Page 109 of Spy With Me
“Shannon, he’s talking about killing millions and starting awar that would kill millions more.” Devi couldn’t get a grip on the enormity ofwhat that man was planning to do. He was going to burn the planet and fornothing more than revenge on his perceived enemies. He was going to take downher family.
“Sweetheart, if there is one thing I have learned in thislife, it is that we can only do so much and the rest is fate. Maybe if it wasonly me, I would leave this life. I’ve hidden and wasted years because I wastoo afraid. I thought Zach would be better without me. I know Cooper was betterwithout me. If you weren’t here, I would set that bomb off. I would kill us alland make the world a better place.”
It sent a chill down her spine, but she had to consider it.She had to consider that her life wasn’t worth the lives of everyone who woulddie next. “Could you do it?”
It would save her family since they were absolutely on theground somewhere. Likely in Kathmandu. They would be there when the bombs wentoff. They would breathe in the air and they would die. She could make sure thatdidn’t happen.
Shannon’s chin came up. “I could but I won’t. Those bombsare connected remotely to a computer that will control its detonation. Anycomputer is hackable. But I’m putting this in the hands of fate and my son, whois the absolute best thing I ever did. Sometimes I’m sure he’s the only goodthing I ever did. I will not let the woman he loves sacrifice herself. Besides,it’s not like he’s given me access to the actual canisters. The ones he had medesign around are empty. They don’t contain the anthrax.”
“But these do,” a masculine voice said.
Shannon tensed, and Devi knew who was standing in thedoorway before she even turned around.
Ray. He was the shadow always haunting them.
She worried he was hunting them.
Now it was her turn to stand in front of Shannon. He’dobviously come to take the bombs now that they were done.
This was happening. Anxiety pressed against her, but sheforced herself to stay calm. “You should take them and go. I think Huisman isgetting impatient.”
“Huisman is fucking insane,” Ray said with a chuckle. Henodded to the two men who stood behind him, and they moved in quickly, takingthe bombs. Ray held back. He had a thin metal canister in his hand, one thatwould fit neatly into the space Shannon had built at the base of the smallbombs.
So small to be so deadly. Shouldn’t something that couldkill millions have more weight? Be harder to carry?
One of the men took the canister from Ray, promising todeliver it to Huisman.
Shannon waited until the other men stepped out beforelooking to her ex. “Ray, you have to stop this. I know you don’t care aboutmany people, but you have to know this will affect you in the end, too. If hedoes this, the world ends.”
Ray’s gray head shook. “The world changes. It doesn’t end.”
“The one we know will end,” Devi said. “We won’t ever goback.”
“Little girl, I’ve spent the majority of my life working myway up. I’ve found the best way to make myself rich and powerful is to takefrom other people. When Huisman gets what he wants, I’m going to be a king, andI don’t care that my kingdom will be on fire. It will be mine and I willfinally have what I deserve.” He stared at Shannon for a moment. “And you willbe there at my side. I will make sure of it. You should know I won’t care thatyou don’t want to be there. In so many ways that makes it sweeter. So thisbetter work or he’ll take it out on all of us, and anything that he does to meI’ll take out on everyone you care about.”
Tears filled Shannon’s eyes. “They’re your sons, too.”
“Nah. Theyain’tnothing to me buta way to control you,” Ray admitted. “And the second one, I don’t even knowhim. Zach was a disappointment. I’m sure the other one is, too.”
“You’re a fucking monster,” Devi spat.
“Watch your mouth,” Ray shot back, his eyes narrowing.
“Watch your back.” There was a time to lay low and a time tofight like hell. It was looking like the latter.
Shannon quickly got between them. “Don’t lay a hand on her.Huisman needs Zach to do this job, and he’ll be pissed if Zach hesitatesbecause his fiancée is hurt.”
A feral smile crossed his face. “Well then I’ll have to waituntil the job is done. Then maybe we’ll see what my son finds so intriguing. Ihave to admit I wouldn’t have thought he would go for the athletic type. I likemy women more womanly, but it might be fun to make him watch.”
“Don’t you dare,” Shannon said.
“I dare and so much more,” he snarled her way.
There was a pinging sound that always preceded anannouncement. “All security report to the loading dock.”
“Well, that will be our boy. I think it’s time to get thisparty started.” He turned and started for the door.
It was time. No matter what Shannon said, she had to try.Even if it killed her.
