License to Love (An Agent Ex Novel) (6 page)

“They reported directly to General Omar Bradley, the ground commander in Europe. Their mission was to feed the enemy false intelligence and lead them away from where the Allies were planning to attack. To get the enemy to amass their troops in the wrong locations, leaving the gate open for our campaigns.

“The actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was instrumental in leading them and designing some of their campaigns. They were brilliant, using inflatable tanks and dummies to stage what appeared to the enemy as our troop movements. They created chatter, sonic illusions they called them, that fed the Germans false information and also simulated the sound of large companies of men moving through the countryside.

“They were mostly unarmed, exceptionally brave men who helped win the war with deception.” Nelson cracked the slightest of smiles. “I can see you’re starting to get the idea that we have need of a deception specialist and a little countermagic.

“RIOT is going to stage an alien attack, using the tactics of illusion, sometime during the upcoming National UFO, or NUFO, convention. Their goal is to send a panicked crowd streaming into Dreamland past the gates, overwhelming the camo dudes and security. Dreamland isn’t even gated.

“RIOT’s counting on us not bombing or shooting into a crowd of our own civilians.

“We can, of course, use tear gas and other riot-control techniques. But with a large enough crowd in the open-air environment?” Nelson shrugged. “How effective will it be to stop the chaos?

“RIOT will have agents in the crowd, egging them on, and ready to sneak into the secure area during the mayhem.” Emmett clenched his fist. “I will not allow RIOT to breach our facility on my watch.”

Rock’s mouth went dry and his pulse raced as he thought of the possibilities. He had an ominous feeling that he knew where this was headed. “They’d need an accomplished magician to plan, orchestrate, and pull something like that off. Who…”

Emmett didn’t reply, just smiled knowingly, looking as if Rock would eventually figure it out on his own.

“Shit!” Rock pounded the arm of the sofa and squeezed Lani’s hand so tightly she grimaced. “Sol Blackledge?”

As Rock eased up on his death grip of Lani’s hand, he cursed Sol. He and that ass went way back to magic training at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

To think they’d actually been friends then. Until Sol stole the plans for one of Rock’s most creative illusions, performed it, and passed it off as his own before Rock could perform it. Since that defining moment, he and Sol had competed for everything. Including Lani.

Lani gave Rock’s arm a reassuring squeeze. Or maybe she was simply trying to calm him down.

Emmett nodded. “They’ve been backing Sol financially for years. Who do you think financed that illusion Sol stole from you, the one that made his career?”

Rock went cold as realization dawned on him and a memory from a decade ago came back to him. “That group of financial backers approached me first. I turned them down because I didn’t want to sell out and give up my creative control. They were terrorists?”

“Yes. RIOT,” Emmett said.

Lani sat silently beside Rock, letting Emmett deliver all the bad news.

Rock shook his head, trying to grasp the situation. “Sol doesn’t have the creativity, the talent, or the skill to develop an illusion that complex. Especially not on the fly,” Rock said. “A trick like that takes years of planning.”

“Yes, it does.” Emmett looked Rock in the eye.

Beside Rock, Lani tensed. Rock got a very bad feeling.

Emmett paused and then spoke slowly. “Does the name Outlandish Marauders mean anything to you?”

“F—” Rock let go of Lani, jumped to his feet, and resisted the urge to punch something as he ran his fingers through his hair. “But how? That’s my illusion. Very few people other than me even know about it. After Sol stole that first illusion from me, I’ve kept Outlandish Marauders closely guarded.” He stared Emmett down.

“How do you know about it? How do you know it’s mine, not Sol’s?” A sick feeling burned in his stomach. He turned to Lani. An involuntary look of guilt crossed her face so quickly a layperson would have missed it.

“One of our agents got the intelligence from a RIOT informant,” Emmett said, lying like the pro he was.

But it was too late. Rock knew the truth. Lani hadn’t just been sent to save Hoover Dam two years ago. She’d also been sent to spy on him. Rock didn’t know what was real with her or not now.

“RIOT has been spying on you for years, Rock.” Emmett’s voice was smooth and calming, almost hypnotic.

Rock knew the technique and put up his guard. “My studio and house have been broken into and subtly tampered with over the years. I thought that was just Sol.

