked, I didn’t plan on staying long.

Chapter 4

Theo

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“WHY DON’T YOU GET SOME rest?” Lukas asked Clark, clearly wanting to separate us.

I glanced at my girlfriend, not sure if I wanted to leave her alone. But she read the room and shrugged. “I’ll be fine,” she assured me, lying down on the cot, shoes and all.

I lowered myself to give her a kiss before getting up and following Lukas out the door. “What is it that you can’t talk to her about?” I demanded.

“I’ll show you,” Lukas promised.

“Are you going to get medical treatment?” I asked, sure that Clark would have my balls if I didn’t pressure Lukas to get his leg looked at.

“Later,” Lukas replied. “We have work to do first.”

I shook my head. It wasn’t unusual for spies to put off medical treatment. When the stakes were life and death, a little thing like an open wound didn’t seem so bad. You kept going until you fell down or passed out. Since Lukas had been dealing with the pain for several days, I figured he was okay and let it drop.

He took us back up on the elevator, past the offices and to the command center. We walked down the stairs to the bull pen, and I noticed Z had taken up residence at one of the computers. She was furiously typing, either putting in some kind of report or searching for information. Lukas didn’t pause to say hello, taking me through the room to a door on the opposite side.

When he opened the door, the people I saw nearly took my breath away. Though Lukas claimed the base was paid for by rich benefactors, I quickly realized that his reach was even more extensive. There, in the conference room, was the leader of MI6, George Oliver, and two high-ranking American officials I recognized from my years on the job.

“Theo.” My boss, George, extended his hand.