With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Four

“And you figure this out now, while we’re crawling in a vent in gowns and heels?” asked Eena incredulously.

“I guess so,” muttered Reini as she stared unseeingly at the vent wall across her.

Eena sighed. “Reini, the greatest agents are the ones who manage to lie to themselves.”

Reini nodded absently then turned to look at Eena, smiling sadly. She nodded slowly before going back to her hands and knees, prepared to crawl once again to exit the vent. After a few seconds of ensuring that Eena was also prepared, she started crawling.

She didn’t answer Eena, and Eena knew why.

“The greatest spies,” said Vivienne Levalle, standing up to look at her trainees in the eyes, “are the ones who manage to lie to themselves.”

Reini looked at her, unafraid, as Vivienne turned her eyes to look at Reini’s. Her eyes were forest green, the piercing gaze feeling as if she could see straight into Reini’s soul.

“But here’s a secret; the best spies are the ones who can’t.”

“You really shouldn’t be drinking whiskey.”

Samantha glanced up from the last shot of whiskey she had ordered and looked at Tiffany, raising her eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and grabbed her last shot of whiskey, bringing it up to her lips and gulping the drink down, slamming the shot back on the counter when she was done. Samantha grinned and looked at Tiffany, tilting her head slightly to the left. “I’m a big girl now, Tiff. No need for you to watch over me anymore.”

Tiffany looked at her, unbelieving. She couldn’t believe that the girl was Samuel’s sister. Samuel was always formal and gentlemanly, kind and polite towards others. Samantha, on the other hand, while polite and kind like her brother, was not formal or lady-like in the sense that a lady should be graceful and regal. “You aren’t even thirty yet.”

“Oh but honey,” said Samantha, smiling a mischievous smile, “I’m twenty-nine. And do you know what that means? That means I’m of legal age to drink.”

Tiffany closed her eyes and shook her head. “I can’t believe you,” she muttered.

Samantha grinned, showing off her perfect set of white teeth. “Seeing is believing, honey. You better believe.”

“How are you and Sam even related?”

Samantha smiled, one that clearly showed her affection for her older brother. “We’re more alike than you think, Tiff. It’s just that my dear brother’s so damned formal and I’m as creative as can be. Painters and artists are like this, don’t worry; I’m not insane or anything.”

Tiffany hopped up the barstool and crossed her legs. “So, am I going to continue telling you the story or what?”

Samantha immediately stopped smiling and nodded quickly. “Yes.”

“As I was saying,” said Tiffany, looking at Samantha, “Samuel found out about Clarissa. So then Clarissa kidnapped him and brought him to one of The Alliance’s headquarters. It turned out that their plan was for Clarissa to marry Sam for the money they needed.”

“Wow,” breathed out Samantha. “Money can kill. First Spence, then Sam.”

“Yeah,” said Tiffany, nodding her head. “Anyway, Reini, who turned out to be a CIA agent in charge of protecting Sam, saved him from the kidnapping.”

Samantha’s eyes widened and she grinned. “Spies? Seriously?” she asked, her whisper loud enough to be heard by Tiffany but not loud enough to be heard by anyone else. “God, I love your life.”