She knew she was a different person from what she’d been when she and her late lover, Adam, had been recruited by Rafael Santoro. They had both been smart and dangerous, but Daddy had begun a process of refinement. Eve also knew that her emotional extremes since Adam’s death had caused Daddy some embarrassment and a lot of concern. She’d very nearly gone too far, and that was a terrifying thought. More recently, she’d forced herself to be more controlled, less a victim of her own excesses. And so Daddy had begun gradually giving her more tasks—often mundane, things that anyone could do—and watched how she handled them.

This project, the one they all called the American Operation, was big. It was high profile, and any mishandling at any level could be catastrophic. The fact that Daddy was allowing her to oversee this … well, maybe it wasn’t such a nothing job after all, she mused.

She just hoped she’d get a chance to play when everything began going to shit here in America. That would be worth the wait. That would be fun.

And, who knew, maybe she’d get to shoot Joe Ledger in the process.

CHAPTER 26

PHOENIX HOUSE

OMFORI ISLAND, GREECE

They sat together on a couch in Church’s study, which was lined with books and hung with art. They had cups of coffee growing cold on a table, and slices of uneaten quiche neither had an appetite for. The speakers were turned low as Leonard Cohen sang soft, brooding songs about love and loss and the decline of the culture of insight.

Church wore a dark blue robe, and Lilith’s was red, a shade darker and more luxuriant than fresh blood. A fire spilled light and warmth into the room, but the shadows clinging to the corners were cold and resisted being chased completely away.

Lilith was a tall woman with very pale skin, intensely dark eyes, and full red lips. Her glossy black hair fell around her shoulders, with tendrils reaching to the tops of her breasts. Like Church, her age was impossible to guess. They were both older than they looked. Sometimes—as with tonight—they each felt every one of their years. And every inch of their scars.

“He’s back,” she said. It was the first thing either had said for ten minutes.

“He’s back,” agreed Church.

They watched the fire.

“How?” she asked.

Church almost smiled. “Rhetorical question?”

“Only to a degree,” said Lilith. “I thought after the Dogs of War case, he would be gone.”

“For good? Hardly.”

“For a while, I meant. Longer than this.”