Chapter 1
Present Day
Ace
Sometimes life has a way of kicking you in the face, and getting called into your boss’s office when you work for the CIA is kind of like getting called to the principal’s office in high school.
I have handlers who give me assignments and monitor my missions—getting called into the big man’s office can only mean trouble.
I figure I deserve it, but I’ve also given nineteen years of my life to my country so I hope he’ll cut me a little slack.
“Close the door, Ross.” The director of my department, a stern-faced man who looks like he has something perpetually stuck up his ass, is named Alton Mourns. That’s his real fucking name, which always makes me want to laugh, though I manage to keep it in check on the rare occasion I’m around him.
Today, I’m probably going to struggle with that.
I shut the door and stand in front of his desk, wondering if I’m getting the can or a reprimand or something else.
“Have a seat.” He meets my gaze with a look I can’t read so I sit down and stare back. I’m not afraid of the asshole, but I need one more year to get my pension, and while I don’t need the money, the benefits are good.
“What’s your relationship to the Queen of Limaj?” he asks abruptly.
I frown. “Um, childhood friend. I think we made out once or twice when we were teenagers. Now she’s married to a king who happens to be a friend of mine. Why?”
“Can you get close to her?”
“Close? Close as in…sleep with her? Talk to her? What kind of close are we talking?”
“Close as in her inner circle.”
“I’m already in her inner circle,” I respond, holding back a scowl. “What’s this about?”
“We believe the government there is in the process of putting together an intelligence agency, and I need intel on that.”
“I can give that to you right now,” I say, leaning back in my chair and relaxing now that I know this isn’t about me. “They are. It’s not a secret.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Why?”
He blows out a breath. “I need you to find out why and who’s running it.”
“Sir, those things aren’t secrets. I already know the answers, and they don’t have any problem with me telling you. The king himself is putting it together, with help from Prince Sandor and Joe Westfield.”
“Fucking Westfield. He was a pain in my ass when he was a marine, more of a pain in the ass when he worked for us, and now that he’s in the private sector, I want to cut his balls off.”
I decide to sit back and let him vent. Joe Westfield is one of my closest friends and confidants. “Is there a reason for you wanting to know this? They’re just trying to protect themselves.”
“We don’t want them forming another intelligence agency. They’re too close to both Russia and the Middle East. It makes them vulnerable.”
Okay, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. “Sir, they want to be our allies. King Erik has been rebuilding the country since he took power early this year, and the only reason he hasn’t sent an ambassador over here is because he doesn’t have enough people he trusts in his organization yet.”
“Precisely. Now he’s forming an intelligence agency—with those same people he can’t necessarily trust. I need you to stop it.”
“That’s not going to happen.” I’m probably kissing my pension goodbye, but it really isn’t up to me. I know Erik well enough to know he isn’t going to take direction from the CIA or any other foreign power.
“Are you refusing an order?” His eyes narrow.
“No, sir. I’m telling you the facts. Erik needs intelligence to help protect himself and his people. He’s not going to stop doing what he’s doing because you, or I, say so.”
“Your job is to convince him. One way or another.”
Our eyes meet across the desk, and I don’t even blink. “What does that mean? I’m not going to kill the King of Limaj. He’s my friend and his people are our allies.”
“They’re no one’s allies right now. They’re a lone entity trying to rebuild trust and relationships. Until they do, they can’t be trusted in the espionage world.”
“So what are my orders, exactly?”
“To get King Erik to stop what he’s doing and focus on building the government. In five years, we can revisit this.”
“Sir, this sounds more like something for the State Department, not intelligence.”
“State disagrees, and we work at the pleasure of and under the direction of the President.”
Holy shit, this is a big fucking deal.
“I’ll do my best, but I can tell you he’s not going to change his plans at the directive of the United States. Considering his prior relationship with the agency, I’d think you would talk to him yourself.”
“Those aren’t my orders. Or yours. That’s all.” He picks up the phone on his desk, and I’m dismissed.
Fuck.
I call Erik as I’m heading out to my car.
“Ace. How’s it going?” The King of Limaj, a small Eastern European country that borders the Middle East, Turkey, and Georgia, is a good friend. Almost like family, though I wouldn’t tell Director Dickhead that.
“I need to talk to you. Can you send the jet for me? I need to get to you sooner rather than later.”
“We’re actually in Vegas for a few weeks. Can you get here commercially or do you still need me to send the jet?”
“I’m good. See you tomorrow.” I disconnect.
He knows me well enough to know if I’m not talking about it on the phone, there’s a reason.
* * *
I meet with Erik the next day and he’s as pissed off as I expected him to be.
“The CIA has no say in what I do with my country,” he grumbles, twirling a snifter of brandy between his fingers. “Do you think they know something we don’t? About traitors within Parliament and/or our military?”
I shrug. “If they do, it’s news to me, but obviously they only tell me what they think I need to know.”
“I appreciate the heads-up,” Erik says, “but I’m not putting my plans on hold. The CIA can kiss my ass.”
“I figured as much.”
“But what about you? What happens to you if you don’t get me to stop?”
“I’m trying to hang in there for one more year, to get my pension, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I’ve got a trust fund from my dad, and I know a European king who’d probably be willing to give my sorry ass a job.”
Erik grins. “Any time, my friend. Any time.”
“In the meantime, if you wanted to buy me some time, keep your plans under wraps. You can keep things quiet while you’re in the planning stages.”
“I can.” He nods. “And I’m happy to do that for you. What are you doing next?”
“Actually, I’m on assignment.” I grin back at him. “I’m trying to convince the King of Limaj to put his plans to build an intelligence agency on hold.”
“Oh, wow.” Erik raises his eyebrows as if he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Well, good luck with that. He’s probably not going to cooperate, so it might take a while.”
I laugh. “I’m counting on it.”