What was on that drive? What had she turned over?
God, had she betrayed Beck again?
Levi stopped at the head of the conference table, the arrogant look on his face telling her he was about to do something terrible. “Hello, all. It’s so good to be back.”
Had Levi set up a long line of dominoes all those years ago? Was this why he hadn’t admitted he knew Tucker? She could see him putting Beck’s name on that list. It would be a plant. It would be why he’d done everything he’d done. So he could take down the man he hated. So he could punish her for not being able to love him. “What are you doing here? Why have you been released?”
He should be sitting in a cell at Langley, answering question after question about the things he’d done, the missions he’d fucked with for his own ambition.
“My darling, not only have I been released, I’m back to my full duties, and unfortunately the first is a bit distasteful.” Each word that came from his mouth was a silky threat. He was enjoying every minute of this. His head turned slightly to speak to the armed guard he’d brought with him. This had all been a setup, and MI6 had been in on it. “Gentlemen, it’s time.”
Beck was on his feet, his shoulders squared, and for a moment she wondered if this was how he died. Would she watch him get gunned down here and now because he wasn’t about to let Levi take him into custody? Her whole body tensed.
If he went down, she would go, too. She saw it so clearly in her head. She wouldn’t let these men take Beck in. Levi would do cruel things to him, would try to break him before ending his life, and she couldn’t stand the thought of Beck being broken. Not again. She would do whatever she could. Whatever the outcome.
Levi turned his attention to Damon as four of the guards stepped up. “Mr. Knight, I invited you here because someone should be a witness. Don’t make me regret it. You’ll have full access to the data after I do what needs to be done.”
Her breath caught in her chest and she got ready to move. She’d turned over her gun to security when she’d entered the building. But that didn’t mean she was unarmed. She was never unarmed. If she could get them out of here, she would. Adrenaline started to flow as she prepared to defend the man she loved.
“Kimberly Solomon, I’m placing you under arrest for treason.”
For a second the words didn’t mean anything. She was too concerned with Beck for the words to sink in. A strong hand snaked around her arm and she realized it hadn’t been Beck’s name that had come out of Levi’s mouth.
Her name. It had been her name Levi had planted in that data years before. The revenge wasn’t on Beck. Beck couldn’t care less what happened to her. Beck would likely giggle at the thought of her in Levi’s custody. Or would think it wouldn’t be so bad since she’d fallen prey to him once before.
She heard a shuffle to her left like Beck or Damon had moved, but when she glanced over they were still, Damon’s hand on Beck’s arm.
“What’s happening?” She tried to pull away, but the room was too tight, and she found herself completely surrounded by burly guards who likely wouldn’t mind roughing her up a bit.
“Be careful with her.” Levi pointed to his guard. “I told you I’ll kill the first person who hurts her. She’s an important prisoner.”
“Levi, I swear if you take her, I’m going to kill you.”
Beck. Beck had said that. Why would he say that? Still, the fact that he had settled something inside her. She didn’t truly expect him to save her. Once, she would have believed those words had come from a place of love, of protection. Now she had to consider that this was more about Levi than herself. She was the bone two dogs fought over.
And it looked like she was about to get torn apart.
“I’m sure you’ll try.” A faint smile crossed Levi’s face as though he was truly satisfied. “Damon, I wish you hadn’t stopped him. I wouldn’t mind shooting him right here. Solo, your name was on the list. We know you were working with McDonald. What a pity.”
For the first time in years she felt truly vulnerable. Not merely her heart. That was always vulnerable to Beck, but now her body and soul were on the line. “That’s not true. You’re lying.”
Damon was whispering something Beck’s way, likely a plea to not cause a fight. Any impulse in Beck to help her was merely the remnants of another life. Or perhaps the desperate need to fight Levi. It was good Damon was there. He would convince Beck to take a breath and realize he didn’t want to save her.
When Beck thought about it for a few moments, after the shock of seeing Levi had fled, he would very likely come to the conclusion that she was guilty. After all, wasn’t she guilty of everything in his eyes? Including the death of his brother. At some point he would determine that this was pure justice, and maybe he would sleep again at night. Maybe then he would be able to move on.
She squared
