“Your alias stayed the same,” Providence said.
Adrenaline surged through her. Things were getting real. Likereallyreal. She stared at the name on the government badge and a myriad of memories came flooding back.
“Joelle James.” She hadn’t said that name out loud in years.
“You’ll need these.” Providence set two weapons on the table. A Glock and a SIG SAUER.
All I have to do is take them and it’s game on.
Simone pulled the Kevlar vest on, then the double shoulder holster. After checking both weapons for ammo, she secured them. “Now, I’m ready.”
Providence escorted her to the back door. “You’ve got ear and eye protection in your duffle. Put them on before you head outside. I’ll be working here all morning if anything comes up. The team is right through that door. Are you ready to get started?”
“Absolutely.”
Providence wished her luck before walking away. Simone fitted on the muffs and eyewear, pushed open the fire door and walked outside.
The muted sound of multiple rounds sent excitement racing through her. She waited near the door and watched as Rebel’s highly-skilled Operatives fired live rounds at targets.
Rebel acknowledged her with a nod, then held up his hand. The team stopped shooting. Guns were lowered, ear protectors removed. As Simone jogged toward them, butterflies zoomed in her tummy while her heart pounded loud and strong in her ears.
This was her chance for a do-over. She couldn’t be more grateful or more determined to right so many wrongs by flushing out a killer.
LUCIANO
As far asLuciano was concerned, Simone was killing it. Rusty, yes, but after twenty minutes of focused effort, the change was impressive. She’d taken direction from Rebel and from Slash, put their suggestions into play, and by the time they finished, she was hitting the target like a pro.
More than her ability to take direction, she appeared cool under fire. That was something he’d been concerned about. Time would help her confidence. As her abilities improved, so would her belief in herself.
Though her beauty shone through, it was her effort and determination that kept his attention anchored on her. When target practice ended, they set down their weapons and protective gear, and ran in formation. In this portion of the training, she had no problem keeping up. When it came to sit-ups and push-ups, she was a beast.
She struggled with pull-ups, but with an assist from Prescott, she finished the reps.
Sin exited the building. “How’s she doing?”
“Great.”
“Do you think she’ll take the case?”
“I do. She’s motivated by the death of her friend.” Luciano’s phone buzzed and he read the text from his assistant.
“Do you think she’ll work with you?” Sin asked.
“No other option,” Luciano replied.
“You’ll have to trust her.”
Luciano gritted his teeth. He’d been trainednotto trust by his father, then after his world had imploded, he trusted no one. Even now, he struggled to believe that anyone had his back.
After he replied to his assistant, a wind gust blew his hair every which way. In one fluid move, he raked his fingers through, and tamped it down.
“Have you found any more chatter about Haqazzii’s terror cell?” Sin asked.
“No. You?”
“Nothing. We’re sitting on a ticking time bomb. At some point, Carrera will have to share intel with the Director.”
“That’s gonna spin everyone up,” Luciano said.