Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Aidan hadn’t mentioned it because he’d been angry with Tristan. Liam hadn’t mentioned it to Big Tag because the man was preoccupied. The wall between the Agency team and McKay-Taggart had fucked them over this time.
“So you invited Aidan to get the team up here in Canada,” Zach posited.
Huisman’s hands went to the pockets of his slacks while his lips curled up in a secretive smile. “Yes, Captain Reed. I did. It was a calculated risk. I knew Mr. Taggart would either see the opportunities the chance offered or he would be frightened away and I would have to find another opportunity to get what I want.”
He would give it to the asshole. He was cool under pressure. “So we took the bait.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Huisman said with a sigh. “It was excellent bait, and I suppose Benjamin is involved now, too.”
Tris shrugged. It was too early to let the man in on everything. Maybe Zach could help him out, remind Huisman he was here, too. “Who’s Benjamin?”
Zach leaned in, playing his role to perfection. “I think he’s talking about the asshole CSIS sent.”
The smile on the doctor’s face faded. “You know well who I’m talking about. Benjamin Parker. You’ve met him many times. I’ve got the woman he’s obsessed with upstairs, and I’ll deal with her later. She was a gift since I can use the bitch for several different purposes. I’m going to give you some advice, both of you. Don’t lie to me. I know everything, and I won’t hesitate to hurt the women I have in custody. Carys Taggart lives and isn’t in pain for as long as everyone complies.”
“I want to see her,” Tristan said. “I’m not talking until I see her and Ms. Magenta. She’s the other woman you have, right? She was in the bar with Carys. She’s CIA, you know. They will come after her.”
Huisman’s eyes rolled, his head falling back as he groaned. “That’s one lie, Mr. Dean-Miles. I’ll give you one because I’m sure you’ve been trained to hide her identity, but the next lie will cost Dr. Taggart a finger. Personally, I don’t think what she does is really surgery, so I don’t think she needs all her fingers. She might have a different perspective. Bring her down now, please.”
“Wait,” Tristan began.
“No. I think it’s time she joined us,” Huisman insisted. “The other Ms. Taggart was also a bonus, though I figured one of the twins would be there. Tell me—and think before you lie—which one do I have?”
Tris felt his gut take a deep dive. He knew about the twins. He likely knew exactly who was screaming upstairs, and this was a test. It was a betrayal to say their names, but the door had come open and the guard was hauling Carys out.
“Kala. You have Kala,” he said, his eyes on Carys.
“Excellent. Now we understand each other.” Huisman pulled out a seat from the elegant table. It was long, with seating for at least sixteen people. “Bring her here, please.”
“You don’t need to do this.” Zach stood beside him, a hand on Tristan’s arm as he spoke to Huisman. “Tristan is ready to talk, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Huisman’s head pivoted, his eyes catching on Zach. “Yes, Captain. Yes, you will. One way or another. Jean-Marc, when you have her properly restrained, please join me.”
The big guard manhandled Carys in a way that made Tristan vow to kill the fucker. She looked terrified, but her eyes met his.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he said. “I’m going to get you out of this. I promise.”
She nodded as the guard forced her into one of the ornate chairs. This particular one had arms they bound her wrists to. “Kala’s upstairs. Tris, they’re hurting her.”
“I know.” He would do whatever he had to do. They’d used zip ties on her wrists, and he could see the way they bit into her skin. Bile rose in his throat as the guard placed a straight cutter on the table in front of her. It was the type cigar aficionados used. He was certain her fingers would fit nicely. “You hold on.”
He couldn’t let them ruin Carys’s hands. He would rather die.
“Hold on?” Huisman asked. “For what? Oh, are you under the assumption those trackers of yours are still working? No, no, no. I accounted for them, of course. I used something to jam the signal until I could kill it entirely. They’re oddly delicate technology. I used a modified defibrillator to scramble your tracker. Think of it as a mild electromagnetic pulse. They don’t work anymore. No one’s going to save you. Well, perhaps Captain Reed will. Ah, Jean-Marc.”
Tris wasn’t sure why Zach would be the one to save him, but he watched as Huisman put a hand on his guard’s arm.