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She opened her mouth to explain, but she was cut off by a huge blast. It flashed as bright as a magnesium flare. The dining room window shattered behind her, scattering glass.
Seichan grimaced, knowing she should have expected as much from Kowalski.
Gray hurried over. “Are you all right?”
She stayed down on one knee. “I’m afraid this moment may not be as good as the Chinese New Year, but—”
She held up the ring box and opened it. The steel circle had belonged to Zhuang, too. She stared up at Gray. She had lived with many regrets. She would not add this one.
She ripped down the last veil between them.
“Will you marry me?”
Epilogue
TWO MONTHS LATER
The crisp morning air heralded the first day of spring. The sun shone brightly over the greensward of a wide park. Families strolled. A few dogs bounded. A happy chatter carried on the breeze. Overhead, the sky was an aching blue that looked painted in place.
A gleeful shout drew her attention back down. A child sped toward her, tripping along the sidewalk, half dragged by a string tied to a bat-winged kite.
Valya Mikhailov stepped out of the way. “Careful,rebenok.”
An arm waved in acknowledgment, but her warning was ignored.
She continued to the far side of the park.
Despite the bright day, her thoughts remained dark. Over the past two years, she had rebuilt her forces as she kept her head low. She had expanded her organization, both in number and expertise, including their intelligence-gathering capabilities.
When the opportunity had arisen to rid herself of a thorn in her side, she had foolishly taken it. In her haste, she had made mistakes. She recognized that and accepted it. Still, she had made one last attempt in Jakarta. She had called Major Xue and alerted him to where Commander Pierce and the others were headed, to the city’s history museum. She had hoped by co-opting her former employers that the situation could be rectified.
Again, I was mistaken.
No matter, if she was truthful with herself, she preferred to exact her own retribution. Yet now, the others knew she lived, which was problematic. She refused to be hunted. She was done hiding and biding her time. She was ready to go on the offensive.
If it’s a war they want...
She glanced over her shoulder and stared up at the spire of the Washington Monument. Beyond it, the redbrick façade of the Smithsonian Castle stood tall.
She paused to listen to the laughter and shouts on this crisp morning—and pressed the transmitter button in her pocket.
The thunderous booms carried like cannon fire.
She continued across the street as the Castle shattered behind her.
...then a war we shall have.
