Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Kala’s cell pinged.
Huisman was right on schedule.
It was time for the show to begin. It was a part she’d been preparing to play all her life.
Fourteen hours later, Kenzie snuck out of her room. It was fairly simple since Lucy was in France with Sami, preparing for the rescue of Ben Parker. Naturally she was supposed to be leading it, but she’d left detailed instructions for her twin, who would be surprised to find herself leading the op again. But she would do it. She would go into the field.
I know you don’t like him and you think he’s bad for me, but I’m asking you to save him. Play the part Huisman set for me. You know you can do it. Save my stupid, foolish heart, and I’ll save the piece of yours that will die without Lou.
She’d dressed in the nanite “fabric.” Tris had quickly learned Lou’s protocols and had programmed a tactical suit. He’d also programmed the nanites to shed single “cells” every half hour. The nanites would simply make more and fill in the spaces so no one would notice.
Ben was in France. He was at the chateau.
“You’re going in.”
She winced and turned. Sosa stood there looking worse for the wear.
“I’m not to be telling. You are saving your sister,” she said quietly. “He will kill you if he figures out you’re not her. How did you keep her from getting his text? I assume that’s how he did it. He’s trying to lure goth Bratz doll out so he can have her. He’s using her friend. You have to know he won’t exchange you.”
“I know.”
“So this is suicide mission?”
“I have plans,” she assured the young woman. “Are you all right?”
Sosa nodded. “I’ll be weak for a while, but I know how to fight for me. They come and take Gabby and Claire away. Will they take me in the morning?”
MI6 had come this afternoon and taken Gabby and Claire. They were being questioned, and what happened to them was no longer Kenzie’s worry. Sosa was another story. She did feel responsible for the kid. “No. My parents have agreed that you should stay here and work with Ariel. Her husband is an investigator. He’s going to look into what happened to your parents and how you got taken.”
“Your mother is… She is who I hope to be. Maybe if she survives, I can, too. I won’t lie again.” Sosa hugged her arms around herself as though trying to get warm.
“But you will keep your mouth shut.”
Sosa nodded. “You are trying to save your sister. I would never stop you, but I would say that you should keep your eyes open. He’s arrogant and makes many mistakes. He likes to call his guards his army, but they are mercenaries. They’re not as careful as they should be. I hope you are safe. He loves you, you know.”
That was the rub. “He doesn’t. Or if he does, then he won’t admit it. He can’t.”
She started down the hall again.
“You are good Bratz doll, Kenzie Taggart.”
Kenzie wiped a tear away and walked off to meet her fate.
* * * *
Ben’s fingers twisted around the bars of the cage he was being held in. He could feel the hard press of the gun Kenzie held against the back of his neck. “Do it.”
It would be better than having to face what he’d lost. Her. He could hear it in the ice of her tone, the way she’d mentioned his mistress.
Manny had been hard at work. He still had no fucking idea if Deanna was alive or dead, but it was clear Manny had sent information to Kenzie that made him look bad. Look like he betrayed her in the worst possible way.
His head still ached from whatever drugs Manny used on him. He couldn’t see straight, couldn’t think properly. All that mattered was her.
He knew that now. He’d been a complete idiot. She was the most important thing in his world.
“Do it, Kenz. Do it and get the hell out of here. He wants to hurt you. He thinks hurting you will bring Kala out into the open,” he said. “He’s probably watching us right now.”
She was silent for a moment. “Did you enjoy fucking your mistress? Or do we call her a girlfriend? Fiancée? You take a long time getting to the ceremony, Parker.”
He went still.
Was that Kenzie? Kenzie would never call him Parker.
What game were they playing now? Despite how upset his stomach was, he forced himself to turn. In the moonlight, he saw her standing over him. Avenging angel. Beautiful and cold and not his girl.
He held his hands up. “I haven’t seen Deanna since the day she died.”
Manny was likely watching. If Kala wanted him to believe she was Kenzie, then he wasn’t going to wreck her play. Kenzie would be somewhere in this building, likely doing a far more dangerous job.