Glitter and Gunfire (Shadow Agents #4)(30)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Gunner will escort you to the terminal. Lancaster will be waiting to board the flight with you. In a few hours, you’ll be—”

Her fists tightened. Her nails dug into her palms. “I’m not running away from this.”

Mercer stalked toward her.

Beside Cassidy, Cale stiffened.

“You aren’t being given a choice,” Mercer said, his voice like arctic ice. “I let you stay here last night while I assessed the situation, but the danger is too great. You’re an asset that won’t be compromised.”

I’m not an asset. I’m your daughter.

But had he ever looked at her that way?

Cassidy shook her head, answering her own question.

Mercer’s eyes narrowed. “I’m the director of the EOD. I’m—”

“I’m a civilian,” Cassidy shot back at him. “So you have no authority over me.”

Surprise flashed briefly in his eyes; then it was shielded by grim determination. “You don’t want to push on this.”

“Yes, I do.” Push for Genevieve’s life? Any day, anytime. “I’m not getting on any plane. I’m staying here, and I’m going to do everything that I can in order to help my friend.”

“And what are you going to do?” Mercer demanded. “What do you really think you can do? Like you said, you’re just a civilian.”

What are you going to do? The familiar question echoed through her mind.

“That’s the same question you asked me when I told you I was going after the Executioner,” Cassidy reminded him.

The silence in the room was heavy and thick.

Voice growing stronger, she said, “I managed to do something with him, didn’t I?”

From the corner of her eye, she saw that Cale was watching her. He looked…proud?

But then Cale was moving, in front of her, shielding her.

She didn’t need to be shielded from Mercer. It was past time for her to stand on her own with him. She immediately stepped to Cale’s side.

“I’ll stay with Cassidy,” Cale said to her father, his voice hard and flat. “I’ll make sure she’s protected.”

“And if you screw up?” Mercer wanted to know. “Because I can see what’s in your eyes, Lane.” Mercer’s tone deepened. “You’re making a mistake. Both of you are, and I’m not going to stand by and let Cassidy pay for that mistake with her life.”

For an instant, Cassidy could have sworn that she saw grief flickering across Mercer’s face. But that was impossible, wasn’t it? Mercer didn’t feel like other people. The fleeting glimpses that she kept thinking were there…they were just her imagination. Wishful thinking from a desperate daughter.

He’d shut himself off from real emotions years ago.

He’d laughed when she’d been a child. Smiled. She was sure of it. Those memories were there, tucked away so deeply in her mind.

She was sure that he had…once.

“You’re off the case, Lane.” A jut of Mercer’s chin dismissed Cale.

“The hell I am,” Cale snarled right back at him.

Mercer straightened up, but he still stood an inch or two below Cale. “I just gave you an order, soldier, and you damn well better follow it.”

“I’m not leaving Cassidy!” She didn’t imagine the emotion in Cale’s voice. The anger and determination were plain to see. He’s so different from Mercer.

“She’s not alone.” Mercer jerked his thumb over his shoulder, indicating a watchful Gunner. “She’ll have EOD agents watching her 24/7. Those agents just won’t be you.”

But Cale shook his head. “I’m not leaving her.”

Cassidy’s heart beat even faster. She’d never seen anyone stand off against Mercer with such intensity. Would Mercer give in? Because she knew Cale wasn’t going to give up.

Then Mercer smiled. “Cassidy doesn’t know about your file, does she? About the violent tendencies that you have…the control issues. The danger that you both covet and create.”

She didn’t like Mercer’s smile. Too cocky. Too knowing.

Too Mercer.

Cale quickly glanced at Cassidy. He turned his stormy blue stare back on Mercer. “If I weren’t a little violent, I wouldn’t get the job done for you, now would I?”

“But the shrink said you could be dangerous, obsessive.” Mercer studied him. “Why is it that you’re so determined to stay close to Cassidy? Is she becoming an obsession for you?”

What was even happening? “Mercer, stop!”

Frowning, he looked over at her.

She just felt tired as she stared back at him. “Stop. This isn’t—”

Her phone rang, vibrating in her front pocket. Genevieve? Hope flooded through her as she yanked out the phone. Yes, yes! That was Genevieve’s picture flashing on her screen. She answered immediately. “Gen—”

A scream cut through Cassidy’s voice.

Genevieve’s scream.

Cassidy stumbled back.

Cale whirled toward her. His hands curled around her arms, steadying her.

“Help me…” Genevieve begged; her sobs filled Cassidy’s ears.

“I will,” Cassidy whispered. I promise. “Where are you, Genevieve? What’s happening?”

“They…want you.”

Her gaze met Cale’s.

Turn on the speaker. He mouthed the words.

Fingers trembling, she pressed to connect the speaker.

Then they could all hear Genevieve’s cries.

“He says…h-he says that if you don’t come, I’m mort.”

Mort. Dead.

“Je ne veux pas mourir!”

Tears stung Cassidy’s eyes at those pitiful words. I don’t want to die.

“You won’t,” Cassidy promised. “You won’t! Just tell me where you are. I can bring help to you.”

A train’s whistle sounded in the background. The sound was long, mournful.

“Je ne sais pas.”

Cassidy swallowed the lump in her throat. I don’t know.

“Track her phone,” Mercer whispered to Gunner. “Get Sydney to triangulate that call’s location.”

“He says that you have to come for me.” Genevieve had switched back to English. She did that when she was upset, a tumble of her mother’s English and her father’s French. “He…he wants you to meet him. H-he said…said to meet him at midnight, at a park just behind—”

Genevieve broke off, screaming, a pain-filled cry. As if she’d been struck or—