Chances Are - By Christy Reece Page 0,79

some of his most experienced people. She’d barely broken a sweat on any of them but Angela wasn’t complaining. Noah had warned her that her assignments would be heavily supervised for a while. He had severe regret for allowing her to take the Red Rose Killer assignment. Angela couldn’t blame him for his caution. She had rushed things and they had all paid a heavy price.

She wouldn’t wish her experience with Delacourte on anyone but she had learned some valuable lessons. Jake’s words that his Army chaplain gave him had proven true. When the time came, God had given her courage to act. She hadn’t done anything superhuman but she had taken down a serial killer and saved Clarissa Eaton’s life, as well as her own. And she’d proven to herself that she could step up and be an effective operative.

She hadn’t heard from Jake since he’d stormed out the door. He was on assignment in the States. She didn’t know when the op would end or when he would return to Paris. His desertion hurt. And the loneliness of her bed was unbearable at times. More than once she had picked up the phone to call him and promise anything if he would just come back. She hadn’t made that call and she wouldn’t. Yes, she loved him but he was asking her to be someone she wasn’t. If she agreed to his demands, how long would it be before she began to resent his ultimatum?

The adage her mother used to say came to her mind—cutting off your nose to spite your face. She wanted to be with Jake—she loved him, ached for him. Every night when she closed her eyes, the memories of what they had shared crashed over her. Did Jake miss her as much as she missed him?

How would he treat her when he came home? After what they’d shared, she couldn’t go back to the lighthearted flirting they’d had before. Nor could she bear the painful awkwardness that came from a relationship gone bad. What if he ignored her altogether? Just acted as if she didn’t exist? That would be even more hurtful.

“Okay…listen up,” Seth said. “Our reinforcements are here. Thorne, Montgomery and I will go through the front. Ingram and Kelly, go through the back. Everyone else, stay out of sight but close. We still have no idea how many are inside. If they start swarming like pissed-off wasps, be ready.”

Angela tensed, waiting for the raid to begin. How many additional operatives had Noah sent? She smiled to herself. Rupert and his friends were in for a big surprise.

“Let’s do this,” Seth said.

Staying low, Angela moved closer to the house and hid behind a large stone well in the middle of the yard. Using her binoculars, she watched as Riley and Justin sneaked in through the back door. She couldn’t see them but knew that Seth, Aidan and Jordan were going in the front just as silently.

Though all LCR missions required being armed, no one had intended to use lethal force. Rupert’s weapons and obvious instability had changed the game. Now, in addition to a rescue, Rupert and his friends had to be neutralized before anyone got hurt.

Adrenaline flowed through her. Expecting anything, she waited. What she heard next chilled her blood ice cold.

“Shit!”

“Ah dammit, what the hell…!”

“Go get him!”

A barrage of gunfire blasted, the shots so loud in her ear, she winced. Shouts, screams and curses erupted. Her gun steady in her hand, Angela held her position. Though everything within her wanted to rush inside and see if she could help, she waited. They all had jobs to do. If she was needed, they would let her know.

She heard a door squeak open and detected movement at the back of the house. Pointing her binoculars to where the sound came from, she squinted, focused, and then went stiff with dread. Oh hell.

Running like a man possessed, Jake headed to the back of the house. He’d been stationed at a side window and saw what was about to go down. If he didn’t get there in time, he knew who would be facing the maniac that came out the door.

He skidded to a stop and froze in place. If he moved, it would cause a distraction. And if that happened, Angela and the woman they had come to rescue would be blown to pieces.

“Rupert,” Angela said softly, “you don’t want to do this.”

“Oh, but I do. She has defied me for the last time.