“RIOT is very good, and scary, if they managed to get past my security for Outlandish Marauders.” And so was Lani.

Rock’s emotions were tightly wound as he turned and looked at her. His gut clenched. She was trying to mask her expression, but excitement shone through subtly. The thought of a mission of magic excited her. And him.

At least they had something in common. Despite everything, he still wanted her, more than ever, damn his weak soul.

Through the shock of the past few hours, a thrill and an adrenaline rush built. Best Sol. Perform Outlandish Marauders, a trick he’d been dreaming of doing since he was young. With the CIA’s help, could it really be done? Show the world that an alien attack could be faked. And find out exactly who the woman he married really was and what she really felt for him.

For two years, he’d wanted to know the truth. Here was his opportunity.

Lani gazed back at him with heat in her eyes. Unfortunately, given what he’d learned about her in the past hour, everything she did, and had done, was suspect. Even, maybe especially, marrying him.

On the other hand, she was a professional liar. Liars and deceivers turned him on, especially beautiful ones.

“Outlandish Marauders is an illusion, a television special that, if I’m ever able to perform it, is supposed to be the pinnacle of my career. I make an alien attack appear out of nowhere before a live audience. No computer-aided graphics like in the movies. Then I make them disappear just as quickly.

“You’re telling me Sol and RIOT have co-opted it and are going to use it to create terror?” Rock was so angry at the thought, his stomach burned.

“Yes,” Nelson said.

“What do you want me to do? Perform it before they can use it against us? Does the technology I need even exist?” Rock took a deep breath as he thought through the logistics.

“It does. Trust me,” Nelson said.

Rock rattled off his thoughts. “Ginning up the publicity for an illusion like that, booking the venue, selling the tickets, getting the equipment, and shit, just practicing, will all take time. The NUFO convention is in what, a few weeks?

“If we’re going to beat Sol to the punch…” Rock shook his head. “You’re asking the impossible.”

Nelson finished his drink. “You misunderstand, Rock. We’re not booking any venue. You’re not performing this on stage or on television. You’re orchestrating it, setting it up to look like a real invasion at the gates of Area 51. And doing the reveal at the last minute to stop the crowd from storming the perimeters.”

“I don’t understand,” Rock said. “Isn’t that risky and unethical? Why panic people? Why take the chance of someone getting hurt or killed or the plan backfiring?”

Nelson’s look was penetrating. “Because we have reason to believe some high-profile RIOT agents will be involved. Terrorists high up on our pack of RIOT playing cards, our list of most wanted. We want this chance to draw them out, apprehend them, and cripple their organization.

“We’ll create some intelligence deception of our own and let it slip that NUFO, with its list of heavy-hitting, wealthy backers, has hired you to perform a surprise secret show for them during their annual picnic at the black mailbox near Area 51. We’ll trot out a few details of Outlandish Marauders. And then we’ll see who bites.” Nelson grinned.

“As for impossible, all of our resources are at your disposal. As you probably suspect, we’ve been making preparations of our own since we first discovered RIOT’s plans. But we’ve lacked the master illusionist’s touch and knowledge. Lani can fill you in on where we stand.”

Rock stared at Lani again. “Good. Damn. My act is in hiatus. Reappearing her would be the perfect way to reintroduce her to the world. The perfect act of showmanship—”

Nelson cleared his throat. “About that. We have another plan for Lani.

“Your shared history and competition with Sol presents us with an opportunity to place Lani exactly where we need her to keep an eye on Sol so she can tip us off to any details of RIOT’s plans—”

“No!” The word exploded out of Rock’s mouth involuntarily as he realized exactly what Nelson had in mind. “I will not put Lani in danger, or let Sol have my prestige to reappear her and humiliate me again.”

He shook his head, sat, and grabbed Lani’s hand as if he wouldn’t let them whisk her away again. What the hell? They weren’t giving him time with her? How was he supposed to discover the truth about her and how she felt for him now?

“I’m sorry,” Nelson said. “It’s part of the deal. Getting revenge on you will distract Sol while we make preparations for our strike. And Lani will be in an ideal position to gather intelligence to see whether RIOT’s biting. Who they’re planning to send, how they’ll be disguised, that kind of thing.

