Page 99 of Bride of Vengeance

I spin around. A man in a federal suit, badge visible. Not threatening, just... there.

"Agent Williams sent me," he says carefully. "To ensure your safe passage."

Something's wrong. Williams wouldn't send just one agent.

"I'm fine," I say, hand moving to my weapon.

"Of course. But given the circumstances, he thought you might need—"

The dart hits my neck before I can draw. The world tilts sideways.

"Sorry about this," the agent says, catching me as I fall. "Orders are orders."

The last thing I see is a black van pulling up.

I wake in stages. First, the headache—brutal and pounding. Then the nausea, probably from whatever they drugged me with. Finally, the realization that I'm zip-tied to a chair in what looks like an abandoned warehouse.

Original. Harrison's nothing if not predictable.

"Ah, she's awake."

Harrison steps into view, no longer playing the wounded victim. His shoulder is properly bandaged, and he's changed into a fresh suit. Behind him, Pavel lurks in the shadows.

"You promised," I say, throat dry. "The deal was—"

Harrison pulls up another chair, sitting close enough that I can smell his cologne. Expensive. Probably bought with blood money. "You should have known better."

"Where is he?"

"Nearby. Would you like to see him?"

Before I can answer, they drag Mikhail in. He's conscious but battered—split lip, bruised eye, blood on his shirt. When he sees me, rage flashes across his face.

"You gave your word—"

Pavel hits him, dropping him to his knees. "Shut up."

"Mikhail!" I strain against the zip-ties, but they're too tight.

"Are you hurt?" he asks, ignoring his own injuries. "The baby—"

"We're fine."

"How touching," Harrison says. "The happy family, together at last."

"What do you want?" I ask.

"What I've always wanted. Control. Power. Money." He stands, pacing. "You cost me twelve million dollars. Exposed my network. Destroyed twenty-three years of careful planning."

"Good."

He backhands me, the slap echoing in the empty space. Mikhail lunges forward, but Pavel's men hold him back.

"Touch her again and I'll kill you!" Mikhail snarls.

"You're in no position to make threats." Harrison nods to Pavel. "Show them."

Pavel brings in a laptop, turns it toward us. The screen shows what looks like a medical facility. Women in beds, some reading, some sleeping.