Read Online Department 57: Rubies of Fire by Lynne Connolly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynne Connolly
Tags: vampire paranormal
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wasn’t jealous. Truly she wasn’t. “Sure.”
* * * *
Ellie left, after bussing Cristos and Andreas and slanting her a considering look. To Roz’s relief, she didn’t subject her to the same boisterous treatment. Then they got down to business. Unlike Bernard Knox, Cristos didn’t lead them into a formal conference room for a meeting, but grabbed a manila file from a mahogany filing cabinet and tossed a picture across his desk. “That’s Candy Irving. She’s in place at the DIB as of today. According to CIA records, she’s a techie, brought in to revise and update the system.” Roz saw a perky blonde girl, her hair cut into a jagged bob, her clothes cutting-edge fashion. “She’s Roz’s replacement at the DIB. Until recently, she worked exclusively for our San Francisco branch. That’s why I brought her here. Candy isn’t on the main computer at Langley.”
“Another consultant,” Andreas said.
Cristos chuckled. “Oh no. Candy’s a full agent, but her security would be compromised if she were put on any mainframe, networked computer.”
Andreas’s hand tightened around Roz’s. “It’s so serious you’re bringing an operative in from black ops?”
“Kind of. Candy also wants to come home.” That was one of the terms used for field agents who had tired of putting their lives on the line every day, or who burned out on the job, but could still be of vital use to the Company. “This is her transition. After this operation, we can bring her in. It will be her bridge. She’s a Talent and very good at what she does. I’ve also brought her in here because she is a computer expert. What she doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing. So she will break into the DIB’s computers, into the most secure level, and Andreas will cover her.”
That meant protecting her. Would he have to pretend to take an interest in Candy? A personal interest? Roz already knew the answer. The office wolf would certainly take an interest in someone as smart as Candy looked to be. And it would help them to stay close. The fact that Andreas and Roz had hooked up would be secondary to a man as sleazy as Andreas had made himself out to be in his cover.
What surprised Roz was the pang of sheer jealousy that shot through her body. When had Andreas turned from being a good, though casual, lover to something more?
Fabrice went to the coffee machine set on a small table near a seating arrangement of low sofas. He raised the carafe, but Roz and Andreas both shook their heads. Fabrice was obviously used to this office.
“There’s one more member of the team,” Cristos said. “You need a shape-shifter to cover you in the daytime.”
As if on cue, the door opened and someone entered. Tall, strongly built, with dark hair that showed glints of red in the bright lights of the boardroom, a man stood in the opening and surveyed the occupants of the room.
“Close the door, Leon,” Cristos said. “This is supposed to be a closed meeting. Find yourself a seat.”
The man shut the door quietly. “Leonide Fiorentini, shape-shifting dragon,” he said softly, the gentle lilt to his voice proclaiming his Italian origin. “I have recently arrived in New York on a visit, and Cristos asked me to join his team.” He gave a devastating grin, slightly lopsided, revealing deep dimples in both cheeks. “It makes my business trip a lot more interesting.” A new presence entered the blended atmosphere of Talents existing in cautious harmony, a powerful, gleaming presence. Leonide Fiorentini was no lightweight. Neither did he lack in self-confidence.
Only Cristos’s sartorial elegance approached Fiorentini’s, which didn’t altogether surprise Roz, since they both looked as if they wore Armani. The cut and elegance of the design was unmistakable to the discerning eye. While Cristos wore a suit in dark charcoal gray, Fiorentini wore a blue a shade lighter than navy, complementing his tanned skin and gleaming dark hair. His eyes seemed to
* * * *
Ellie left, after bussing Cristos and Andreas and slanting her a considering look. To Roz’s relief, she didn’t subject her to the same boisterous treatment. Then they got down to business. Unlike Bernard Knox, Cristos didn’t lead them into a formal conference room for a meeting, but grabbed a manila file from a mahogany filing cabinet and tossed a picture across his desk. “That’s Candy Irving. She’s in place at the DIB as of today. According to CIA records, she’s a techie, brought in to revise and update the system.” Roz saw a perky blonde girl, her hair cut into a jagged bob, her clothes cutting-edge fashion. “She’s Roz’s replacement at the DIB. Until recently, she worked exclusively for our San Francisco branch. That’s why I brought her here. Candy isn’t on the main computer at Langley.”
“Another consultant,” Andreas said.
Cristos chuckled. “Oh no. Candy’s a full agent, but her security would be compromised if she were put on any mainframe, networked computer.”
Andreas’s hand tightened around Roz’s. “It’s so serious you’re bringing an operative in from black ops?”
“Kind of. Candy also wants to come home.” That was one of the terms used for field agents who had tired of putting their lives on the line every day, or who burned out on the job, but could still be of vital use to the Company. “This is her transition. After this operation, we can bring her in. It will be her bridge. She’s a Talent and very good at what she does. I’ve also brought her in here because she is a computer expert. What she doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing. So she will break into the DIB’s computers, into the most secure level, and Andreas will cover her.”
That meant protecting her. Would he have to pretend to take an interest in Candy? A personal interest? Roz already knew the answer. The office wolf would certainly take an interest in someone as smart as Candy looked to be. And it would help them to stay close. The fact that Andreas and Roz had hooked up would be secondary to a man as sleazy as Andreas had made himself out to be in his cover.
What surprised Roz was the pang of sheer jealousy that shot through her body. When had Andreas turned from being a good, though casual, lover to something more?
Fabrice went to the coffee machine set on a small table near a seating arrangement of low sofas. He raised the carafe, but Roz and Andreas both shook their heads. Fabrice was obviously used to this office.
“There’s one more member of the team,” Cristos said. “You need a shape-shifter to cover you in the daytime.”
As if on cue, the door opened and someone entered. Tall, strongly built, with dark hair that showed glints of red in the bright lights of the boardroom, a man stood in the opening and surveyed the occupants of the room.
“Close the door, Leon,” Cristos said. “This is supposed to be a closed meeting. Find yourself a seat.”
The man shut the door quietly. “Leonide Fiorentini, shape-shifting dragon,” he said softly, the gentle lilt to his voice proclaiming his Italian origin. “I have recently arrived in New York on a visit, and Cristos asked me to join his team.” He gave a devastating grin, slightly lopsided, revealing deep dimples in both cheeks. “It makes my business trip a lot more interesting.” A new presence entered the blended atmosphere of Talents existing in cautious harmony, a powerful, gleaming presence. Leonide Fiorentini was no lightweight. Neither did he lack in self-confidence.
Only Cristos’s sartorial elegance approached Fiorentini’s, which didn’t altogether surprise Roz, since they both looked as if they wore Armani. The cut and elegance of the design was unmistakable to the discerning eye. While Cristos wore a suit in dark charcoal gray, Fiorentini wore a blue a shade lighter than navy, complementing his tanned skin and gleaming dark hair. His eyes seemed to
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