“Even in the midst of the chaos, it will take a specially trained, skilled agent to get all the way into the secure area. Catching him will be a big prize worthy of the risk.”

“It’s too dangerous for Lani.” Rock was vehement.

Nelson arched a brow and shook his head. “For one of my agents? You underestimate our abilities, especially Lani’s.”

“She may be a damn fine agent,” Rock said with his heart hammering in his throat. “But Sol is ruthless. He takes too many risks. He doesn’t pay attention to safety. And these RIOT people you describe…”

Nelson cocked his head. “We’ll take that under consideration. But it doesn’t change the facts—we need Lani in Blackledge’s inner circle.”

“And you think you can just insert her there?” Rock was dumbfounded. Was Nelson some kind of idiot?

“Sol’s been advertising for new assistants. Don’t you think he’d jump at the chance to bring your wife back to the stage? To steal your prestige. Maybe even collect that reward?”

Rock swallowed hard and looked at Lani, who gazed back at him coolly. “I thought—”

He cut himself off before he said too much and revealed his vulnerability.

Rock cleared his throat as he composed his thoughts. “I thought Lani and I were going to get a chance to reconnect and work together again.” That sounded neutral enough.

“Yes, of course. While you engage in a public battle with Sol. It’ll be delicious fodder for the gossip rags. And, as I said, distract everyone from what’s really going on.” Nelson pushed his glass back and stood, taking the cue that he was intruding too long on Rock’s hospitality.

“Lani will spend the night here, just in case there’s trouble. But she can’t be seen leaving in the morning. Blackledge must think he’s found her himself.

“Lani will fill you in on the mission details and the other agents who will be involved. You’re going to love Tate. Everyone does. I should be going.” He looked Rock in the eye and smiled.

Rock made a move to stand.

Nelson held up a hand. “Don’t bother. I’ll show myself out.”

Rock watched Nelson walk to the door, where he paused. “We’ll be in touch. Expect your handler to be contacting you in the morning.”

“I don’t need a handler. I have Lani.”

“All new spies get handlers, Powers. Impartial handlers who plan the mission without letting bias and emotions come into play.

“Your handler won’t give a damn whether you come out alive or dead. He’ll only care whether you accomplish what we ask. Lani, here”—Nelson nodded toward her—”is not what I’d call impartial. She’s too concerned with the state of your precious hide.”

Rock’s heart leaped with hope, but the rational part of him wondered whether Nelson was just leading him on to get his full cooperation.

“This isn’t fun and games, Powers. Remember that.” Nelson let himself out.

Lani stood and walked to the window, watching him drive off.

Rock came up behind her. “You stole more than our certificate of marriage when you ran off. You stole the plans to Outlandish Marauders.”

She turned to face him. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly at the edges in a faint smile. “I don’t suppose there’s any point in denying it now.”

She seemed almost too cavalier with her admission. Rock recognized a skilled diversion when he saw one and he was being intentionally diverted now. What else was she hiding?

“I should be pissed. I am pissed. Betrayal is such an ugly thing.”

“I wouldn’t call it betrayal. I like to think of it as commitment to cause and country, which includes you.”

“Do you?”

“It was all for the greater good.”

He ran his hand lightly along her arm and caught her hand in his. “So it was all just an act?” He made his voice low and sultry, laced with the hypnotic tone that won audiences over and created the perfect diversions for his illusions and magic.

This was a diversion and an illusion, too. A test to find out whether their chemistry and her desire for him were real. He was certain she hadn’t faked that. There was one way to find out for sure.

He could see desire welling up and sparkling in her eyes now. The pattern of her breathing had changed, too. He took a step into her, standing so close his chest brushed hers, sending waves of need through him. “Do you want to talk about Outlandish Marauders?”

“There’s time for that later.” She looked into his eyes.

Though he should have been furious and hurt, standing so near her, he wanted her. He loved her. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to plunge into her and make her cry out in ecstasy. If she didn’t love him, he at least had to know she was attracted to him. Then maybe there was hope. This new, treacherous, dangerous, deceitful Lani grew more enticing and intriguing by the minute.