Enemy of the Heart (The Enemy Duet #2)

Prologue

Mercer

EARLY OCTOBER, FOUR MONTHS AGO

Relentless rain batters against the windowpane for the third day in a row. It’s fitting, really. It’s storming inside my head, too.

Is she alright? Are they hurting her? She promised me that she’d be fine.

I can practically see the ghost of my father in the corner of my bedroom fuming, leaving invisible footprints as he paces over the creaky wooden floors.

If I looked into the mirror, I could probably imitate his stern, angry expression, especially if I ran my fingers through my dark hair.

How could you do this to her, Mercer? You promised that you’d keep her safe.

He’s probably plotting how to punish me from the beyond of Tuonela. In all fairness, I deserve it. But I’m going to make it right. I swear it. The Koskinen siblings always keep their promises.

“I’m sorry, Is?,” I whisper into the empty room.

I’m no stranger to bad situations, but this is more dire. Worse than the weeks following the day James Vung??rd’s car plowed into my parents’ vehicle, killing them. Back then, the uncertainty of whether it was a targeted attack had me on edge. This is a different sort of grim unease.

My sister can handle herself; I know she can. After all, I’m the one who taught her what she knows. I suppose that makes everything my fault, even if Louhi would never see things that way.

Still, I’m worried about her.

But this is bigger than Louhi, bigger than me.

I stare at the dark screen of the burner phone on the desk in front of me. My contact at the Department of Defense stuck his neck out for me by giving me the heads-up about Louhi. I can’t call him to check up on her, no matter how much I want to.

The execution of my last contract was reckless, even by my standards. I shouldn’t have made such a public display of blowing up the Federal Reserve, and I probably should’ve been quieter about kidnapping. But I had greater issues to contend with, like the assignment I’m still trying to complete.

If practicing patience was my religion, I’d be the pope. I don’t know how many times I touted that to Louhi over the years. If only I could’ve observed that sage wisdom. I have a new religion now—one that might actually save the world.

My lack of fucking forethought and rashness is what landed me—and Louhi—in this situation. Asking her to help me hack into the Fed’s system inadvertently put her in the crosshairs of the American government.

While Louhi’s an assassin, not a hacker, she’s always helped me whenever I’ve needed it.

She’s far better than your average cybercriminal, but I should’ve realized what I was asking for was probably outside of her wheelhouse.

If I hadn’t been preoccupied gathering intel for this job, I might’ve seen the camouflaged danger.

Of the two of us, Louhi is the better sibling.

?iti, my mother, saw it. I see it. The only person who doesn’t appreciate that fact is Lou herself.

When my well-paid associate in the government warned me that they were pinning my crimes on Louhi, I only had one choice.

There was no other way, even if the knowledge of what I’d be subjecting her to felt like tying a lead weight to my heart.

I’ve reminded myself that her incarceration is temporary a thousand times. I can launch a rescue mission before the end of November. In fact, I think I can collect her in the next ten days or so.

At the time of her arrest, I still needed another four weeks to finish gathering intel to fulfill this contract.

For her own safety, I couldn’t tell her about the assignment.

Knowing how much time she spends with him, that nearly killed me.

Although she wouldn’t believe me if I’d told her about one of her two best friends being enmeshed in a reprehensible web of insidious activities.

My computer has long since gone dark now that I’ve sent the encrypted file. There won’t be a reply. There never is.

Having shared the information that will help The Shadows put this hirvio in the ground, I can collect my sister. Pushing my desk chair back, I stand with a sigh, reaching for my dark grey trench coat.

After locking up my flat, I’m grinning as I stride down the gloomy street.

The rain has brought with it the first real chill of the season.

While I’ve always loved this time of year, Louhi favors winter’s vicious bite.

At least she won’t miss her favorite season.

Even better, I can have her home in time to celebrate her twenty-ninth birthday together next week. I’m coming for you, Lou.

I slip my hands into my pockets as I round the corner, the black London sky leaking tears that cleanse me of my sins.

Ukko knows I have plenty to atone for. My steps are light as I traverse the next block when a black SUV pulls up to the curb next to me so quickly that a large puddle of water splashes onto the pavement.

All the training in the world wouldn’t save me in the fight against time. It all happens faster than a flash: the zip-ties biting into my wrists, the black bag tugged over my head, being thrown unceremoniously into the car. I fight like two lives depend on it. They do.

It’s all in vain as a syringe is depressed into the soft tissue of my neck.

Visions of my sister invade my mind like an old home movie.

The way she’d dance through the kitchen with ?iti or slip into Is?’s office and crawl into his lap.

He always got cross when I interrupted him, but not Lou.

Her smile is brighter than the summer sun.

Will I ever bask in that warmth again? What about glimpsing the way her brown eyes glitter like midday light kissing the ocean?

I’m sorry, Lou. I failed you.