Page 27 of Spy With Me
He looked at the woman on his lap. How much did Devi know?What had his team told her? She knew he’d lied, but did she realize how far itwent? “It was how I got the position. I was supposed to spy on them, gatherevidence to help bring the team down. I did a terrible job, and that’s why noone at the Agency will save me.”
No one except his team. Maybe.
Lacey took a deep breath and seemed to settle down. She tookthe exit ramp that led to the small airfield. “Then we have to save ourselves.Let’s start with getting you stitched up and then I’ll give you your new ID.I’ll have someone meet me in New York with ID for our guest.”
This was what Lacey did best. She could be in the middle ofa Bulgarian wheat field and pull a hacker out of her ass. Or something likethat. Lacey always knew how to get out of bad situations.
Maybe she had some advice on how to handle Devi. “Thanks. Iam sorry for the trouble, but I couldn’t leave her.”
She sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s nice for you to find awoman to love. Not brilliant timing, though, since no matter what Erin Taggartthinks, you’re in a hell of a muddle, mate, and we haven’t even gotten to thebad part yet.”
He was. And his side hurt. He didn’t think he was bleedingout, but he might not notice.
The only thing that mattered was the woman in his arms.
He went silent as they approached the airfield, simplyreveling in being able to hold her.
It was the quiet before the inevitable storm, and he wantedto enjoy it. But he still asked the question. “What’s the bad part?”
Lacey looked at him through the rearview mirror. “I didn’tfind your mum. Not yet. But I did find someone else. Someone who could be waymore dangerous to you.”
He didn’t want to know but he did. There was only one personin the world who could unsettle him more than his brilliant, troubled mother,and that was the man who troubled her. “What’s dear old Dad up to?”
“Well, I’m almost certain he’s working for Huisman now.”
And just like that all his peace was shattered.
His father was back, and his world was infinitely moredangerous.
Chapter Six
Devi woke to the feel of light on her face, warm andinviting. Not annoying, like she didn’t want to wake up and smell the coffeeand get to work light. No, this light was soft, and she shifted in the bed,reaching out for…
Nope. She shot straight up, the events of the night beforeexploding in her brain.
“Hey, easy now,” a voice with a distinctly British accentsaid. “You slept way longer than I thought you would so you’re probably alittle woozy. Don’t try standing up too soon.”
“Where the fuck am I?” She turned her head, catching sightof the woman sitting in a comfy lounger across the room. She looked roughlyDevi’s age. Late twenties, with golden brown hair and dark eyes that lookedslightly ethereal. She could be a fairy queen sitting there drinking her tea.Lovely and graceful, and now she remembered she’d been the one to drug her.“And take one step toward me and we’ll have a problem. Don’t think I’veforgotten what you did.”
Those warm brown eyes rolled, and she set down her tea andthe book she’d been reading. “Well, I’m terrified. You might pull my hair. Youknow for a Taggart you’re fairly easy to take down. In my world, you’repractically kings, but you must be one of the slow relations, if you know whatI mean.”
And she was evil. “You drugged me. What did he call you?Where is Zach? What is this place?”
“Such a curious lass. All right. Yes, I drugged you since Ihad to smuggle you out of the country on short notice and quite frankly, Ididn’t think you would cooperate. Second, he called me Lacey. My name is LaceyRook, though I go by several aliases. It’s such a good way to avoid beingarrested. As for Zach, he’s getting checked over by a friend of mine. Arthurcame out to check on myhillycoos, but he can makesure Zach’s all right, too. I think antibiotics work on both animals andpeople. To answer your last question, you’re in Wales. Some people I know runthis farm as a sanctuary, and members of my group take turns keeping it up andtaking care of the animals. Lucky for all of us, it’s my turn, and I explainedI wouldn’t need helpers. I was bringing my American cousins along. We’ve gotsix weeks here and then we’ll have to find someplace else.”
Wales? Her brain started making connections. Wales wasbordered by England, and London was in England, and that was where Vivian McKaylived, and Sophy Weston, too. She knew people here. People who could help herescape.
“If you’re thinking about running, feel free.” Lacey stoodand picked up her cup and book. She wore faded jeans and a soft-looking knitsweater. “The Irish Sea is to your east, and England to the west. I think thenearest bus stop is twenty-four kilometers away. Good luck.”
“Kilometers? Is that far?”
A brilliant laugh huffed from Lacey. “Oh, I love Americans.Look it up, darling.”
Her head was starting to hurt. “Do you have to be such abitch?”
She seemed to think about that for a moment. “I suppose not,but it’s more fun this way.” She sobered. “Is your head hurting? You don’t havea concussion but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be comfortable. According toZach, you were unconscious when he found you. Someone hit you.”
Lena. Her cousin’s stupid evil therapist. That was justwrong. “My cousin’s therapist kidnapped me to make her do what she wanted. Sheknew she couldn’t take Kala out herself, so she used me.”
