1. The Assignment #2
The guy looked around. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Walk away.”
He laughed, stood tall. “I’m twice your size. All I need to do it wrap my hand around your arm, escort you to my car, and off we go.”
She glared up at him. “Count backwards from three.”
His creepy smile sent chills flying through her. “Oooh, a feisty one. I love games.” He stared into her eyes. “You’re super pretty.”
“Count.”
“Three. Two.”
She grabbed his shoulders, pulled him close, and kneed him in the groin. Hard.
Groaning, he doubled over. She stomped his foot. “Don’t follow me, asshole.” She marched off, adrenaline pounding through her.
Had she gone off on him? Hell, yeah. When he threatened to take her, she wasn’t about to negotiate.
All talking had ceased. On her way toward the cathedral, she extracted her phone from her pocket as someone pulled up alongside her.
Thinking it was the asshole, she stepped away, then locked eyes with the man next to her.
His grin had her pulling to an abrupt stop. They came together in an explosive hug. She clung for so long, he started laughing.
“Okay, you can let go now,” he said.
She broke away, peered up at him. “Did you see what just happened?”
“Yeah, I was getting out of a rideshare and I saw him watching you. When you stopped, he ran over. You got him pretty good.”
“He fucked with the wrong person.”
“Tell me.”
“He said, ‘I’m twice your size. All I need to do it wrap my hand around your arm, escort you to my car, and off we go.’”
“Never, ever, threaten my big sis,” Wolf Devereux said. “I would’ve slit his throat before he’d gotten ten feet with you.”
Laughing, she hugged him again. “We’re not normal, you know that.”
He glanced over his shoulder before they continued forward. “He’s gone.” Then, he said, “It’s weird because Mom and Dad are so normal.”
She looped her arm through his. “I’ve missed you. I haven’t seen you in months!”
“You’ve lost weight and you look like you could use a little sun.”
She pulled to a stop in front of the cathedral. “I probably have lost weight and what’s sun? I work all the time.”
“You wanna check out the cathedral?” he asked.
“Absolutely.”
For the first time in a long time, Halston felt happy. In-her-soul kinda happy. She was with one of her favorite people in the world, a brother she adored with her whole heart, if she even had one.
They spent the next hour in the majestic cathedral, then took a short walk to a nearby building. This one a modern structure. One elevator ride to the restaurant where they were seated by a wall of windows overlooking the cathedral.
“How’d you get this table?” she asked after the hostess left. “This restaurant must book weeks ahead.”
“It’s who you know.”
“We’re in Milan. Who do you know?”
“I know the right people,” her brother replied.
After scanning the menu, they placed their orders. While interacting with the server, Halston spoke Italian with a Russian accent. Wolf spoke English with no accent.
Once the waiter left, her brother glanced around. “Why the accent?”
Halston leaned forward. In her own voice, she whispered, “I could have a tail.”
He laughed. “A tail? Really? Stand up. Lemme check if something long and furry is growing out your ass.”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “You are an idiot.” After downing half her water, she murmured, “I lead so many different lives, it’s crazy. As Minka, I trust no one. Me? I trust everyone. I’m two sides of the same coin.”
“Don’t you slip up?”
“I did in the beginning, but I’m used to it. Like now, no accent. I’m me. With our server, I’m Minka… but in a wig and tinted contacts.”
Up went his eyebrows. “That’s too complicated for me.”
“It is a lot.” Pausing, Halston eyed her brother. “You look good. You haven’t let your hair grow out in years. It’s past your shoulders. And you’ve definitely gotten bigger. You got some guns on you.”
“You should see my abs. I added weighted planks to my workout.”
“Good job, Hercules.”
The conversation continued. Talking about everything and nothing with Wolf filled her with gratitude.
Their lunches were delivered and they dug in. A few bites in, he said, “I have a surprise for you.”
She swallowed down the food, sipped her chilled water. “Hmm, well, I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’ve got a thing tonight—”
“What thing?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s nothing.”
“It’s a work thing.”
Wolf leaned forward. “Do you need backup?”
“I handled the nutjob outside, no problem. I got this.”
“I’m flying out this afternoon, but I can change—”
“I’m good. Where are you going?”
“Off the grid.”
Her guts tightened. “Be safe.”
“Nah, there’s no fun in that.”
A woman passed by the table, gave her brother a second look.
“She’s checking you out,” Halston said.
No reaction from Wolf who kept his gaze trained on her. “I’m going dark, but I’ll contact you as soon as I can.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Back to the US, stopping in Madrid first.”
“Are you in danger?”
