Spy Girl (Spy Girl #1)

I look at the brick walls surrounding the garden then up at the sky. “Maybe fly in?”


“A helicopter would be susceptible to the snipers.”

“It could do a lot of damage before it was taken out, though. What about a drone? Or one of those little helicopters with the cameras? Only maybe it’s a gun instead. It would be quiet and could sneak up. But, honestly, I’d be more worried about the backend of the event. The food delivery trucks, the caterers, the servers. Or, worse, someone like us.”

“What do you mean?” Ari asks.

“We got through. Do you have any weapons in your possession?”

“No, the invitation mentioned security, so I’m not packing.”

I grab his wrist. “What about your watch?”

“Cartier, brand new.”

I show him mine. “My Cartier is special.”

“How so?”

“It's loaded with poison darts.” I flash my hand at him. “And this ring can reveal a single-use poison tip. If I scratched you with it, you’d be dead in a matter of minutes. If I were playing for the other side, I’d be the big threat. And I’d succeed easily.”

“My sister is a badass,” he says, and it makes me smile. It’s the first mission-related compliment he’s given me.

“Don’t you have any gadgets?”

“Yeah, I do.” He rolls his eyes like a little boy caught with candy.

“What do you have?”

“A fine writing pen that when clicked properly contains a similar dart. Cuff links that become tracking and listening devices. A hankie square made of Kevlar.”

“My brother is a badass,” I tease.

“So that’s what we need to be looking for—someone like us. But I agree with you. The threat could be a man or woman and could be either a guest or server. Keep your eyes open and stick close to the Prince. I’ll stay close by, as well, forming a sort of outer perimeter.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I agree as we arrive at the entrance to the garden.

“Wait up!” Allie calls from behind us, her and Peter scurrying to catch up.

“That was ridiculous,” Peter huffs. “To be invited to an event and have to practically be strip searched.”

“What happened?”

“He had a nail file in his pocket,” Allie states.

Peter goes on. “Clearly, it is not a weapon. What could I even do with it? File their royal nails until they bled?”

Ari and I share a glance, both thinking the same thing. There are a lot of things you could do with a nail file, jabbing it directly into a man’s eye being the first that comes to mind.

“Why do you have a nail file? They don’t even allow those on airplanes,” Ari states.

Allie smiles at him. “I don’t think Peter’s ever flown commercial.”

“And it wasn’t like a big metal file,” Peter continues. “It’s a pair of clippers that have a little nail file. I’m prone to hangnails.”

Clippers can be effective, too, I think. With the right amount of force and a quick slash, a major artery in the neck could be opened and a man would bleed to death. Messy, but effective.

“They didn’t let me keep them. That’s what took so long. I had to fill out a coat check type form. If they weren’t made of gold and a gift from my grandfather, I would have just ditched them.” He grabs Allie’s hand. “Remind me to pick them up when we leave.”

“I’m sure after the castle attack yesterday, they aren’t taking any chances, for all our sakes,” Ari says.

“Still, pain in my arse,” Peter replies.





We go through an arched trellis to enter the large, perfectly manicured green-lawned garden. It’s beautiful. Large, leafy trees surround its perimeter. A mammoth ornate marble fountain punctuates its center. Smaller floral trees line the center paths and numerous iron benches allow for gazing at the floral displays. We are quickly greeted by a white-gloved server offering us champagne from a silver tray.

We each take a glass and Peter says, “Here’s to new friends and fast cars. Thanks for talking us into coming here.”

We clink our glasses and I take a sip, the bubbles tickling my nose.

“Looks like there’s food over there,” Ari says. If Ari has one mission weakness, it’s his need to constantly eat. You’d think he was still growing.

We’re halfway to the buffet when I see the Prince making a beeline toward us. He greets everyone, then pulls me away from the group.

“You look stunning. I wasn’t sure if you received the delivery.” He looks at the ground, fidgets a bit, then looks at me with sincerity written all over his face. “I didn’t know if you would come. Does this mean you forgive me?”

“That depends. Do you think I had anything to do with the men at the castle yesterday?”

He takes my hand. “No, I do not. It’s just that I surprised them with our visit.” He looks around and lowers his voice. “You can’t be in a leadership role in any country in today’s world and not be threatened. That is the downside to dating me.”

“Is this a date?”

He touches my face tenderly. “I certainly would like it to be.”