Under His Cover

The air sixty floors above the ground was freezing cold. It smelled like rain, jet fuel, and city exhaust.
Evangeline crouched on the wet glass ledge of the Sovereign Tower. Her black tactical suit fit like a second skin, keeping her completely hidden in the dark night. Below her, the big city glowed through the rain with bright blue and pink neon lights.
She tapped the side of her helmet to turn on her night vision.
Three minutes until the guards walk by.
She did not need three minutes. She only needed thirty seconds.
Evangeline pulled a small laser cutter from her belt. She moved fast and smooth, cutting a neat circle into the strong glass window. Using a suction tool, she pulled the glass piece out, stepped inside without making a sound, and landed silently on the soft carpet of the luxury office.
Her target was sitting on the big wooden desk: a small, dark metal flash drive. It held all the secret bank accounts for Silas’s crime business. This little drive could destroy his entire operation in one night.
Too easy, she thought, smiling as her gloved fingers closed around the cold metal drive.
Then, a quiet click came from the dark corner behind her.
Evangeline stopped instantly. She was not scared; her body just knew what to do. It was not the building alarm. She had turned the security system off ten minutes ago.
It was the sound of a gun silencer being pulled back.
"Step away from the desk," a deep, smooth voice said from the dark doorway. "And keep your hands up."
Evangeline moved like lightning. She spun around, dropped low, and pointed her gun straight ahead.
The man in the dark did not shoot. He took a slow step into the bright blue light coming from the window.
He had broad shoulders, wearing a clean, expensive dark suit. His dark hair was slightly wet from the rain, and his jawline was sharp. He had ice-gray eyes, and he was wearing a very familiar, annoying smirk.
Alexander Vance.
"You are in my way, Vance," Evangeline whispered, aiming right at his chest.
"And you are taking my target, Evangeline," Alexander answered smoothly. He did not care about the gun pointed at him. He held his own gun with calm skill. "Though I have to say, black looks good on you."
"Keep talking and you can wear black to your funeral."
"Sounds fun," he chuckled, taking half a step closer. "But I have work to do, and that drive is mine."
"My hand touched it first."
Before either of them could shoot, heavy boots ran down the hallway outside. Red light filled the room, and a loud alarm started ringing.
The guards.
Alexander let out a soft, relaxed sigh. "Looks like our date is over, darling."
"Do not call me darling," she snapped.
Without warning, Alexander raised his gun and fired three quiet shots. He did not shoot at her. He shot the water pipe on the ceiling. Cold water blasted everywhere, blinding the cameras and filling the room like a heavy storm.
By the time Evangeline wiped the water out of her eyes, Alexander was gone.
"Damn it," she muttered. She grabbed the drive, jumped into the air vent, and escaped into the rain.
An hour later, Evangeline walked into her agency’s underground base. She squeezed the cold rainwater out of her long hair. Blue computer screens lit up the dark metal room.
She marched to the main glass desk and slammed the flash drive down hard.
"I got the drive," she said, her voice sharp and cold. "But your news was wrong. Vance was there. He almost ruined the mission."
Her boss, Director Marcus, did not look up from his screens. He was an older man with gray hair, and his face was tough like stone.
"Vance did not ruin anything, Evangeline," Marcus said calmly. "I sent him there."
Evangeline froze. "What did you say?"
"That drive is only half of what we need," Marcus said, tapping his screen. A 3D light picture of a huge house on a high cliff appeared in the air. "Silas keeps his main computers at his private home in Monaco. The place is like a fortress. Strong walls, automatic guns, and a private army."
Evangeline looked at the bright light model. "So I sneak in from the sea. A solo dive under the water—climb the cliff, cut through the pipes, and get inside."
"No solo sneaking this time," Marcus said firmly.
She blinked. "Why not?"
"Silas is not just a crime boss. He is also very rich," Marcus said, showing photos of expensive parties. "Next week, he is throwing a big party at his house. Only famous people and their married partners can go."
Evangeline narrowed her eyes. "Married partners?"
"Single guests are searched completely and watched by armed guards every second," Marcus said. "Newlywed couples, however, get private rooms inside the main house. They can walk around without guards following them. It is the only way to get close to the main computers."
Evangeline felt a bad feeling in her stomach. "No. Absolutely not. Pick another agent."
"No one else is good enough to pull off a dangerous job like this, Evangeline."
"I work alone, Marcus!" she snapped, stepping closer to the desk. "I move fast, I keep quiet, and I do not need help. I am not babysitting another agent—and I am definitely not playing married."
"You are not babysitting anyone," Marcus said coldly. "Your new partner has already been told about the job, and he said yes."
"Who is it?" she demanded.
The big metal door at the back of the room opened with a loud hiss of air.
Evangeline turned around slowly. Her jaw went tight.
Alexander Vance walked in, playing with a silver lighter in his hands. He had taken off his wet suit jacket. Now he wore a clean white shirt with the top buttons open and the sleeves rolled up. His arms were strong, showing dark tattoos on his skin.
He did not look like a spy. He looked like expensive trouble.
"Tell me this is a bad joke," Evangeline whispered, her voice full of anger.
Alexander stopped right in front of her. His cold gray eyes looked down her body slowly, looking at her tactical boots, her gear, and her angry face. A slow, handsome smile spread across his face.
"A joke? Not at all, my sweet," Alexander said in a low, quiet voice. "I am actually very happy. After three years of trying to shoot you, I finally get to go on a honeymoon with you."
"If you call me 'my sweet' again, I will break your jaw."
"So angry," Alexander said, leaning back against the metal table with his arms crossed. "I am sure Silas’s guards will love your nice personality."
"Enough, both of you," Marcus said firmly. He reached into his coat, pulled out a small black box, and dropped it on the metal table.
It popped open, showing two shiny silver wedding rings.
"Your fake marriage is already registered in the official systems," Marcus said. "You leave for Monaco in six hours. Put the rings on."
Evangeline looked down at the bright silver rings. Her heart was beating fast—not from fear, but from pure anger. She had spent her whole life working alone, being a ghost who needed nobody.
Now, she was trapped with her biggest rival.
Alexander reached out first. He picked up the smaller silver ring with his long fingers. He tossed it into the air lazily and caught it, looking right at her face.
He took a step closer until their shoes were touching. She could feel the heat coming off his chest. He smelled like rain, wood, and clean soap.
Alexander leaned down a little. His lips were right next to her ear, his warm breath tickling her skin.
"Ready to say 'I do,' darling?" he whispered softly.
Evangeline reached up, grabbed the front of his white shirt, and pulled him down until their faces were inches apart. Her dark eyes were burning.
"If you touch me while I am sleeping, Vance," she whispered back, her voice quiet and deadly, "you will not live long enough to get a divorce."
Alexander’s smile only got bigger. Without looking away from her eyes, he took her left hand in his big, warm hand. He slid the smooth silver ring onto her finger.
"I will remember that, wife," he said softly.
The mission had officially started.