the ladies’ room on my own. But I’m sure if I go with you, he won’t insist on accompanying me.” She gave Mack a challenging lift of her brow.
Mack frowned heavily. “I still think you need me to clear the restroom before you go in.”
“Fine.” Charlie’s lips pressed together. “I’ll tell everyone to leave so that my big bad bodyguard can inspect each stall.” She shot a glance at Riley. “Do you mind coming with me?”
Riley gave Charlie a tight smile. “Not at all.”
Mack studied the younger woman. Something wasn’t quite right about her response.
Her hands clenched into tight fists, and a slight glow of perspiration coated her fair skin.
“Miss Lansing, are you feeling well?” he asked.
She jerked her head around to stare up at him. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “You seem nervous.” He tipped his chin toward her balled fists.
She laughed, uncurled her fingers and pressed her palms together. “No. I’m not nervous,” she said quickly. And then sighed. “Well, maybe just a little. I don’t normally wear fancy clothing or attend expensive galas.”
“Speaking of which,” Charlotte interrupted, “how did you manage to get a seat at the event? I thought it had sold out within thirty minutes of going up online.”
Riley gave a brief smile. “I won the ticket on a radio talk show.”
Mrs. Halverson clapped her hands. “What a gift. This event is one of my favorites. I hope they have the children’s choir sing as they have in the past.”
“Children’s choir?” Riley’s eyes widened.
“Yes. They always do. There they are, lining up now.” Charlie bit down on her bottom lip. “I’d like to make a trip to the ladies’ room before they begin.” She reached for Riley’s arm. “Do you mind accompanying an old woman? I promise not to make any strange noises.” The widow winked and held up her fingers like a Boy Scout. “I swear.”
Riley darted a glance at the children lining up near the raised dais where the band had set up earlier. “I suppose I could.” She nodded as if making up her mind and turned to take Mrs. Halverson’s arm. “Let’s get this over with.”
Charlie smiled over her shoulder at Mack. “Happy? I have someone looking out for me so you don’t have to.”
“I’d still like to clear the room before you go in.”
“I’ll ask people to leave,” Riley offered.
Mack informed his other two team members of his intentions and then followed the women to the hallway where the ladies’ restroom was located. His gut was tight and roiling just a little. Like the time just before the mission that had ended his marine career. He’d had the same feeling then as he had now.
Charlie waited with Mack outside the restroom while Riley rounded up the occupants and ushered them out. When she returned, she nodded. “The room is clear.”
Mack entered, checked each stall and looked for any other doors leading in or out. When he was satisfied no one else was in the room, he returned to Charlie and Riley. “Okay, the room is clear.”
“I could have told you that,” Riley said. “But I guess you had to see it for yourself.”
He nodded and checked his watch. “Five minutes tops. If you’re not out by then, I’m coming in.”
Charlie smiled. “I can barely get my lipstick out of my purse in five minutes.” She patted Mack’s arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out by then. If not, please come in and get me. I might be stuck.” She laughed all the way through the door.
Riley glanced back as she followed Charlie inside. A frown dented her forehead and gave her a worried look.
Mack opened his mouth to ask what had her concerned, but she disappeared behind the closed door before he uttered a word.
The next five minutes stretched before him like a chasm. His pulse pounded, and his heart banged against his ribs. Why, he didn’t know. He’d checked the room and every stall. No one but Riley was inside the restroom with Charlie. So why was he worried?
Riley waited for Charlie to enter a stall before she extracted the small plastic packet containing the pill from the bra of her gown. She pulled the clip from her hair and set it on the counter in front of her. Once she administered the poison, she’d set off the small explosion and make her exit in the confusion.
She hadn’t counted on Mack being there and so attentive. Her gut clenched, and she closed her eyes, mustering the strength she needed to do what she had to in order to save her brother’s life. Toby was only six years old. He deserved the chance to live to a ripe old age. Charlie was in her sixties. She’d lived, loved and traveled the world.
And saved your life by offering the services of Declan’s Defenders. She didn’t deserve to die any more than Toby. But her death would be much less painful than what her handler would do to Toby if Riley didn’t complete the mission.
With her eyes closed, Riley could see Toby’s face the last time she’d visited him in the Virginia countryside. He’d been so happy to see her and sad when she’d had to leave. Margaret, the nanny, had smiled and held him like he was her own. The woman was like a grandmother to both Riley and Toby. Riley had known the woman her entire life.
Riley hated leaving but knew she had to go back to her job at Quest Aerospace Alliance that Monday or she’d be missed. Throughout her life, her parents had warned her she would be called on to perform for her mother country one day. The tasks were yet to be determined. She’d assumed spying of some sort. Not assassination, though she’d been trained with a variety of weapons and in both defensive and offensive maneuvers.
Within hours of leaving the country house, Riley was back at her apartment with her roommate, Grace Lawrence. In the middle of the night, she’d received the text. Knowing she couldn’t confide in her roommate, she’d kept the text to herself and lain awake the remainder of the night until morning. Then she’d had to act as if nothing were the matter. She’d contacted the nanny, who had just woken up and discovered Toby missing.
Thankfully, Margaret, who’d been her nanny when she was a little girl, hadn’t been harmed in the abduction. But Toby was gone. Explaining to Margaret that she couldn’t call the police had been difficult. But she’d calmed Margaret and prayed she’d have the strength to hold off calling the authorities when Riley wanted to do the same.
If she had called the cops, what would she have told them? Hi, I’m a Russian spy. I don’t want to be, but I’m tasked with assassinating a wealthy widow in order to save my brother.
She’d be locked up faster than she could say seriously.
And Toby would be absorbed into the Russian spy machine, tortured and brainwashed until he didn’t know right from wrong.
Sweet heaven, she had to go through with the assassination. She couldn’t abandon Toby to Russian machinations.
A hand touched her arm, making Riley jump.
“Riley, honey, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Halverson stood behind her, wearing a silver gown that complemented her silver hair. The slim woman still appeared beautiful despite the lines and wrinkles on her face. And the frown she wore was soft and worried. About her.
Riley stared into her clear blue eyes for a very long moment, the tiny plastic bag burning her hand. All she had to do was open it, shove the pill into the older woman’s mouth, and it would all be over.
Her hand shook. Trembling started at her knees and rippled