Page 92 of Spy With Me
He was so tired of living in the shadows. Devi was hissunshine.
She’d waved off being stuck inside and promised to make somecookies since she was about to meet her future mother-in-law and wanted to makea good impression.
“I assure you Kala’s not letting anything happen to Devi,”Cooper replied. “She’s been worried about her for weeks.”
“The fact that she didn’t even fight to go in the fieldtells me she’s worried,” Zach muttered. Kala Taggart didn’t like to be benched.Ever. He expected a big fight when her dad announced the assignments and shewas left behind to guard her cousin. He expected the argument to be that Kenziehad control of where Parker and his tech were, so they shouldn’t worry they’dbe found out. Instead, she’d given her father a peace sign and drank her latteand promised to only maim Lucy, who was staying behind as well.
“It’s not only that. She’s pulling away from a lot of activefield work,” Cooper explained. “The last bout with Huisman nearly killed her.We’re still figuring out the extent of the damage. I don’t know how much longerwe’ll be in this line of work.”
“Damage? From what Huisman did?” He’d heard about theexperiments Huisman ran on Kala Taggart. First in Toronto, and then Virginia.He’d tried an experimental paralytic to keep her still while he poured yetanother experimental drug into her veins. One that made her feel like she wason fire. But he hadn’t heard anything about long-term injuries.
“Yeah.” Cooper looked like he was checking the board forarrivals. “Her heart stopped both times. She’s stable, but they’re worriedabout what could happen in the future. I don’t think she survives meeting thatasshole a third time. So she’s letting Kenzie take lead on the Kara constructrole and she’s going to transition to background.”
His heart ached for her. Kala was the one who put everythinginto her job. Except she seemed happy. “She’s okay with it?”
His brother’s lips curled up. “She’s started talking aboutthe fact that she can’t give her parents hellions to make their old age fun ifshe’s dead. She’s also started talking about the fact that if we take over thecompany, we’re a McKay-Taggart who can get it on in the conference room.”
It was a sweet thought and one that made his heart ache alittle. “You’re leaving the team?”
“Not now, but sometime in the next couple of years,” hereplied. “Or hell, who knows? Maybe she loves being in the background and westay for life. I only know one thing.”
“Where she goes, you go.” Zach nodded as they started movingagain.
“Where she goes, I go,” Cooper repeated solemnly. “You okaybeing stuck in New York or LA watching your girl move up in some fashion designhouse?”
“Yes. I’m okay with whatever, but I don’t think that’shappening. I think she’s going to be brave and follow her voice and start herown business. I think I’ll be stuck in Dallas, and that sounds like heaven tome,” Zach said, his heart twisting with every true word.
“Then you’ve never been in Dallas in August, brother.” Theymade it to the spot.
“I’ll be fine.” He stood and waited with the crowd. Still afew more minutes before the train from London would be coming in. Nell toldthem they were in the fourth car from the front. He estimated where to stand.“The question is are you fine?”
Cooper stopped at a place fairly close to where the front ofthe train would end up. “Because I’m about to meet the woman who gave birth tome? I don’t know. I love my mom and my mother’s name is Eve McKay, but I haveto admit I’m curious. Is she going to be like your aunt? Will she call meJonathon?”
This part made his stomach twist. “I don’t know. I haven’tseen her in so long, I have no idea if she’ll even realize who you are.”
“I’ll tell her. I’m not trying to hide, but I want you toknow that I’m standing here with you not because I need to meet her. I’m herefor you. Because you’re my brother,” Cooper said. “Although you shouldunderstand what that means. Hunter thinks you’re super cool and if I have youas a big brother, he should get you, too. Vivi wants to meet you. I was hopingwe could hang out in London when this is done so you can get to know her. Mom’sworried she’s into Oliver Weston, and Kala’s going to threaten to take hisballs if he puts one STI infected hand on her.”
“Don’t.” Zach couldn’t take much more. Not in public. Theidea of being welcome, of having a family that didn’t disappear for longperiods of time… He just couldn’t. Later when he had Devi in his arms, he wouldlet it all out. It was safe for him, but not here when there was a job to do.
“Sorry, man.” Cooper slapped him on the back. “I shouldremember how it feels to have one of the olds break you down. Big Tag,especially. It’s like he’s all sarcasm and congenial assholery and then hegives you the talk and it’s like the man lays your soul bare, breaks you down,and then builds you back up again.”
It was an apt description of what Big Tag had done the nightbefore. “Well, we’ll see if he can work his magic or my breakthrough is goingto be spent writing letters to my wife from prison.”
Cooper’s brows rose in obvious surprise. “Dude?”
Zach couldn’t help but smile. “I need to get her a ring, butshe said yes. I’m going to trust her and hope it all works out.”
Cooper smiled brightly. “It will. I promise. We’re going tofix all the crap Huisman broke.”
“The train is approaching.” Lou’s voice came over his commsunit.
He touched his ear to open the connection that would let theteam hear him. “Got it. We’re in position and ready. How’s the underground,TJ?”
“All’s quiet down here,” TJ replied.
“I’ve got someone I’m watching,” Big Tag said. “Tash andLou, there are a group of five men walking into the front entrance. I need youto see if you can get facial ID on them. They’re walking past the Boots storeright now.”
The train pulled in, sound humming through the space andmaking the floor buzz under Zach’s feet.
