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)
Maybe he’d rethought his position. If he had, then she better get through this.
“Ben, I’m sorry I’m late.” Kenzie pulled back the hood of her parka as she approached him. “We had trouble with the helo, but it looks like you handled everything with your usual aplomb. That was a lot of bodies out there, buddy.”
He studied her for a moment, his eyes taking her in, and not as cold as they’d been. “I didn’t realize you were late because you’re not supposed to be here at all.”
What kind of game was he playing? “You know we were responsible for getting the code. How did you think I would get it to you?”
“Text works.” Yep, he was upset with her.
Maybe he hadn’t felt what she had that night.
Her heart threatened to break. Somehow she’d thought this would be a happy reunion. They both worked in a job where they couldn’t be available all the time. He had to know she’d tried to contact him the only way she could, so this was his answer. She was going to have to admit to everyone that she’d been wrong and this man wasn’t the be all, end all of her existence. Professional. She could find a little of that. “You need this along with the code. I took it off one of Huisman’s men last night at a bar. He’s still sleeping it off, so I doubt he’ll miss it. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll open that door and we can be home in time for dinner.”
He stopped her before she could get to the door. “Did you get the vaccine?”
Well, at least he didn’t want her to die. They knew Huisman was working on a weaponized version of inhalation anthrax. Or he was hoping she wasn’t prepared so he could leave her behind. He was about to find out that even if he didn’t want her anymore, he wasn’t getting rid of her. Not when it was her cousin in this facility.
She rolled her eyes, something she never would have done if he’d been even halfway nice to her. If he had, she likely would have knelt at his feet. Because she was a dumb girl. “Of course. Do you think I have a death wish?”
He seemed to consider the problem for a moment, and Kenzie worried she might have to fight him.
All in all, not how she thought this would go.
“All right, I’m going first,” he finally said. “I don’t know if Huisman is behind that door or not. According to our intelligence, he hasn’t left the base in a week, but he sent home the rest of the non-security employees a few days ago. Be careful, eh? He might be a doctor, but he gave up on his Hippocratic oath a long time ago. He will be armed, and he won’t hesitate to kill you. Stay behind me.”
She moved to the door, using the key card and punching in a five-digit code. If he was going to be cool and casual about this, so could she. “You know I love it when you say ‘eh.’ And hey, if you want to get murdered first, who am I to stop you? What’s wrong with the comms? I can’t get my team on the line.”
Ben stared at the door. “Apparently the storm is wreaking havoc on our electronics. Stay behind me.”
Kenzie gripped her SIG, taking a long breath and trying to shove the drama out of her head. It would be okay. She could get through this. Finding Devi was the important thing. Finding Devi and getting rid of Huisman.
When they got rid of Huisman she wouldn’t have to see Ben again. She could move on.
The light came on and Ben glanced around the anteroom. “According to the plans we stole, this is where Huisman works.”
“This outer section is part of his office. The lab is in the back. It’s a level-four biosafety lab, so we’ll have to change if we go in there.” Did he think she didn’t read the reports?
A brow rose over his eyes, his annoyed look. Now that she thought about it, he sent her that look a lot. “Yes, I got that intel. And we don’t have to change at all. I’ll deal with it, and you’ll stay out here and watch for any stragglers. And Huisman. I haven’t found him yet. He’s got to be here somewhere.”
Who the fuck did he think she was? At least up until now he’d respected her professionally. “I’m not going to sit out here like a good girl and wait for you. I can bet what would happen. You would go in and the formula would mysteriously disappear.”
He simply turned and started down the hall.
He wanted to ignore her? Oh, she wouldn’t let that happen. “If you think I’m going to allow something that deadly to fall into your country’s hands, you don’t know me.”