A shadow darkened his eyes. “I’m always in danger.” After draining his water glass, he said, “You’re having dinner with Mom and Dad tonight.”
She stared at him. “No way.”
“Surprise.”
“You are the best.”
He flashed a playful grin. “I know. Seven-thirty, under the name Fontana.” He gave her the name and address of the restaurant.
“Do they know I’m meeting them?”
“No, they think I’m meeting them.”
“And you think I lead a complicated life?”
Halston appreciated the delicious food and amazing view, but it was the time spent with her brother that meant everything to her.
The past nine months had been a challenge.
It was a long assignment with little more than weekly interaction with her handler.
She worked a lot, kept to herself at night and on weekends.
She needed to build trust with Bulgrov and build it fast. Her strategy had worked.
Initially, he’d asked her to do small jobs.
Spying on fellow employees to make sure they weren’t leaking information, which suggested that someone had probably been watching her.
Back in June, she thought someone had been in her apartment. She ditched her burner and she moved. She never felt secure, which kept her amped. For as long as she’d been with the Agency, the stress never left her.
They finished their lunch. Outside, they said their goodbyes.
She hugged him hard, wishing they had more time together.
The rest of the afternoon she played tourist, appreciating the city’s rich history and stunning architecture.
Always hyper-vigilant about being followed, she spent as much time glancing around as she did enjoying the sites.
As far as she could tell, she wasn’t being tailed.
At seven-fifteen, she exited the taxi outside the quaint restaurant tucked away on a less trafficked side street. The delicious aroma of Italian food wafted past her and she breathed deep.
If I never eat Grechka again, I will be a very happy girl.
Just then, a sedan pulled up. The back door opened, an elegant woman stepped out. Her stylish updo and oversized sunglasses a welcoming sight. Halston’s heart leapt. Mom. Then, a bearded man in a dark suit, no tie, followed. Daddy.
The woman glanced over, smiled warmly. “Buonasera. Good evening.”
“Mom, Daddy,” she murmured before removing her sunglasses.
They stopped, stared at her. Halston—still in her shoulder-length dark blonde wig and brown contacts—shot them a little smile.
Her mom pulled her into her arms, held her there for several long seconds. Halston hugged her hard before kissing her cheek.
“Hi, baby,” her mom whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Halston broke away and threw her arms around her father. “Daddy.”
“Hello, angel,” her dad said, holding her tightly.
Halston broke the embrace. “Surprise.”
Her mom ran a tender hand down her back. “I thought Wolfie was up to something.”
“The arched eyebrow,” her dad said before turning back to Halston. “We’ve missed you a lot, honey.”
“Same,” she replied.
Her dad glanced around. “How are you here?”
“I’m on my way back to the States,” she said, this time a smile filling her face.
“That’s wonderful,” her mom said.
“Is your assignment over?” asked her dad.
“No, I’ve been promoted to lead translator for the newly appointed Ambassador, Yuri Bulgrov, and I’m still his assistant.”
“How were the last nine months?” her mom asked.
A group walked past them and into the restaurant.
“Long and lonely,” Halston said. “But I did well.”
“We’re proud of you,” her dad said.
That made her smile. Dr. Dustin Devereux was one of most respected physicists in the world with a Ph.D. in Applied Physics, specializing in Electromagnetism and Plasma Physics, and a second Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Power Systems Engineering.
“Thank you, Daddy. Just don’t ask me any physics questions.”
Her mom laughed. “Same.”
Dr. Sonya Devereux, fluent in four languages, had been a translator for NSA. Now, her mom traveled the world with Halston’s dad, translating most of his conversations.
Halston’s dad would say, “I speak English and science while your mother speaks everything else. I wouldn’t last a day without her translating my work to the world.”
Her mom clasped her hand. “Let’s have supper.”
They entered the quaint restaurant.
At the host stand, Halston said, “Buonasera. Prenotazioni per Fontana.” Good evening. Reservations for Fontana.
The host eyed the handwritten reservation book. “Posti a sedere VIP. Proprio da questa parte.” VIP seating. Right this way.
They followed the attendant through the small dining room to a cozy salon with five tables.
“Il salone è stato riservato per te. Il signor Fontana si è occupato di tutto, compresa una generosissima mancia. Buona serata.” The salon has been reserved for you.
Mr. Fontana took care of everything including a very generous gratuity. Enjoy your evening.
After they were seated and handed menus, an attendant filled their water glasses. Once alone, Halston said, “Wolfie’s the best. I wish he was here.”
“He’s like a ghost,” her dad said.