Eva let a out a sigh of frustration and closed her eyes as her hands curled into fist in her lap. Darrell raised a brow and leaned forward in the chair. Don’t test me Eva, he clenched his jaw and drew out the words as he spoke. Answer the damn question.
On the northern-most outskirts of Houston.
I pushed off the wall, Houston ? Eva nodded. Texas ?
Yes.
I knew that Tony was monitoring the conversation from the security room. It was part of his job to pick it apart and alert us to anything that could be of significant value. I also knew that he would be keying in the information Eva was was providing us to match it to my location on the date and time in question.
So let me get this straight Eva, Darrell drummed his fingers on the steel table, Carter supposedly kills your parents when he is eighteen, which is almost ten years ago.
Yes.
This is after your cover is blown by your secondary handler and Miguel confesses to knowing about your identity.
Eva nodded silently.
You spend two years working for Miguel while you try to convince him to allow you to infiltrate our house. Then you spend the next eight years working for us while looking for a weakness in Carter, to break him before you destroy him.
Yes.
Did it ever fucking occur to you that maybe, just maybe Miguel killed your parents ? That he did so to control you by using your need for revenge ? That he did it to plant the suspicion of Carter’s involvement in your mind ? That he did it so that he could use you and Victoria to do his dirty work because he hasn’t been able to get close enough to Carter on his own to take over our organization ?
Eva lowered her head and her shoulder slumped as she remained quiet. Darrell pushed up from the chair and slammed both hands onto the table, towering over Eva as his voice boomed around the room.
DID. IT. FUCKING. OCCUR. TO. YOU. EVA ?
My phone rang before Eva could answer. I pulled it out of my pocket and slid it up as Darrell’s rang. Tony ?
Boss, on July eighth two thousand five you were at the house in Hong Kong with your father. You were meeting Qiao to set up an alliance in the Asian market.
I was watching Darrell as he stood from the chair and started pacing the far end of the room, his hand running over his face and through his hair. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I knew from his change in demeanor, that it wasn’t good. Anything else, Tony ?
I pulled some prints off of the case Lewis and Leon found in Eva’s room and ran them through various national and international data bases, which were all wiped clean of her true identity. The only information there was what we found during her initial background checks.
I looked at Eva and hissed, Shit.
You didn’t let me finish Boss. I kept digging and reached out to one of our people in the CIA. He was able to run her prints through one of the program he has that can trace ghost data on anyone they have ever employed.
I could hear Tony’s smirk as he continued, Her real name is Evangeline Milan and she is telling the truth about being an operative. According to my source, so is the fact that her handlers blew her cover and wrote her off as being expendable. She has an I. Q. of one thirty-five and is smart enough to play dumb when necessary.
I scoffed.
Tony ignored me and kept talking, She excels in identities and technologies, hence why were unable to trace who hacked our systems. She was raised by her parents, Adrian and Laila Milan. Both were in the military and when they retired, they both went to work for the CIA. Eva adapted quickly and efficiently to the constant moving about and changes in her life. This drew the CIA’s interest in her. She was recruited at seventeen and was twenty when her parents were found in a ditch, their car totaled. Her father was shot in the left temple, her mother the right.
Tony paused, drawing a breath. It had to be someone they knew Boss. With their military and CIA training, it would have been damn near impossible to take them by surprise.
Keep looking into it and let me know what you find.
Will do Boss.
I slid my phone closed and watched Darrell as he continued to talk quietly into his phone. I glanced over to Lewis and Leon, tilting my head in Darrell’s direction. Both men shrugged and watched as Darrell slid his phone close and threw it Eva’s way.
Eva ducked, causing the phone barely missed her face. Darrell stalked over to the woman and wrapped his hand around her throat, picking her up from the chair and pinning her against the padded wall. It was uncharacteristic for Darrell lay a hand on any female in such a manner.
I was just about to growl out a warning, but swallowed it down as Darrell spoke. If he fucking dies, you won’t see the outside of this room again.
I nodded to Lewis and Leon, Cuff her to the wall.
I needed Eva secured so that I could find out what had Darrell laying his hands on a woman. Eva started to thrash about, but stopped as Darrell pulled her from the wall and slammed her back into it.
You best stop testing me Eva.
Lewis and Leon worked quickly to secure Eva. As they stepped back, I stepped up to Darrell and laid my hand on his shoulder.
Let her go Darrell. I felt Darrel stiffen under my hand, but he didn’t move to release Eva from his grasp. Now Darrell.
Darrell slowly turned his head my way. I nodded once and stepped back. He dropped his hand from Eva’s neck and stalked to the door.
Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere. I let my voice carry the unspoken meaning of what would happen to the two of them if Eva escaped.
She’s not going anywhere Boss. Lewis narrowed his eyes on Eva. If she does, she’s as good as dead.
I slammed the door open and caught a glimpse of Darrell’s back as he rounded the corner and headed toward the gardens. Once out the doors, he turned and pressed both hands against the cool stones and hung his head.
I stood silent as I watched the man I considered a brother struggle with his emotions.
One of Victoria’s guards shot Miller in the chest. Darrell spoke without looking up. The bastard had grabbed Lea’s arm for the second time and Miller rushed him. Lynx said that the bullet went in just above the left breast. Darrell slammed his hand against the wall, Marcus called some of our people that were in the area and they rushed him to the house’s medical wing. He’s in surgery, but he has lost a lot of blood.
Darrell turned to face me, the anger clear on his face, They have given him three units so far and were about to start a fourth.
I wanted to ask about Lea, but I knew how close Darrell was to Miller because of Trish. Take Paul and Samuel and go. Let one of them drive.
Darrell shook his head, No. That would leave you too vulnerable. We don’t know what Miguel or Victoria have planned. Lynx is there, he’ll let me know more as soon as he has word.
I nodded.
Lynx said that Lea was giving Victoria hell when she was dragged off the plane. Darrell leaned against the wall, laying his head back against the stone. He drew in a few deep breaths as his emotions slowly stabilized. Sorry for losing it like that in there Boss.
No need to apologize Darrell. We are all wound up tighter than normal. Take as much time as you need. I’m going to see if she knows anything else.
Darrell nodded, but otherwise didn’t move.
I turned and quietly entered the house as a million thoughts ran through my mind. My trance was broken as heavy footsteps sounded. I looked up to see Darrien making his way down the hall, his face tight as he walked toward me. Darrell ?
In the gardens. I stepped in front of Darrell’s twin, I know you can feel his pain Darrien, but give him a few minutes.
Darrien looked to the garden doors, He feels like he’s losing Trish all over.
I know.
How bad is he ?
I knew he was asking about Miller. Not good, I answered before relaying the information to Darrien that Darrell had given me.