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She had no comms. There was no way Sommers wouldn’t figure out if she was able to communicate with her team. But her team would be able to hear her, thanks to Ranesh. It could come down to split-second timing. She could end up with nothing but a fistful of ashes and the world burning down. Or she could end up with a bullet in the head.
Don’t think that way, she chided herself.
This had to work, had to.
On the way over, a news site had said that China was testing a hypersonic missile glide system that could evade US missile defense systems.
She refused to be even a minor part of a war starting up, not when she suddenly had so much to live for.
She was in mortal danger, speeding her way to a clever and evil man whom she had to outwit, and who had already tried to kill her.
But watching over her would be the handsomest, coolest man she’d ever seen. Not to mention the most fascinating and kindest man she’d ever met and who somehow, by some magical alchemy that only happened in novels and role-playing games, seemed as interested in her as she was in him. And who was also a god in bed. A man who had redefined sex for her.
A man who’d said he loved her.
A man who was willing to lay his life on the line for her.
A man in a million, someone she couldn’t have dreamt up in her most heated dreams because she didn’t know someone like him existed.
The world had shifted on its axis. Where the future had been this vaguely interesting place that might yield up new software, a nice restaurant, a good movie—now the future was this incredibly magical place where every single moment could lead to blinding pleasure. Where sitting on a sofa holding hands flooded her with endorphins. Where waking up with Pierce by her side was this amazing experience because who knew what the day would bring?
She didn’t want to lose that, not just as she’d found it.
She’d never had love in her life. And now that she had it, it was on the cusp of extreme danger. She couldn’t lose this.
She psyched herself up as the Uber driver drove along Nebraska, took a little turnoff on Oregon and there it was. The path into Rock Creek Park she often took when running. She knew the place intimately, which was why she chose it. She would be in the weeds here, dealing with a man she’d never met and who was vicious and calculating and powerful. To her advantage, she was familiar with the place, and above all, she had really good guys on her side. Not only good guys, but guys who knew what they were doing.
Plus the Antz, making their test run today, right now. Guided by Ranesh, the smartest man she’d ever met. And who was a good friend.
She paid the Uber and walked slowly toward the entrance, then onto the hiking trail. The picnic table was a little farther in—you had to go over a small hillock. Ah, there it was.
It wasn’t much to look at. The table was weathered and cracked; the barbecue area was run-down. The last people to use it hadn’t cleaned up, so it was full of charcoal.
She looked around carefully. If her guys had set up, she couldn’t see them. They’d have driven much more quickly than the Uber guy, so they should be here. If they were, they were invisible.
Her vision clouded a little, like gauze had been placed over a part of the scene, then it cleared up. It took her a moment to realize what it was.
The Antz!! Ranesh had set up and had sent his Antz over to her. It was brilliant. She couldn’t see any of them individually just a tiny hint of cloud where they swarmed. There they were on the tabletop, almost completely invisible. The tabletop of the picnic table was in bad shape with crevices and flaking wood. The Antz couldn’t be seen. She bent down. Under the tabletop were lots of Antz, barely visible, presumably the voice recording ones.
There was still no one around, so she said, “Can you hear me?”
A small, frail brown hand shot up from the bushes and she smiled.
“Ranesh, are you okay?” Two hands shot up, thumbs up.
She would never have known Ranesh was there. She trusted that Pierce and Jacob Black and his men were stationed at strategic places, even if she couldn’t see them. They were good.
Well, of course.
She also trusted them to deal with Sommers’ men.
Otherwise she was in deepest shit, because Sommers was definitely one of the bad guys, and the men in his employ were, too. They had killed Henry Yu and had come after her twice.
Adrian Sommers was a treacherous man.Remember that, Riley.
And there he was, striding down the path as if he owned it.
Riley watched him approaching. She’d seen photos and had seen the photo in his company’s brochure. That photo had been heavily photoshopped, dropping pounds and wrinkles. But even with the pounds and wrinkles back on, he was a handsome man if you squinted. Tall, powerfully built, with even features. He spent a lot of money on himself. That haircut was a $300 one, at least. He was wearing a couple thousand dollars in linen shirt, light cashmere sweater and linen trousers. And another thousand on beautiful boots. No man-jewelry, though. He was in the security business, so jewelry would probably be frowned on.
