It’s 1996, and Mark Vincent, senior special agent of the Washington Bureau of Investigation and Security, is sent on assignment to Prague to cancel the head of a terrorist organization. He has no doubt it will be a simple operation. After all, he’s the best, isn’t he? Only another member of the WBIS gets involved, and when everything goes south -- including the loss of valued members of his team -- Mark vows to destroy the man responsible for this debacle. Refused permission to return to the States and ordered to take time off to decompress, Mark heads to Paris, where he meets an attractive rent boy who introduces himself as Louis. Unable to resist, Mark, portraying an ordinary businessman, gives his name as Rick, and they spend the week together. However, neither man is what he portrays himself as. With this unlikely pair, can this be the start of a beautiful friendship?

The Start of a Beautiful Friendship

I was seriously going to take Sperling apart.


Stanley must have picked up on it too, because he said, "Hey, Vincent got here after the shit hit the fan."


I glared at him. I didn't need anyone sticking up for me.


"Huh." The medic turned to the men with him. "Let's get 'em loaded up."


I knew where the Scarlet Chamber's Prague headquarters were located--some of us did our homework. If Claude wasn't there, I had some contacts who might be able to give me a hint as to where he could be.


I lucked out, in a manner of speaking. The place was empty, except for Claude, who was sprawled on the floor. His brains were decorating a wall--he'd eaten his gun and blown out the back of his head.


Goddammit, this was my op. He should have known I'd come get him.


Well, this was just one more reason for me to go after the Archbishop. As for Sperling....


Chapter 4