Page 41 of The Lazarus Protocol

She tried to push away the doubt so it didn’t register on her face.

His grip on her chin was just a little too tight.

“I believe.”

He touched his lips to hers, but all she felt was the pinch of his fingers on her chin. Until he let go and those fingers slid down her throat, enveloping her neck in a loose hold.

“Enough games.” She pushed against his chest, trying to shove him away. They needed to leave. There was no time for⁠—

His fingers tightened around her throat.

She couldn’t draw a breath. Couldn’t bring in the air she needed. Panic she didn’t understand flashed in her mind. All she saw in his expression was a cold resolve that had been on the face of so many who had come at her over the years. She had killed them all.

Vesper pushed against his chest. Clawed his arms. She couldn’t even scratch him through the thick protective clothing. Not you. She fought him with every ounce of strength she had.

He ignored it. “That’s twice now they’ve seen you.”

Her strength started to fade, but she refused to quit fighting. Betrayal hardened like metal that cooled and solidified into a core of steel inside her.

“If this is going to work, which it will, we can’t have you exposing our operation.”

His expression swam in front of her as she fought for air—for consciousness. For the knife. She swept her hands across her lap and around her on the mattress. Finally, her fingers slid across the blade.

She grabbed the hilt, swung it around, and shoved it into his side with as much strength as she could muster.

He roared, and his grip on her throat loosened and fell away. She tried to get up but lost her balance, landing on her hands and knees. Gasping for air. He slammed into her back. Her chin smacked the floor, and she cried out.

He scratched and clawed at her wrist, trying to get the knife.

Vesper got enough momentum to flip him off her and scrambled up. He came at her again with a loud cry and met her knife edge first.

She gritted her teeth, her mind screaming for her to hold.

The blade embedded in his chest. His gaze danced about, and she watched realization ignite in his features. That’s right. I win this round.

“Rest assured, I’ll finish this. In your memory.”

He gasped, blood dampening his lips. “Ves⁠—”

She slid the knife out and stepped back, refusing to entertain his last words. He crumpled to the floor, and she leaned down to wipe the knife blade clean on the fabric of his trousers.

“I will find the book. Alone.”

FIFTEEN

Alexandria, Virginia

“This way.” Dr. Mills limped down the hallway. He had gray hair, a lab coat over scrubs, and sneakers that seemed too white to wear in a place where autopsies were done.

Noah wondered if he kept pristine shoes in his office for occasions like this.

Mills pushed through a set of swinging doors with a single round window in each side.

Marina didn’t follow him right away. She held the door with one hand and looked at Noah for the first time since they left his family’s ranch in Montana.

Noah said, “I can wait out here.”

She shook her head. “Come with me?”