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)
His voice trailed off, and she realized he was talking about the sex. He wished he hadn’t had sex with her.
She was not going to cry.
The question came from Ben, but Kala turned Kenzie’s way. “The comm problem was totally one way. We could hear everything, and also, there are cameras that fed out even after the power went off, so way to make a sex tape, sis. Dad’s trying to bleach his eyeballs.” She finally addressed Ben. “He’s going to kill you, dude.”
“Your father?” At least he’d lost the angry look. It had been replaced with pure shock. “Maggie, is your father your handler?”
She forced a smile on her face. She might have made a sex tape, but honestly, who hadn’t at this point. It might be her only souvenir of her entire relationship with Ben. She hoped Lou had kept it. “It’s Kenzie. Kenzie Taggart. My father is the man you know as Ian or Mr. Lemon, which I’ve told him is cringe but he’s like totally Gen X and does not care.”
Ben’s head shook. “Mr. Lemon is fucking Ian Taggart? The single, scariest dude in the whole of the intelligence agency? He’s a legend. And he’s your father? What the fuck else do I not know?”
Kala had a hand on her. “You’re a spy, dude. Figure it out. We’ve got to go. Tim’s waiting for you. Byeee.”
Kenzie pulled back. “I need to…”
Kala leaned in, whispering. “We have to go. We have Zach’s mom, and if we wait around someone will show up for her. Dad’s letting Henry take her to Bliss. We’re going to hide her, but we need to go and not let the Canadians know.”
Naturally her job fucked them over again. She turned back to Ben. “Can we talk later? Maybe you could come to Dallas for a debrief.”
Kala’s grin was slightly sinister. “Come for family dinner, dude. I’m sure my dad would love a word.”
Ben ignored the taunt. “We need to find Manny. And get all the data we can.”
Kala pulled her toward the doorway. “Already have it. Well, we have what Lou managed to get before Huisman’s protocols went into effect. We’ll go through it back home. I believe you’re wanted in a debrief in a couple of hours, and then our agencies are going to form a team. That should be fun now that little sister scratched her itch.”
Kenzie frowned her sister’s way. “He wasn’t an itch. You know that, Kala.”
Kala sent her a sad smile. “I know. But we have to move. We have to get that helo back or Coop will be in trouble.” Kala winked at him. “And nice package, Parker. I’m glad I didn’t wreck it.”
Kenzie stopped at the door. “Ben…”
He shook his head. “I guess I’ll see you next time. Good-bye, Maggie.”
There was nothing to do but follow her sister. And leave her dreams of Ben behind.
Part II
Now
Chapter Five
Ben Parker sat at the conference table staring at his mentor. Joseph Caulder was in his late forties and had been working intelligence for twenty years. So long that there was almost no way he didn’t know who Mr. Lemon was. “How long have you known?”
Joseph looked up from his notes. “Parker? You’re still here? Do you have a problem with the new assignment?”
It had been three weeks since that day in Nepal, and he hadn’t spent a single second thinking about anything but Mag…Kenzie Taggart.
His whole body felt alive when he thought about those minutes they’d spent together. He’d made a mistake. He shouldn’t have allowed her to walk away. He should have thrown her over his shoulder and forced her to come with him. He’d seen it in his head. He could find a nice cell for her and she could serve him until she’d made up for lying and making him look like a fool.
Then he thought about the hollow look in her eyes, and he wanted to call her, to ease her and soothe her.
Which was exactly what she wanted.
“I think I should be the one to go to Dallas. Now answer my question.”
Joseph stared at him for a moment. “How long have I known what?”
“That our American contact was Ian Taggart.” He’d spent every spare moment he had learning everything he could about the Taggarts. On paper they were a family of five with an adopted eldest daughter, Tasha, and two sons, Seth and Travis, and one grandson, Colton Taggart.
On paper Kenzie Taggart and her twin didn’t exist.
Joseph sat up and took his glasses off. “I’ve known Ian for a long time. Most of my career, actually. I got involved in a case that revolved around his nephew many years ago. I was a field agent then.” He sighed. “I suppose this is about Ms. Magenta.”
“So you know she’s his daughter.” The betrayal cut through him.