Smoke and Shadows by Victoria Paige Page B

that Viktor wanted to do than tend to her, but he was struggling even to get the words out, so he simply brooded.
    “I double parked on T Street,” Olsen announced.
    “I hope you locked the car,” Nathan muttered. “Ms. Cole, are you all right? Do we need to take you to the hospital?”  
    “I’ll live,” Marissa responded with a wince. Her eyes met Viktor’s in the rearview mirror. “I need to get to Langley.”
    “Not happening.” Viktor spoke up for the first time.  
    “I need to report this.”
    “Call it in.”
    “In case you haven’t noticed, Viktor, my phone got incinerated in the car bomb.”
    Viktor clenched his jaw. He’d nearly lost her. Again. Twice. The enemy was not hiding now. They were sending a strong message that they meant business. He punched a number on his Sec-phone.
    “Yeager? It’s Baran.”
    “Viktor, what can I do for you this morning?’
    “Marissa can’t make it to your meeting.”
    There was a pause and then, “And the reason?”
    “She nearly got blown up in her car and shot down by a sniper this morning. Reason enough?”
    “Christ! Is she okay?”
    “Ask her yourself.” Viktor handed the phone to Marissa. He had a bigger issue to tackle right now—getting through T Street, which was currently being blocked by fire trucks and police cruisers. He cursed and made an illegal U-turn to head back on 19 th Street to cut through S Street and get to Swann. He pulled up by the abandoned AGS vehicle, which was in the process of being written up by a uniform for a parking violation. “Take care of that, Stark—Olsen.”
    Marissa made a move to follow Olsen.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Viktor gripped her arm to hold her back.
    “Langley. I’m sure you can spare Olsen for a few hours. I might be able to commission a vehicle and send her back sooner.”
    Viktor glared at her. She glared right back.
    “I need to talk to Yeager,” Marissa pressed stubbornly.
    “Fine. But Olsen’s not taking you. I am.”
    Marissa’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you were tied up at AGS?”
    “I was. I still am. But someone can’t stay out of trouble.”
    “I’m not your problem.”
    “Think again, sweetheart. Now, shut up.”
    Marissa’s eyes narrowed at him. Viktor smothered a grin and stepped out of the Charger to take a gander at the chaos happening a couple of blocks up, where Marissa’s vehicle had been burning. “Stark.”
    Nathan turned to him.
    “Take care of Ms. Cole’s vehicle. Use one of our official covers to tidy up the paper work on that car.”
    Nathan nodded and took off at a jog.
    Marissa exited the Charger, but visibly steadied herself, gripping the roof of the vehicle.  
    “That’s it,” Viktor muttered. “You need a doctor. Forget Langley.”
    “Don’t be silly,” Marissa said weakly, her eyes glazed over. Viktor was already rounding the vehicle. “I got blood on your precious car,” she added inanely before she took a crash.
    Viktor caught her before she hit the asphalt. She was barely conscious, if not a bit loopy.
    “How did I end up down here?”
    “Let me see. Concussion?” Viktor said. “Possible blood loss?”
    “No need to be sarcastic,” Marissa grumbled, snuggling closer to him.  
    “Oh, my God, what happened?” Olsen asked when she noticed Viktor bundling Marissa into the front passenger seat.
    “My guess? Her adrenalin wore off,” Viktor replied. “I’m taking her back to HQ and having Henderson take a look at her. You got this?”
    Not waiting for Olsen to acknowledge his question, he got into the car and drove off.

CHAPTER SEVEN

    Dwarves were pounding her skull with a pickaxe, as they maliciously refused to give her water. Marissa’s eyes popped open, thankful to discover that it was all a dream. But her mouth remained cottony and she found it a bit disconcerting that Dr. Henderson was peering down at her.
    “How many fingers?”
    “Three.” Marissa braced herself up on her elbows. “What’s