VARA PRICE STARED OVER her cards at the three men studying their odds."I'm out," the one on her left said and slouched back in his seat.The man across from her took a long, slow drag on his cigarette, studying her. She smiled back, content to wait them out.She liked playing cards with her new hires. How a man handled the cards told her a lot about who they were. How they assessed danger and risk. Too much time spent making decisions, and she knew they weren't long for her team. React too fast and she knew they'd walk into a dangerous situation with no idea they were about to lose their head.Her life and the success of her mission depended on these men, and they didn't have any clue what they were really doing. The old pang of guilt stabbed at her, but she was beyond letting that emotion get the best of her. What they didn't know might save their lives.A commotion in the hall outside the communal room drew the attention of the other two men. The third pulled his cigarette from

Alec still couldn't make up his mind who he should be trusting."Over here." Vara turned right. There wasn't a whole lot of building left that way."Where are we going?" Alec asked."Out of here.""We can't go out there." Alec reached out and grabbed Vara's elbow, turning her around. The sizzle of awareness sank into his skin and he held on tighter.Their eyes met for the first time since the shadow shrouded moment when she'd first discovered them. That didn't really count because he'd been blinded by the flashlight. Now, he fell headlong into her whisky brown eyes flashing with emotion. Frustration was the most obvious one with the set of her jaw."You can't stay here. Rafa's people will notice you and after tonight you do not want him to notice you." She spoke in a rush, her voice low."We can't go out there." Alec couldn't keep running and carrying Jules. She was too frail and too tired. His mind was also focused on her, the shape of her lips, the little scar on her chin, all

VARA STROLLED ALONG THE gravel boulevard leading toward the reflecting pool. The last summer blooms perfumed the air. The horizon was highlighted, heralding the new day. People hustled home or to work from the pre-dawn prayer, consumed with the day to come.That was why Vara liked this time of day. People didn't pay her much mind. She was just another figure in the rush.Only this morning she wasn't.Tension knotted her shoulders.She'd slept, but only in fits. Memories kept waking her. Stolen moments with Alec at the embassy. Highlights of their trip.There'd been years since their fling, and yet Vara's body remembered his touch as though they'd been together last week or last month.It wasn't fair. But she couldn't choose who she fell in love with. She just had to deal with it.The walk was good for her. Stretching her legs and breathing in the bite in the morning air helped bring her mind around to right now. She slowed as she reached the reflection pool and turned to look at

I MISSED YOU.Two hours later and those three words were still playing through Vara's head.They'd found a café not far from the spot where she was scheduled to meet with Djinn and were currently doing a great job of not looking at each other.She found it hard to believe Alec had thought twice about her since their fling. She'd been a diversion, just like her mother had said. What kind of man thought about a kid he'd met years ago and only knew for a few months?That was crazy.Then why was he still the man by which she measured all others?The few relationships she'd had were all failed from the start. Even her longest relationship. The only reason she'd dated the attaché guy working for the ambassador was because their schedules barely aligned. It was easy to string that out when they barely saw each other, but eventually she'd faced the facts. He didn't make her feel the way Alec had. So she'd given up on men in general save for a pleasurable distraction here and there. Inste

THIS WAS ALL WRONG. It couldn't be happening.Vara was prepared for the Russians to go after her. She'd known she was at risk from both the Syrian government and rebel groups should anyone connect her to the CIA.The last thing she'd expected was for her own people-other Americans-to turn on her.She stared across the truck at Wyatt, who wouldn't look at her. Because he knew he was a traitor? If not to his country then to her. The person who'd gone to bat for him, who'd given him a job who'd been on his side. What was that worth these days? Clearly nothing.The truck came to a stop inside Rafat's warehouse and both she and Alec were guided out to stand in the loading area at the very back of the building up against a wall. Rafat's other men drew away from them, giving them a wide berth."What the hell?" Vara whispered, still staring at Wyatt.Wyatt continued to look elsewhere. At Alec. At Rafat's men. His gun. He finally glanced down the long hall that led toward Rafat's ground f