Page 215 of The Company

Nicola. I’ve never met her before, but I know that’s her. Is that the girl Nick was referring to?

I’m just about to make my way over there and start shit when a hand grabs my shoulder. I look up to see the Admiral.

He’s not looking at me, though. He’s looking at One.

“One. You continue to surprise me,” he says, lifting his champagne glass in a fake toast.

“Six is not the only one with surprises,” my uncle answers.

“I should say not. Have you come to deliver the file you stole from my daughter?”

“No,” One says evenly. “I came to pick one up.” I’m still in the Admiral’s grasp when they both look down at me. “She’s got some very interesting information. It seems that you, Admiral, have been set up by a little girl and her—”

James has One in a headlock and he’s choked the words off. “You made a big mistake coming here tonight, One.”

“Vincent,” the Admiral says with a chuckle. “Please. We’re not going to finish this here—” And then he must look James in the eyes, because the realization of who he is flashes across his face.

James snaps One’s neck and is easing him down to the ground before anyone actually realizes what just happened. In fact, only the few people closest to the Admiral understand. I’m just about to search One for the file while everyone is distracted by James when I see my target being pulled out of the room.

I leave the ballroom just as the room erupts in panic and follow Harper and her would-be abductor down the west wing of the palatial mansion. She’s pulled through the door, not fighting or crying out, either. So that alarms me. What if Harper is working for someone else as well? It seems we are nothing but a clusterfuck of double and triple crossings tonight.

I stop at the closed door to the room they entered and then open it a crack to see what’s going on.