Page 84 of Code Name: Reaper
“Or it may be the first real lead I’ve had.”
“Think about this logically.”
My mind raced as I stood and paced the small living room. He was right about it being a setup—a trap. But what if it wasn’t? What if this was my only chance to find her?
“Are you suggesting I should ignore it? After everything I’ve sacrificed to find her?”
As I waited for his answer, my phone buzzed again. Numbers appeared—coordinates to a location outside Lausanne, Switzerland. The digits burned themselves into my memory as I stared at them.
“The timing is suspicious as hell,” Reaper continued, studying the second text.
I stood. “I can’t ignore this.”
“What’s your plan?” The tone of his voice sounded more like it had in Montenegro than it had in the last few days. Challenging me and doubting my instincts.
“I’m catching the first flight I can.”
Reaper stood too. “I’m not gonna waste time arguing with you since I know my opinion means nothing?—”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Remind you of the danger we faced in Berlin?”
“This has been my mission for seven months. It is no different than me following any other lead I’ve stumbled upon in all that time.”
“It is different. It’s specific. It’s the epitome of a setup.”
“Didn’t I hear you say you weren’t going to waste time arguing with me?” I said, walking toward the stairs.
Reaper moved to block my path. “You’re not going by yourself.”
“It specifically stated to come alone.”
“And I’m telling you that’s not happening.” As much as he knew not to bother arguing with me, I knew challenging him was pointless. “I know you, Amaryllis. You’ll wait until I’m asleep, then disappear. Leave some cryptic note about protecting me or having to do this yourself.”
He wasn’t wrong. The thought had already crossed my mind.
“I can’t ignore it. Ican’t.”
He pulled out his own phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Nemesis?—”
I snatched the cell from his hand. “No. Mercury said the coalition is compromised. What if you’re putting her in more danger? What if you’re putting all of us in danger?”
We stared each other down.
“I’m going, Reaper. Nothing you can say will talk me out of it. I’m also going without support from the coalition. If you can’t do this my way, return to England on your own.”
“Fine, but we need to do this smart.”
“Agreed. Commercial flights, tracking off, and no one at the coalition is briefed.”
He raised a brow. “And when we get there, we approach this with clear thinking. Reconnaissance first and contingency plans for when things go sideways.”
“They won’t?—”
