MeteorOnAMoonlessNight: Without Wings Chapter Fifteen

“My accent would give me dead away,” Dara said, straightening the blonde wig over Bella’s hair. “Or I’d do this with you.”

“I know,” she replied. “Besides, we need you here.”

Leah had been watching them disguise Bella’s features for the past forty-five minutes. Finally, she spoke up. “I’ll come with you.”

Bella raised her eyebrows, studying Leah’s face. Nobody would recognize her; it could work. “I’m not averse to going in alone. Wouldn't be the first time.”

Once upon a time, she’d gone in alone plenty of times. That time she went to face the Santiago brothers at an abandoned church, and then again at the exclusive dinner club meant to be a safe haven. Instead, she’d learned it was her mother-in-law working the puppet strings while pretending to defer to her husband. After all of that, Bella had gone on a rampage of her own, one not sanctioned by her husband. Wiping out all their enemies, one by one, until their blood coated her face and sated her need for vengeance.

A shiver ran through Bella, and she smiled up at Leah. “It would be nice to have a friendly face come along.”

“For now, you’re only bumping into Natasha Blithers,” Edward reminded them.

“I know.” Edward had hovered over her since they reached the hidden safe house in Maryland, making it seem as though he thought her incapable. “I’m fine, Edward. Better than I was, and certainly up to such a small task.”

Without answering her out loud, he caught her gaze in the ornate mirror set on the dressing table in front of her. When he didn't release her from his stare, she felt her pulse pick up. It took nothing to stir her up, not when he wore such an intense expression.

They had only taken the time to catch some sleep the night before, and everyone had risen early to begin their mission. Wilhelm had begged them to allow his help, and he had been tasked with digging into the possibility of off-shore bank accounts Blithers might be trying to hide. Quinn refused to remain idle, despite everyone telling him to spend time with Aerinn. Though he was glued to her side as well as Layla’s, he also worked on vetting the men he once called his coworkers and comrades.

Someone was a traitor, and they needed to know who.

Ben and Holden had spent the morning trying to find a contact from inside the agency, but so far, they’d struck out. Dara would join them once Bella looked more like a suburbanite Stepford wife who wouldn’t catch the attention of anyone who thought she was dead. The one thing the men had managed to discover was the usual weekday schedule of Mrs. Blithers, making it easier for the women to ‘accidentally’ bump into her and establish contact.

“Leah’s coming,” Bella said to her husband’s reflection, mostly to break the tension.

“So I heard.” Finally, he shifted his attention from his wife. “There’s a slim chance of danger, Leah, but be on alert, anyway.”

“I will.”

Dara took a few minutes to fluff up Leah’s hair and add heavy makeup to her naturally beautiful face. By the time the ladies were done, they were nearly unrecognizable.

“Ready?” Bella asked.

“Yeah, just give me a second to run to the bathroom.”

Bella stood there and waited until Edward grabbed her arm and hauled her into the hallway.

“Edward, what—”

His intentions were more than clear when he pressed her against the wall and set his mouth on her throat. A moan escaped her before she could even process the fact his hand was up her skirt.

“We don’t have time for this,” she protested, but it was half-hearted at best.

His response was to suck on her skin; to make her squirm with roaming fingers. But she was right, and he knew it, so he fixed her clothing and closed his teeth over her earlobe.

“I don’t know if it's just because I miss the feel of you wrapped around me, or if it’s this wig that’s set me off.”

“Don’t care,” she gasped. She’d brought her leg up around his waist, feeling how hard he’d become. “But we can’t do this.”

With a groan of frustration, he released her. Keeping one hand out to ensure her steadiness, he stepped back and wiped his mouth.

“Later, when we’re finally alone, I will consume every inch of you.”

Oh, my Jesus.

“Bella?”

It was Leah’s voice, so she stepped around the corner and headed to the door on wobbly legs. It was sunny in Bethesda, Maryland, if a little chilly. A lack of wind made it easier for her to settle her nerves, knowing her wig wouldn’t fly off and expose her. Many years had passed since she’d been on a mission, but Bella remembered how to slow her breathing, faking a calm she felt anything but. She’d faced worse; much, much worse.

