Page 28 of False Flag

Teague and Vicki both dipped their heads in a slight bow, as if they’d rehearsed the scene from Pride and Prejudice, but there was no doubt it had been pure improv.

Kira laughed. “Can you do Romeo and Juliet?”

While Staci was amused, she also had to wonder what was Teague’s deal? Vicki’s love of Austen was well known in the FMV offices; it wouldn’t take much for the man to discover her weakness. But what was his goal when it came to her?

Throughout dinner and after, she noticed his gaze followed Vicki, but it might not be the kind of interest she wanted. It was entirely possible she was right about him only being interested in the Laskin files.

She and everyone here knew Teague Collins had his own reasons for wanting the data FMV had snatched from Grigory Laskin. Teague had a history of hacking and catfishing to collect intel on the Russian oligarch, which had proved useful last summer, but also made it clear to all involved that he was not to be trusted when it came to Laskin.

Last summer, Vicki had played Rand’s literary agent in a video chat, all while hacking and grabbing files. Staci and a few others had worked behind the scenes, assisting as much as they could with their lesser technical skills.

Since that time, Vicki had been the one in charge of decrypting and analyzing Laskin’s files. Staci suspected she still had a back door into the oligarch’s network. Truth was, Vicki was yet another Valkyrie Staci wanted to be like when she grew up.

The party continued. Dessert was served on the buffet. Drinks flowed. Teague and Vicki played darts in the corner. The pool tables were abandoned in favor of a video game tournament, with the competition playing out on the large screen.

Staci wasn’t about to compete in a first-person shooter match with a bunch of SEALs, and her Super Mario skills were exceedingly bad, no matter which game or platform. She watched the other players for a bit, then wandered outside to a large balcony that overlooked the reservoir.

It was a beautiful, midspring evening, and the forest was loud with frogs. A waxing gibbous moon shone down on the water, and she found herself wishing she had someone to enjoy the romantic setting with.

Not just any someone either.

Stairs at the side of the deck led down to a path where the private cabins were nestled along the lakeshore. Jake’s cabin was the one on the end. She had seen him go inside when they all walked back together after the paintball games ended.

She’d been walking with Cal, and he’d called out to Jake as he split apart from the group. She was certain he’d done it so Staci would see the man she’d made a point of not making eye contact with.

Who knew Cassius Callahan was a matchmaker at heart?

She considered Cal’s warning about Freya. What would Freya want her to do if she knew about Jake’s connection to Campbell?

That was easy. Freya would want Staci to use that connection to her advantage. Use him.

That was Freya’s bad habit Cal had mentioned. Pushing others to take risks—emotionally and physically—that were against their best interests in the long run.

But what were Staci’s best interests? She wanted to destroy Campbell, but there was a very real likelihood she’d be in over her head. Hell, she hadn’t even been able to trick Jake earlier today.

That had been a silly game, the only injury to her pride. If she failed with Campbell, the person she’d destroy was herself.

She descended the stairway without really thinking about it. Next thing she knew, she was on the path that wound through the woods toward the cabins.

She should go back.

Instead, she found herself standing in front of Cabin 3. She debated what to do. Sit on the porch and wait for him? The prick of a mosquito bite answered that question.

She’d try the door. If it was locked, she’d head back.

The door wasn’t locked.

Feeling like Goldilocks, she entered. To the left of the cabin entry was a small galley-style kitchen. To the right was a dining area that flowed into the living room. A couch and love seat formed an L, which faced the corner gas fireplace and large picture window that looked over a small deck that jutted above Anderson Lake.

The back of the couch was several feet from an interior wall that extended from the kitchen, making a walkway to a door that had to be the bedroom. She stared out the window, taking in the calm lake. The bedroom would have the same stunning view.

Well, it wouldn’t hurt to confirm her theory. She opened the bedroom door and stepped inside, drawn immediately to the wide window seat that extended out from the hillside structure, giving a clear, unobstructed view of the water.

She turned to take in the room. Cozy, with two-thirds of the space taken up by the queen-sized bed. An open duffel bag sat on a trunk in the corner.

It was lovely. The décor efficient, comfortable, and inviting.

She entered the attached bathroom and spotted a shaving kit and other toiletries on the shelf next to the sink. She’d been a little bummed he’d shaved after the paintball war. He was just as handsome, but she’d liked the feel of his stubble under her palms. Had imagined how it would feel elsewhere on her skin.