Page 37 of False Flag

Another reason he’d expected her to recognize him. She hadn’t browsed the site much after submitting her application, but she’d checked in periodically. She could easily have seen him then.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. That night was a bit overwhelming.”

He shrugged. “I get it. You, on the other hand, were unforgettable.”

Jake’s voice rang through her head. “All I hear is memorable and impressive.”

She closed her eyes, wanting to laugh at the cocky statement and cry for what she’d done. She let out a slow breath and opened her eyes.

A sly smile spread across the face of the man beside her. “Of course, everyone noticed you. But that was the point, wasn’t it?”

She caught the hint of derision in his tone. She understood why. She had shamelessly used her body to get Gerard’s attention. “Yes. Yes. It was. I lacked the funds to pay for seats at the high table, so I used the assets I do possess to get his attention.”

“Touché.”

“I think it’s fair to assume that we both did what we could to bring attention to our applications, but Gerard isn’t a fool, and we wouldn’t have been selected for the team if we didn’t have skills he needs. I have an undergraduate degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in maritime studies with a focus on marine archaeology. I’ve done terrestrial archaeological fieldwork in the East and Southeastern US, Belize, and the Midwest. I’ve conducted historical research for areas all across the US and Canada and participated in underwater archaeology surveys in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. What skills do you bring?”

“Unlike you, I’m self-taught, but I’m good at what I do.” At her raised brow, he said, “Computers. Mapping. Geographic Information Systems, specifically focused on developing geospatial models using existing satellite data in conjunction with AI.”

Staci flinched when he said AI. She couldn’t help it. She’d known Gerard would bring AI into the fieldwork—if he hadn’t already—she’d just hoped to have a chance to talk him out of it or get him to defer until after she was long gone.

Now she had to play nice and pretend to be impressed, not repulsed.

When Diana had looted sites for a group of terrorists, she’d been kidnapped. The threat of death was real. She’d done the work because she was forced. And her end goal had been nothing short of delivering a man who was responsible for hundreds of murders to justice.

Staci had volunteered for this. No one was forcing her. Sites would be looted, no matter how much she worked to stop it. But what was the end goal? It was hardly on par with what Diana had done.

No. She wanted to stop other men from being twisted by Campbell’s disinformation campaign.

Campbell might not be a Makram Rafiq, but he had a similar hold on men’s minds. Domestic terrorism was real. The threat was real.

Her ex, Beau Sommerville, was just one of many. One of millions.

Beau. Her very first lover, and, ten years later, her last lover.

No. Not her last. That title now belonged to Lieutenant Jacob Burns.

The memory of him should erase Beau from her mind. He was better in bed…better than Beau in every way. Except for one thing. He, too, was a fan of Campbell.

How could he be friends with Valkyries and still follow Campbell?

Now she faced this stranger she’d be working with for the next few months. A man who represented everything she despised. How the hell was she going to pull this off?

One mention of AI and she’d flinched.

“I look forward to seeing the data you’ve compiled. Where is the expedition going to begin?”

He tsked. “Anastacia, you know I can’t tell you. Not yet.”

A chill went down her spine at the way he said her name. His voice sounded far too…similar.

“Please, I prefer being called Staci. And I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I still don’t know your name.”

He held out a hand. “Sorry. I’m Lloyd. Lloyd Burns.”

She gave him a tight smile as her mind reeled.

Burns.