Most likely, Natasha Blithers knew nothing of her husband’s real job. If she even knew he was CIA, he would downplay his involvement to the extreme. A paper pusher, nothing more. A grunt, a drone. Not the man in charge of a freaking platoon of mercenaries, sent to save the president and vice president when Russian terrorists tried to wipe out three-quarters of the world. Not the man who continuously called Edward and demanded he help them with their next disaster. Only now did they realize the requests were actually demands, and that a negative answer wasn't an option Blithers would entertain.

Natasha definitely wouldn’t know he was the man essentially in charge of the eastern bloc of the United States, the very same man who’d set up the entire Cullen family and their friends to die. He would never admit to sanctioning the death of a young child, or he’d become the enemy in his wife’s bed.

All she would know was that they were well-off, enough that they moved through the proper social circles, making her presence a necessity at all the most important Bethesda events. Instead of working, she’d go to lunch every day, sometimes with friends and sometimes not. She ran the fundraising for a handful of charities, donated more time than money, and could be considered the queen bee within her circle.

It made Bella sick, but she couldn't entirely blame the woman for remaining blind.

Today, Mrs. Blithers would have a light luncheon at the local cafe before having a meeting with the de Beaumont Foundation. Bella wanted to run into her at the cafe since that would seem the most innocent. Depending on how that run-in proceeded, Bella and Leah would find the invitation they needed. Otherwise, they’d have to run into Natasha regularly from then on.

Bella pushed open the door to the cafe, holding it until Leah entered. Her heart picked up its pace as she spotted Natasha and realized she wasn’t alone.

“Abort,” she said under her breath.

The group on the other end of the comms in her ears blurted out several questions. Turning to Leah, Bella made sure she faced away from the tables when she said, “He’s with her.”

“Fuck,” Jake swore in her ear.

“Why didn’t our surveillance pick up on that?” Edward demanded.

Leah and Bella headed right back outside, sitting at a table on the patio with Bella facing the opposite direction of the entrance. “Leah could still go in.”

“Using what cover?” Jake demanded. “It’s a bad idea.”

“No,” Ben said. “It could work. He’s got no reason to know her face, and she could simply stand in line to order food, then maybe bump into Natasha in the restroom.”

“I could claim to have joined the charity she favors,” Leah murmured. Though the patio seating was deserted, it was better if she didn’t take any chances of being overheard.

Bella smiled as if she and her friend were having a regular conversation. “It’s a good plan.”

They all heard Jake sigh loudly over the communication devices. “Fine.”

“Just for the record, Jacob,” Leah said, “I’m not asking permission.”

Everyone went silent as Leah stood, and Bella resisted the urge to turn and watch her go inside. Instead, she listened in on the conversation through the comms.

Ben and Dara were across the street in a coffee shop, monitoring things through the large glass windows.

“Blithers must have gotten here first,” Dara said. “The mercs have had their sights on Natasha, not him.”

They went silent as Leah ordered, listening for any background noises.

“Putting her wallet back in her purse,” Ben muttered. “Walking off to wait.”

“Natasha has gotten up,” Dara reported. “Time to intercept.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Leah exclaimed in their earpieces.

“Good,” Ben commented. “Bumped shoulders.”

“No, it’s my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going,” the unfamiliar voice responded.

“Don’t I know you?” Leah asked.

“Rub that ego,” Dara said.

“Perhaps. I’m Natasha Blithers. You are?”

“Rowana Brown. I recently joined a charity, and I do believe your face is up on the wall.”

Natasha laughed. “That’s probably me. I head several charities in the area.”

Bella tuned them out, feeling satisfied that Leah had done her job. Now that they’d made contact, it wouldn’t be suspicious to run into her again somewhere else.

“I’ve finally managed to convince my sister-in-law, Tandee, to join me.”

At the undercover name, Bella snorted. Tandee and Rowana Brown were married to brothers and had recently moved to the area due to job relocation. Wanting to fit into the area, they had joined a few charities and ladies' groups.

