Jigsaw (Black Raven Book 2) Read Free Page B

wedding, the groom revealed none of the hesitation that had marked Zeus’s own wedding day. No second thoughts. Not one bit of doubt. Zeus had pretended to be just as happy as Sebastian really was. Now, watching Sebastian’s genuine, heartfelt reactions to the moments that marked his wedding day, Zeus wondered whether he’d fooled anyone.
    Skye led her sister to the cakes for photographs. For a moment, Spring looked overwhelmed by the attention, but she managed a smile. Sebastian, who was hanging back and allowing Spring to bask in the attention given to the cakes she’d created, approached Zeus. His eyes changed from happy groom to serious Raven. “How are operations going?”
    “Not today. You’ve got a gorgeous new wife to focus on.” His gaze fell on Barrows, who stood a few feet from the cake tables, smiling at his daughters. “A ready-made family. Besides, things are fine. Nothing unusual.”
    Zeus and the other Ravens who were at the wedding reception were mic’d to Ragno, who was at headquarters in Denver. Sebastian was not. For the last two hours, in deference to the celebration, Ragno had maintained radio silence.
    “Zeus,” Ragno’s voice came through the mic, as clear as if she was standing next to him. “You spoke too soon. I’m talking only to you, and it can’t wait. Understand?”
    “Got it,” he said after Sebastian stepped away from him to return to his new wife. The band picked up their instruments, a signal that soon he wouldn’t be able to hear Ragno. “Give me a second.”
    Zeus walked over to Agent Victoria Martel, the Black Raven agent who had full-time duties over Ana, whether Ana was with Zeus or with her mother. When Zeus could, he worked from home in Miami, but most of his time he was based at Denver headquarters. From time to time, he worked as an on-site problem shooter on high-profile jobs. Due to the global reach of Black Raven’s business, and the frequency with which jobs became volatile, at any moment in time Zeus could be anywhere in the world. He was lucky if he got a few weeknights and a couple weekends a month with his daughter.
    Agent Martel was Nanny Vick to Ana, a beloved sitter, friend, disciplinarian, and confidant. To Zeus, Agent Martel was a caregiver with a Glock, his insurance for Ana’s safety. Overkill? He hoped so. With his daughter, there was no such thing as being too careful.
    Used to Zeus’s sudden transitions to business mode, Ana wriggled out of his grasp and stood firmly on the ground next to Agent Martel. Eyes on him, she asked, “Want me to get you a piece of cake?”
    “If one of those cakes is chocolate on the inside,” he said, touching her cheek, “absolutely. I’ll be right back, baby. Stay with Vick.” He turned from them and walked outside. “Ragno, I’m all ears.”
    “Stanley Morgan, Chief Amicus Curiae Counsel for the United States, at the newly convened International Terrorist Tribunal, died six hours ago in Paris. His death looks like insulin overdose in a diabetic. Initial reports suggest it was accidental.”
    “Okay,” he said, walking across the brick courtyard, the lone person outside of the reception hall. Bright sunlight shone on the courtyard’s bordering gardens, filled with pink, red, and white azaleas in full bloom. Fountains in sparkling water gardens trickled and splashed. The water noises grew louder with each step he took away from the reception venue and the sounds of the band.
    In a world without peace, the courtyard with its fountains and flowers welcomed guests with a glimpse of what life could be like if one managed to forget the evil that was now everywhere.
    Zeus never forgot.
    He was the Raven in charge of operations. Managing partner of an international company in the business of protecting clients from threats of all kinds. Black Raven was the go-to company for state of the art security systems and manned details at upper echelon businesses and private residences. The company handled special