Page 29 of Secret Redemption

"Yes, but how did she not know this?"

"What about Celeste?" Zin asked with an urgency in his voice.

"That’s another story, but hasten to say she believes in you."

Zin’s shoulders slumped slightly in relief and then his face went blank. "So, do I stay undercover?"

Zack rubbed his temples, and then looked at Zin. "Yes, but only until it becomes untenable. I won't have anyone on my team hurt, including you."

"You still want me on the team?" Zin asked with shock in his voice.

"Yes, but if you ever lie to me again, I’ll set Samson on you, or worse yet, Celeste. She has one hell of a fucking temper," Zack said then smirked before continuing. "Tell me about what they want and their plans?"

Zin filled them in on the Watchers plans and the mission to get the Phial. They agreed that Zack would take the Phial that Zin had already obtained and Ava would work on a switch. Zin would put them off for a day to give them time and then go back with the fake. They parted ways with a promise from Zin to stay in touch through Roz.

As they were about to leave Zin touched her arm. “Is she okay?"

Ava knew he meant Celeste and she smiled to herself. Oh yeah, he was gone over her. He just didn’t know it yet. "She's fine; she misses you."

Zin nodded, and he looked sad, "It could never work, this is for the best."

"If you say so," she replied and turned to Zack who gave her a funny look that made her insides go squishy.

~~~

Rhea was on the phone with her informant from SIS when the door burst open, and the Butcher slammed into the room. She was outwardly calm at his rude intrusion and spoke to the man on the end of the line cutting the call short. "Fine," she clipped, " I want a full report by three pm today."

She hung up and turned her attention to the man in front of her desk. He was breathing hard, and his face was red. She watched him for a second letting him know that he could not speak by raising her finger to him. Anger crossed his ruddy face, and she knew that he hated the way she was in control. The feeling was like a drug to her though, and she relished the control she had over him. He could snap her in two like a twig, but she held all the cards. It caused a tiny smile to break out on her face.

"What is it that is so important that you feel you can come barging into my office? Please tell me; I'm just dying to hear it."

"I've found a weakness," he said with triumph, and a sneer tilted his lip, causing the burns on his face to contort in a disgusting mask.

"Oh, do go on," she invited with a twirl of her finger as she returned to her side of the desk and sat down.

"The woman you’ve had us watching has an appointment this afternoon, and her doctor has had a bit of an accident, so a new doctor is standing in. One she hasn’t met. It’s the perfect time to grab her."

Rhea felt her heart flutter, and for a second the feeling made her feel sick, but she swallowed and beat it back. Had the time arrived and was she ready to meet her past head-on? Gripping the arm of her chair, Rhea looked at the Butcher. She didn’t want the woman harmed, she was all she had left, and she needed someone to pass her legacy onto when she died.

Megan had never cut it, no gift or backbone to speak of, her only role was to be one of the mothers to the fated offspring. The legacy and leadership would always be hers to pass on despite what the supposed prophecy said.

No, she absolutely could not trust this to the Butcher. "Fine, where is Smithy?"

"He’s outside the guest’s room. He won't let anyone near her but the nursing staff as per your instructions," he said with a snarl.

Rhea cocked her head and glared at him, letting him know without any words that she did not like his attitude. "Is there a problem?"

"No, it's just you seem to be letting him get away with more than you should."

"When did it become your job to question me?" she asked with barely concealed anger at his veiled rebellion.

"It isn't, but the men are talking, and it’s causing problems."

"Fine, I’ll deal with Smithy and tell him to bring the woman to me. You deal with the discord in the ranks, and if it can't be nipped in the bud, then I suggest you cut the dead wood and dispose of them. We need some fresh blood for the last round of tests anyway. They would make excellent test subjects."

"Where will I get more men from?" he asked, aghast at her idea to kill his men or use them for testing.

"There’s a convoy of soldiers moving prototype military weapons across the Pakistan border with Afghanistan. Seize it and the men too. Once you have them secured, drug them and start the training. Then ship them to the training facility in Vigo until we can get them back here."