Nexus: Ziva Payvan Book 2 Read Free

at his own gala. He was due to present several awards in – Skeet checked the time – about ten minutes, one in particular to Director Arion for some miniscule thing he had no doubt already received similar awards for. Still, this was one of the biggest events of the year among the Haphezian dignitaries, whether it was because they were being commended or because they were looking for a good time. Skeet could honestly say he’d be enjoying himself if not for the clothes he was wearing. He gave his collar another tug and squirmed in his jacket.
    “ You on the other hand might look like an idiot, the way you keep fidgeting like that,” Ziva said in a motherly tone. The corners of her mouth turned upward ever so slightly. It wasn’t often that something so insignificant could make her smile – she was clearly in a better mood than Skeet would have expected of her on an assignment like this.
    “Not everyone cleans up as nice as you do, Z.”
    “I didn’t say you don’t look nice,” she said. “Just try not to look like you’re dying.”
    “You two look like you’re having way too much fun.” They both turned to find Intelligence Officer Zinnarana Vax as she moved up to stand beside them. She too wore a long black dress, this one strapless. The glittering blue sash around her waist did a fantastic job of bringing out the brilliant cerulean in her eyes and hair, which she had left down. Zinni was much smaller than either of them, but what she lacked in size she made up for in attitude and brains. If they were smart, people treaded just as lightly around her as they did around Ziva. She was tough and intelligent, but wasn’t nearly as callous as the lieutenant. The two of them balanced each other out, and Skeet couldn’t have asked for a better pair of teammates.
    “You know we are,” Ziva replied, crossing her arms again. “See anything out of place?”
    “Not a thing,” Zinni said. “We’ve been here for close to an hour and everything seems normal.”
    “Except that,” Skeet muttered, perking up. He stepped away from the women, eyes fixed on the three agents dressed in HSP blues who were rushing from the hall. He turned to his left to see another pair listening intently to their earpieces before they too hurried off.
    Ziva and Zinni strode forward as well, with Ziva brushing past him and stopping a step in front of him. “This can’t be good.”
    Nearby guests had noticed the commotion and were chattering among themselves. Some were beginning to cluster at the bottom of the grand staircase, peering up in the direction the agents had gone. Whatever had them so intrigued was happening on the second floor of Tachi’s palace.

-4-
    Main Hall
    Palace of the Royal Officer
    Haphor, Haphez
     
    The moment she heard the distant shouting coming from upstairs, Ziva Payvan removed her pistol from where it had been strapped to her upper ankle, well concealed under the flowing dress. Those around her scattered upon seeing the weapon, giving her plenty of space to press forward with Skeet and Zinni directly behind her.
    The remaining agents she could see from her current vantage point had also drawn their guns and were doing their best to round up the VIPs and lead them to safety. Ziva wished desperately for an earpiece or some other form of communication that would allow her to find out what had transpired upstairs.
    “Hey!” she barked at a pair of blue-and-gray-clad HSP agents who were hustling Emeri Arion out of the room. “Lieutenant Payvan, HSP. What’s going on?”
    For a moment the Blues responded with looks of shock and Ziva was afraid they would treat her as a threat, but the director quickly intervened. “They just found Tachi in his private quarters,” he said, lowering his voice as he drew closer. “He’s dead.”
    Ziva’s eyes darted toward the stairs. A trio of Royal Guard agents remained halfway up the flight of steps, hands extended in an attempt to calm the nervous onlookers and keep them