Veronica. What the hell is Veronica doing here?
The flirty rogue that disappeared into the woods with Maverick before heading off on her own… it’s her. I know it’s her.
What the fuck is going on here?
Well. At least I finally know why Veronica teased me when I asked her why she wore sunglasses. I thought they were blue, but if her eyes are black like Winston’s… like Mav’s… then I would’ve known there was something up with her when she called herself a rogue.
But she’s not a rogue. She’s anagent.
I open my mouth, but before I can say a damn word, she clears her throat.
“Get up. All of you.”
Maverick’s head whips around at the feminine voice. It’s one hell of a relief when I see that his eyes… while the rims around the irises are much thicker than they were before, some of the black has faded. There’s still some Maverick Brooks in there, and I see pure relief crossing his features as he jumps to his feet.
Chase hesitates. I know what he’s thinking. That this is some kind of trap. But she’s not here for him. She said forallof us to get up, and shimmying out of his hold, I get to my feet. I’m fully dressed now—from Rory’s jacket to my boots—and I’m glad that Chase is, too. I grab his hand, tugging him so that he’s standing.
Veronica holds open the door. “The Doctor will see you now.”
That’s what she says. Just out of sight of the cameras as she steps into the hall, she shakes her head and flaps her fingers, gesturing for us to follow her.
Should I? Is she a part of Project Phoenix? Is she a member of the NRI?
Or is there more to her than meets the eye?
She mouths two words, pointing in the direction of the emergency stairwells. Two syllables as she leads us away from the direction of the Doctor’s office.
Let’s go.
What choice do we have? Sit here and wait for Chase to take his turn with that sadistic prick?
Let’s go.
Why not?
I don’t know where the other agents are. I have no idea if the cameras in our cell worked or not—though I’m leaning toward not unless they really didn’t mind watching me and Chase get busy—but as soon as the four of us reach the hall, I expect it to have been a test. Or a trap. Something.
Nope.
Veronica tears down the hall. Maverick is right on her heels. Chase refuses to release my hand, and the two of us run together toward the stairwell.
Once we’re inside of it, Maverick throws him arms around Veronica. “You did it. You fucking did it!”
Excuse me?
Veronica gives him a quick squeeze, then backs out of his embrace. “V told you I would, didn’t she? Come on, Mav. You think I wasn’t going to get revenge on what they did to my team? For Jules and Lindsay?”
She says all that as she takes the stairs two at a time. I’m confused as all hell, but I’m a survivor through and through. I don’t miss a step, and neither does Chase.
Even if I have to ask, “Veronica?”
She shakes her head. “Delilah.”
Huh?
“I don’t get it.”
Maverick chuckles. He’s the happiest I’ve seen him in weeks, all while we’re running for our lives through a narrow, gloomystairwell. “Really, Xandra? I would think, of anyone, you’d recognize a twin when you saw one.”