Their group continued down Úri Street, then stopped outside one of the most acclaimed attractions, Labirintus, the famous labyrinths of Budapest.
“Who knows the story of the labyrinths? This is one of the entrances.” A few in the group raised their hands. “Unfortunately, the tour is closed tonight, but—”
“I thought the government shut down the mazes in twenty eleven,” one of the tourists interrupted. “A terrorist attack or something.”
“We don’t know the exact reason. It is all very hush-hush, but parts of the labyrinth are open again for tours,” the woman explained before pointing to a sign about Dracula outside the entrance door. “In the fifteenth century, the underground system was a prison. Legend has it that Vlad the Impaler, made popular as Count Dracula, was once imprisoned and tortured here for ten years.”
“I don’t think so,” someone with an Italian accent said. “That’s a gimmick for tourists. The real Vlad was held at Visegrad Royal Palace, which is over forty kilometers away.”
Ana glanced around, ignoring the rest of the woman’s speech. The sun had set, and they were relying mostly on street lanterns for lighting, as well as the few handheld lanterns some of the tourists carried.
Two tourists in love. Newlyweds. That was what she and A.J. hoped to sell to everyone around them, at least. Not a hard sell. Her feelings for A.J. were intense. No acting on her part. Posing as a couple on a tour was the easiest way to get a lay of the land and be in position when the time came for the meeting.
The fact her ex-husband was prepping with an FBI assault team had her on edge, especially if someone on the six-man team was dirty. She felt as though they were playing Russian roulette. Anymore betrayal would be a knife to the chest. A sword to the stomach. A bullet to the back.
A.J. discreetly nudged Ana in the side with his elbow, and she moved closer to the golden-hued stucco of the nearby building. “Sweetheart, how about a kiss outside the labyrinth?” And A.J. was laying his accent on thick.
“Oh, what a nice idea!” the tour director exclaimed. “How about everyone share a kiss on the couples tour?”
A.J. leaned in, his hand going to the wall over her shoulder, and he set his lips to hers. Searing hot. Possessive. Bold in front of the tourists and would probably have everyone’s pulse skipping at the sight.
His mouth traced a line to her ear, and he announced, “Turn on your comm. It’s time.” He edged back to peer into her eyes, and she reached for her other ear to power on the wireless comm she’d been provided by Harper.
“I think we might cut out early,” A.J. said, which was code to his team listening in over comms now that they were about to move out. “Thank you for the tour.”
The tour director fanned her face with the pamphlet she was holding, her eyes devouring every last bit of A.J. she could manage. “Have a good night, you two lovebirds.” She tossed an enthusiastic hand in the air before A.J. and Ana left in the other direction.
“This is Echo Two,” A.J. said once they were alone, moving at a hurried pace to get to Lovas Street. “What’s your status?”
“Outside the entrance on overwatch. Both entrances on Lovas Street have been breached, and the team is preparing to move into position,” Wyatt, Echo One, answered.
Once his teammates moved underground, it’d be hit or miss if they’d be able to remain in contact with them over comms. Harper insisted they had the best of the best in communication devices, but Ana would believe it when she saw it. Well, heard it.
“Roger.” A.J. snatched Ana’s hand as they moved up a set of steps.
I can do this. I can do this. The words bounced around in her mind like the red FBI letters on her computer screensaver back at the office. Just pinging from side to side as a reminder she’d make it through the night without anyone dying. Without more betrayal.
“You good?” he threw the words out, his breathing totally freaking fine, which was kind of unfair.
She definitely needed to do more cardio once she was back home if walking at a fast pace had her out of breath. That or A.J. was just a stellar athlete compared to her. “I’m good.”
She felt sweat trickling between her boobs, and as soon as they were beneath the ground, she’d probably break into a full-on sweat like she was doing hot yoga.
“I’m going to need three showers after being down here,” Finn said over comms.
Well, the comms did work for the guys underground. How about that. And that meant A.J. was right, and he’d be collecting on the bet he made with Ana—to participate in an adult version of the game Seven Minutes in Heaven, whatever that was—but she assumed it involved his tongue, so she didn’t think of it as a loss.
“It’s dark,” Finn continued, voice slightly muffled from being in the labyrinth and on the move, “dank, damp, and—”
“One more D for Dracula,” Chris, the resident comedian as Ana had quickly learned after spending time with the guys in the last few days, finished for Finn.
“I was gonna go with muggy, musty, maze-y.” Finn’s voice was low as he spoke over comms, clearly unsure whether the team was alone down there.
“What’s with you and the alliteration?” A.J. joined the conversation, still breathing normally despite their intense pace.
“Ah, such a big word for you,” Chris teased A.J. “You know what that word means, brother? Leave the smart talk and big words for Echo Four, why don’t ya?” If Ana hadn’t gotten used to the guys and how they operated, she would’ve paused for a breath and questioned their sanity.
A.J. peeked at Ana as they moved faster than her feet could carry her at a “walking pace” (yeah, right).
“It’s okay. Echo Three is gonna wet his pants when he hits the mannequins in masquerade costumes at his hold point,” Roman said in a relaxed voice.
“This place is creepier than that Pyramiden ghost town we were in this year,” Chris said. “Be prepared, Echo Two. I swear there are voices echoing off the walls.”
“That’d be your loud mouth,” Finn remarked, and Ana almost chuckled.
How am I smiling? Between the speed walking and the humor, she was somehow loosening up, which was probably good. Grigory would be able to read her if she showed up to the meet wound tight.
Of course, given what she knew would probably happen down there, how could she not be wound up?
Ana and A.J. slowed as they neared the sight of the Labirintus employee entrance, which his team had already unlocked for their entry.
They navigated behind bushes by the door and both removed their backpacks and knelt.
“This is Echo Two and Delta One,” A.J. said over comms, keeping his voice low in case any straggling tourists walked by. “Waiting on the all clear to proceed.”
Ana’s lips twitched into a near smile at the sound of her new call sign. Delta One. It felt good to hear A.J. say it. It’d feel even better to hear it roll off his lips after their mission was successfully complete.
“This is Echo One. You’re clear from my vantage point,” Wyatt said from overwatch, and based on the plans they’d gone over earlier, that meant he was above the high brick wall behind the labyrinth entrance.
A.J. removed a yellow Chemlight from his bag, snapped it in half, then set it between them so they could better see what they were doing. His team had night-vision goggles, but Ana and A.J. would use the Chemlights to guide them to their final destination in the tunnels.