The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 47

New York, USA

Spring 2015

Everyone was in complete agreement. There was no time to waste.

Nadine was no different. Her relief at hearing her daughter was okay had given way to a renewed determination to get her back. Immediately she had retreated to the workroom where she had been working with Barton to retrieve what things of hers she'd left down there before heading for the gear room where she'd left the rest.

But as she rounded the last corner before her destination, she caught sight of Barton somewhat reluctantly gesturing for the Maximoff Twins to follow him back toward the same room she was heading for. On impulse, she was zeroing in on the siblings, her mind locked on something she needed to do before she could allow herself to focus on the mission. She pointedly ignored the concerned frown that appeared on the Hawkeye's face as she passed his corner of the room, merely meeting his eye with an expression that clearly said not to interfere.

Walking soundlessly had long ago become second nature to Nadine, so it was child's play to approach the Maximoff brother without his notice.

Unnoticed, at least, until her hand clamped down on his shoulder, spinning him to face her and shoving him off-balance to slam back against the cabinet behind him.

Immediately he jerked defensively, only to freeze when he saw who it was, the anger flashing in his eyes quickly giving way to wary apprehension. Off to the side his sister started at the noise, jerking to face the threat with her hands already rising. But Nadine's gun was already in her hand again and fixed on the sister. Wisely, Wanda Maximoff froze, watching the blonde assassin where she had pinned her brother with wary anxiety.

Nadine just stared at Pietro Maximoff, her face carefully blank as her Ghost persona simmered just below the surface. She didn't even bother to hide that she was studying him closely. As he stared right back, there was no denying that he was virtually an open book.

The boy—and yes, she still considered him a boy; the Twins were just barely two years older than her own daughter, with a lot of maturing still before both of them—was brash, reckless and undoubtedly brave. He was defiantly meeting her hard scrutiny head on where many had been too intimidated to do so in the past, valiantly attempting to hide the fear her sudden appearance or her cool, impassive focus on him had sparked. But he couldn't quite hide it from her. She could see it like a shadow behind his blue-green eyes. She knew very well the effect she could have on a person when she allowed this side of herself to emerge. Grown men had quailed beneath her scrutiny, unnerved by her impassive stare as she studied them. She'd been trained to read and interpret even the smallest flashes of emotion, the merest twitches that could betray damning truths, honing and cultivating the skill over her years as the Ghost. She knew it was intimidating when she fell back on those skills, especially when she wore the hard, emotionless mask her training had taught her to hide her true self behind. And she was not afraid to use that knowledge to her advantage.

But, no matter that part of her wanted to ignore it, there was no mistaking the remorse or the conviction written on this boy's face as he boldly met her eye. Her eyes narrowed, her hand sliding pointedly from its harsh grip on his shoulder to the base of his throat, her fingertips ghosting over his pulse point.

"I am going to give you one chance," she finally said softly, not allowing her intent scrutiny to ease in the slightest, "and one alone to explain why you took my daughter from that base." Nadine felt his pulse begin to pick up as alarm flickered to life in his eyes. A grim satisfaction at the observation nearly caused her to grin. "So take a moment, and choose your words carefully." She leaned in as a brash exclamation nearly burst out of him, the pressure of her fingers on his throat increasing just enough that she knew he'd feel it. His teeth audibly clicked shut at the implied threat. "If I'm not satisfied with what you have to say..." she increased the pressure against his windpipe by another fraction, making her point clear with the soft click that echoed through the silent room as the safety on her Glock was flicked off. Pietro's eyes darted to the gun trained on his sister. A defiant glint appeared in his eyes, but he wasn't stupid. Nadine knew he could read in her eyes just how deadly serious she was. She was not bluffing, and he knew it. She nearly smirked, but settled for merely narrowing her eyes slightly in admonition instead; a more than adequate response.