“I just needed to know if we had to force a contingency strategy in the future. Devani’s stubborn and will probably fight us the whole way.”
“And you think I’m part of a backup plan?”
“No, Sam. You are the plan, and I won’t even have to say a damn thing for it to go into action.”
“You are as frustrating to be around as your former boss.”
“Thank you. My current one is just as wickedly fabulous.”
She worked for Danika in her art gallery as an appraiser and an underground equipment specialist, the illegal kind.
“That wasn’t a compliment.” I threw my head back onto the couch.
“Too bad, I took it as one. But Sam—” Lilly’s voice grew soft, causing me to lift my head, “—you can’t put women like us in any category. We are the way we are because of our experiences. Van more so than the rest of us. All she’s ever known is the organization.”
Fuck. First Danika, now Lilly.
“You don’t have to give me any details. I’m positive I know more than you do.”
Surprise flashed in her eyes. “Never thought anyone could get a single one of her secrets.”
“Lilly, I’m exhausted. Get to the point of this mindfuck conversation so I can go to bed.”
Lilly sighed. “Fine. Van put everything on the line for me. She brought me to the US and protected me, knowing it would start a war between her and the European Directors Council. I am going to do the same for her.”
Devani had done precisely that. She’d taken on her rival council in Solon when Lilly had done the one thing a European agent of Lilly’s caliber wasn’t allowed to do, fall in love. Devani had manipulated and maneuvered people, assignments, and cases to have Lilly transferred to the US. She’d gone as far as having Rey, a CIA agent at the time, blackmail Lilly into working for him.
“Devani isn’t stupid. She never goes into anything without knowing every detail. I’m sure she has every angle figured out, whatever she is doing.”
I couldn’t help but defend her. No matter how much she pissed me off, she calculated all outcomes for any possible scenario.
“Not this time. She’s too fixated on getting results. She’s not seeing all the signs and is putting herself in danger.”
Everything inside me froze as the pieces of what Lilly hadn’t said clicked into place.
“She’s working an operation, using Joshi as her lead into that circle.” I focused on Lilly, but her face remained cool and void of expression.
Devani fucking broke us for Solon? No, this made no sense. She’d worked cases countless times without ending things between us.
Then I asked, “Since when does a director of any continent take on a lead role in any operation? Directors are too valuable. They aren’t in the line of fire.”
“I’m retired. The agency revoked my clearance a long time ago. I wouldn’t have any knowledge of any active ongoings.”
The fuck she wasn’t aware.
I shook my head. “Looks like I’ll have to go to the source to find my answer.”
“Maybe you should. Third-party information tends to have details missing.” She smiled and then moved to the area leading to the service elevator. “But keep it in the shadows. The queen is commanding a lot of attention now and has too many eyes on her.”
“Have you ever seen us in the light of day?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen us together at all?”
“Not to my recollection.”
“I know how to handle my business.”