Between Love And Obsession

France - Tw

hint of peril, the sea wind blew

disappeared, replaced by a scuffed leather jacket; the immaculate work suit had been replaced by something rough, representing

oke, where a sniper could hide, where a tail might peel off. But today

Sebastian murm

him. "I always am

rew up

ge building with laundry hanging from the top floor. "

nds in his coat pockets, gaz

brought her

enlisted. Cancer.

nothing romantic about that kind

ted across the path, then a door

y sti

ause. Two mor

gh for Sebastian to see her p

u s

ck ops rotations. This isn't just personal anymore. So

t's find

ite the differences in their training, they

me. The stairwell coiled tightly upward. A woman stood wai

angular. Although she was dressed in civilian clothes, her posture revealed a histor

o steps from the

nod. "Audrey Roussea

rey muttered.

d faintly. "

ed a brow. "Fr

yadh, Lagos, and Marrakesh," Audrey said. "S

imply. "Too much truth

e gove

he mi

in her tone-resentment tang

me now?" A

he apartment door. "Because this

tered with photos. Map

hoto. Black and white.

Military fatigues. A r

pped closer,

said. "Not just you. Anyone tied to your past. Ex-

ral," Au

ra said.

. Two men. One woman. All dead. Each in a different country. All l

mission," Aud

now they're working ba

ed. "That's what this

someone's betting big-either to collapse your empire," she looked at Sebas

connection?"

s taken weeks ago. A black car pulling away

sleek gray suit. The same one f

ir," Audre

sharply. "You've

moving through cities fast. Alway

ies?" Aud

ara said. "

ight of the coming war p

Take this. Apartment down by the docks. N

ed it up. "

ntest nod. "Don't tha

silently. Outside, dusk had bled into the

words between them until the hu

y said, "You s

stopped wa

n't your

n't c

should. If someone is traci

beside you than behind a desk waiti

Like it wasn't loaded with years of unsaid things.

k we can outrun

"But we can r

at's either brav

er: "But I'd rather die besi

fr

at he said-but be

is eyes. Raw. R

ing else, a low whistle ec

ng Sebastian beneath the

nip

split second later-ricochetin

sidearm and sca

elevation. Three-story

she whispered

're

as alread

Zigzag pat

shouting in French to a nearby vendor, causing ch

shot w

eath Audrey's weight as she pushe

ooter, dressed in black with a mask

, delivering a strong knee to his ribs and an elbow to h

od. Train

e was

leg. Pinned hi

fr

familiar. T

" she wh

r of his mouth, eyes w

upposed t

sped. "Until L

at him. "You w

y. "Not anymore. N

ething from his po

an

d back as the fo

e

econds later, breath

d on Mathis' body. "He was part o

side her. "You kno

ing people from my past.

y, fury simmeri

war, Se

at her. "Th