Page 114 of Spy With Me
Big Tag looked his daughter’s way. “Take care of them, babygirl.”
“Always,” she promised. “Also, you should know Kenz isplanning on telling Ben everything, so we’ll probably be happy if we blow up.We won’t have to do the family bonding crap with him. I bet he’s a chattymotherfucker.” She looked at her husband. “Let’s do this. Where you die, I dieand all that, babe.”
“I’m not going to let us die.” Cooper held a hand up. “Goget your girl. I’ll be back when Tristan shuts this bomb down, but I’m notrisking doing it here. We don’t know if Huisman can’t override.”
Another volley of gunfire forced his attention back to thejob at hand. “Coop…”
“Save it, brother.” Cooper didn’t seem to want an overlyemotional good-bye. “Go.”
Big Tag pushed the door open and stepped out into the hall.“We’re going to work our way to the lab. That’s their last known position. Doyou remember the schematics?”
He’d studied them, but he also knew they were the basicbuilding plans and could have changed. Still, they’dID’dthe labs. From watching the CCTV cams, he knew basically where he wanted to go.He moved left. Somewhere in the distance, he heard shouting and then it wentquiet.
“We make a left at the intersection,” Zach said softly.“It’ll take us back to the labs. Shouldn’t there be more security?”
Big Tag moved to the wall, sliding along so his back wasprotected and he had the best angle. “Good. Let’s do it. And I’ll be shocked ifmost of his security doesn’t take off. He’s hiring mercenaries. They requiretwo things—pay and the knowledge that their jobs aren’t going to go bad. That’sthe difference between a mission and a paycheck. And that’s why my fucking teamworks. Not a one of you would ever run. Well, except you, and even then youstopped and took care of Lou and Aidan in Toronto. That was impressive, by theway. You took out five guards, and most of them with your hands in cuffs.”
“They weren’t well trained.” Talking was calming him down.“And you’re right. The minute they figured out it was going bad, they tried torun. I couldn’t let them.”
He couldn’t let them now either because he wasn’t sure whereDevi was and if they would encounter her. A security guard turned the cornerand his gun came up.
Zach shot him without hesitation and picked up his key cardbecause they might work on different doors.
He took out two more in the hallways as he and Big Tag madetheir way deeper into the complex. Big Tag took down his own. Every now andthen they would meet someone who had to be on the cleaning staff. Big Tag wouldtell them to take cover. Or try to since there was a language barrier.
It was tense, and they had to find a way through two doorson their own before the third took one of the keycards.
Lou. Thank the universe for Lou.
A door opened to his right and Zach turned, but Ian put ahand out, stopping Zach from firing.
Kenzie stood there wearing Lou’s latest contraption. She wasin all white, but that could change since her clothes were made of nanites. Itwasn’t what she’d been wearing when they’d dropped her off. She smiled thatsmile she used when she knew she was caught and was going to brazen through it.“Hey, Dad.”
Big Tag’s eyes narrowed. “I issued you a perfectlyacceptable combat uniform. What happens if that fucker sets off anelectromagnetic pulse and all those nanites are suddenly on the floor?”
She gave him an even brighter smile. “I’ll distracteveryone.” Her father growled but she shrugged. “Well, it worked for Daisy. Oh,and Lou got the comms back on, but she didn’t want to interrupt you when you’relike murdering people. I know it’s fun for you.”
Tag sighed. “Yeah, not so much anymore, kiddo. You see yourcousin?”
“Lou’s looking for her,” Kenzie replied. “She’s got the CCTVcams back up and made sure they’re recording. She and Tim are now working withTris. I’ve got to get this to Ben, though he doesn’t know it’s me coming.”
“You’re working.” Big Tag could really put the judgment inthere.
“I know, but you should be aware…”
“You’re going to tell him. I agree. It’s time.” A wolfishgrin lit the big guy’s face. “And then all our cards are on the table, and heand I can have a real talk.”
Kenzie went a little pale. “I’ll have to deal with thatlater.” She touched her earpiece and winced. “And they’re down again. Lou toldme Huisman has weird programs running. She’s worried about some signal that’scoming from his inner base. I have to go. The last time we saw Devi she wasmoving toward the cafeteria. She’s got Shannon with her, and Aunt Erin is goingto be proud of her. I don’t think that blood is hers.”
Zach felt his stomach bottom out. “Blood?”
Big Tag’s head shook. “Go. Meet back at thehelo. If there’s ahelo. TheCanadians better have their own ride.”
“I’ll let him know.” And she was gone, disappearing down thehall.
He had no idea how Big Tag stayed so fucking calm. He wasnever allowing his kids to… He was going to have kids with Devi. He was goingto have a family with her. Marry her. Be a husband. Live a life. “Sir, I needyou to know I’ll do whatever you say if you’ll help me come home.”
Big Tag nodded. “I know you will, but we have to get herfirst. You remember the plan?”
