The Black Sparrow

LP: Chapter 2

NORMANDY, February 2016

Secrecy and deceit. They eat at one’s spirit like a malignant tumor. They devour the good and leave nothing but ruin in their wake.

“Does he know where you are right now?” Nikita asked Georgina, her brow furrowed with concern.

“I told him I have a conference in France and will be back after a couple of days. So, yes. He knows where I am.” Georgina spoke with a calmness that belied the truth. While she did have an advertising agency, her business in France was something entirely different.

They had woken up early, leaving Camille and Krista still sound asleep in their respective rooms. They were at the Vanguard Triad Main office in Normandy. When they were summoned from the Philippines, they would usually go to Calvados.

Visiting here felt like stepping into a different era. The building was a brick structure with a steep roof, large arched windows on the upper floors, and sturdy balustrades on the porches. It was well-proportioned and symmetrical, a testament to the craftsmanship of days gone by.

But don’t be misled by the structure’s age. The interior was tightly guarded by armed men and women who had undergone extensive training, with even larger contingents of armed guards stationed on every floor once you stepped inside. For the duration of its existence, digital data was shielded from manipulation, loss, and tampering through cutting-edge security measures. When Georgina joined the Triad, she contributed to the ongoing development of their technology, which was frequently upgraded.

“You’re in love with him. I hope you’re not pregnant… yet.” Nikita’s teasing tone cut through Georgina’s thoughts, and she instinctively placed a hand on her flat stomach.

“You know the rules.”

The Vanguard Triad recruits every year, and when she was studying at INSEAD Business School, she was one of the chosen few. Georgina could speak several languages aside from English and Tagalog—German, French, Spanish, Russian, and Italian. Her mission was to protect the Vanguard Jewel—the Hope Diamond, valued at two hundred fifty million dollars.

The Peacock Brooch, worth an estimated $100 million, was Camille’s baby. Nikita had her eye on the Pink Star, worth seventy-two million dollars, while Krista was responsible for the Wittelsbach Diamond, valued at eighty million.

The rules were strict: you could not get pregnant while in service, you could not be in a relationship with anyone from the organization unless that person was retired, and most importantly, you could only retire at the age of twenty-five or thirty. Miss that window, and there was no way out except death itself.

“I’m not pregnant.” She was on the pill and had never missed a period. Georgina took a sip of tea and gazed out at the sprawling grounds.

“Good. Your twenty-fifth birthday is coming up soon. I think that’s partly why your name is on the agenda, Georgina.”

She shared that suspicion. Either they were planning something for her birthday, or they had discovered what she was hiding. If they find out—may God have mercy on her then.

“I’m hanging it up for good.” Georgina meant her service to the Vanguard Triad. Nikita clucked her tongue in amusement.

“So he’s really the one, huh? Wasn’t he the wimpy kid you talked about?” Nikita was trying to get a rise out of her.

“He is not a wimp. When we were kids, I was just… too much trouble, and he was too prim and proper.” Only Georgina had the right to call him a wimp, and she did so just to annoy him. Lucian was anything but wimpy… especially in bed.

When Georgina was apart from Lucian, she missed him tremendously. She longed to see his face first thing in the morning and last thing at night as she drifted off to sleep. She made terrible food, but he ate it without complaints. She wasn’t a very good cook, and the moment she was no longer needed by the Triad, she planned to enroll in culinary classes as soon as possible. Georgina missed the comfort of their home.

When they met in Berlin, Lucian did not leave with his friends. He stayed behind and promised not to leave without her. She was there on a mission, secretly doing her job. She was fortunate there hadn’t been a bloodbath. She had no idea how to explain to Lucian if she returned home covered in blood or injured. Worse, if she had been shot or stabbed.

After the mission, she joined Lucian in California, and from there, they moved to Toronto. They brought a lot to the table in terms of resources and expertise, making them essential to Canada. They rented a small house in Danforth and had been there ever since. They were both saving money for a down p*****t on a property in the suburbs. Maybe in a small city like Cambridge. They could envision it as a nice spot to settle down and start a family one day.

But for now, what could she do? It was her job to keep an eye out for anyone trying to take the gem and prevent its theft at all costs. She was the best IT specialist on the team, and fighting in combat was as natural as breathing for her. It came to her instinctively, which is why she could lead her team effectively. Her ability was innate. The Triad benefited greatly from having her at the helm.

“Oh. My. Dear. Lord. You are really in love with him. You care for him so deeply.” Nikita’s smile was contagious. She had always been a romantic at heart. Her parents had separated when she was still a baby, but it hadn’t stopped her from daring to dream of one day finding her happy ending. “I never expected to see this day so early, you know? You were more interested in cars and technology than men. Who knew the Italian man would end up being your one and only true love?”

“Tsk. Wait for your turn, Nikita.” Nikita chuckled. “You’re going to be so whipped you won’t know whether to close your eyes to make sure he’s not an illusion or to sleep with him to make sure he’s real.”

“Was that how you felt about Lucian?”

Georgina nodded. “And more. He’s just… Lucian is someone I didn’t think I’d fall for, you know? He has a normal life.” At least, for now.

Lucian hadn’t mentioned anything to her about joining his father’s organization. Yet, this sort of thing was to be expected. Lucian would be counted on to replace his father when the time came. This was how things had always been done in their family. Their kind of family. She knew about Lucian’s family. Their fathers had been friends since they were teenagers. Don Lucio had fled to Spain once and had been taken in by her father’s family. Her silence was not indicative of ignorance.

Just because she didn’t ask didn’t mean she didn’t know.

“And you’re not normal?” Nikita smirked, rolling her eyes. “Now, now. We are not doing any sort of crime here. We are keeping an eye on priceless gems. It will benefit society as a whole. It’s for the greater good.”

“I just feel bad that I can’t tell him anything. I know he has questions. We’ve been together almost three years.”

“You swore to secrecy, Georgina. It’s just something we have to make peace with. Besides, you’re going to leave the service soon. Just hang in there. It will be over before you know it.” Nikita patted her on the back. “No more secrets soon.”