“Tell her to stop in and say hi any time,” Natasha said. “I’d love to get to know you both.”

Leah’s order was called, so she excused herself. Left with nothing but background noise for the time being, Bella fiddled with her cell phone in an effort to keep her head lowered. A few minutes passed before Leah appeared, setting the takeout on the table.

“Let’s get a move on before he decides it’s time to leave,” Bella said, standing up.

They made their way back to the safe house in the van Ben had parked around the corner, moving circuitously through the city. Though Bella was certain they didn't have a tail, she wanted to be extra cautious.

“Turns out this disguise was wasted,” she said as they entered through the back door.

“Not a waste,” Emmett said. “If he’d seen you, the entire mission would have been blown.”

“Definitely not a waste,” Edward murmured in her ear as he assisted her in taking off her communication devices, cameras, and trackers.

“Wishing you had a blonde in your bed?” she asked with raised brows.

“Just a temporarily blonde wife,” he returned, leaving a kiss on her nape.

It made her shiver, and she gripped his hand when he would have walked off. They communicated silently, staring into each other’s eyes long enough for a few heartbeats to pass.

“Thanks, you two. Now I really miss Rose,” Emmett complained.

Bella laughed as he bounded down the hallway, shouting about video-calling his wife and not to come running if they heard loud sounds coming from his room.

“Okay, then,” Holden said. “Now that we’ve established a connection with Natasha, you and Leah will need to run into her again when she’s alone.”

“Speaking of which,” Edward said to Leah. “You have good instincts; follow them.”

Leah made a face at Jake. “Then maybe this one shouldn’t be on the communications team while I’m out in the field with Bella.”

“I can't help worrying about you,” Jake protested.

Edward held up a hand. “We’ve been in this game long enough for you to know the ropes, Black.”

“It’s different when it’s my wife—”

“Believe it or not,” Edward interrupted, “I treat them all the same. Whether it’s my wife or yours, their safety is my number one priority.”

“Honestly, I thought that was common knowledge.” Leah crossed her arms. “So either keep your mouth shut about what I can and can’t do out there, or find a crossword puzzle to keep yourself occupied until I get back.”

With that, she strode off, Jake complaining the entire way as he followed behind her.

“I get where he’s coming from,” Bella said. “She’s never joined us on anything even remotely dangerous.”

“As I said, I’d cover her ass just the same as I would yours.” Punctuating his statement, Edward grabbed two handfuls of Bella’s ass and hauled her up against him. “Though yours is much cuter.”

“You’re not alone,” James grumbled. “Jesus Christ.”

Glaring at him, Edward said, “Your room is next to ours, right?”

Making a face of disgust, James nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind later when my wife is screaming my name and you can’t block her out no matter how much you try.”

“Gross.”

Bella tried to be more diplomatic. “Don’t you miss your wife, James?”

Edward snorted. “Mrs. Holden is probably relieved to have him out of the house. Assuming they even have sex, I picture her lying there waiting for it to be over with—”

“Leave my wife out of this!” It only took seconds for James to wrench Edward away from Bella and step right up in his face.

“Take your hands off me.” Eyes darkening, Edward straightened his shoulders so he towered over Holden.

Instead of retreating, James doubled down, moving closer. “Don’t bring up my wife again.”

“Guys,” Bella said.

“If I thought for one second you had a soul down in that empty shell of yours, I’d apologize for my words.” Pushing James back several steps, Edward said, “But you’re nothing more than a slimy snake in the grass, waiting for your chance to fuck us all.”

“I’ve done my best!” James shouted.

“Then why haven’t I gotten the access I need? You were in charge of getting in, and you’ve given me nothing!”

“Guys,” Bella repeated. “Let’s take this down a notch before it comes to blows.”

James sneered. “I’d so much rather bash his face in.”

With a menacing chuckle, Edward said, “We’ve already proven I can kick your ass.”

“Enough, gentlemen.” Nigel came into the kitchen carrying a laptop. “We’ve got something.”