He gives me a murderous glare. “This is how you guys work, then? Cooperate, or someone I care about gets hurt?”
“Don’t act like the bad guys play fair.”
He looks at the ground, his expression so vulnerable that it’s all I can do not to run toward him and throw my arms around him.
“I don’t meanyou,” I say softly. “I don’t think you’re a bad guy.”
“Well, I am.” He looks up and meets my eyes. “You fucked with the wrong person.”
“I never fucked with you. What started out as an assignment for me changed. I fell in…into something, and…Nix, I’m trying to help you. Please believe me.”
“I’m sure you think you are. But you don’t get it.”
“What don’t I get? Tell me.”
“I’m not telling you shit. Not ever again. You probably bugged my apartment.”
“Nix.” I wrap my arms around myself protectively. “Don’t do this.”
“It’s already fucking done. And you’re the one who did it.” He picks up my clothes from the floor and tosses them at me. “Get dressed and get out.”
“No.”
He steps closer to me, like a wolf close to pouncing. “Get. Out. Or I’ll throw your ass out.”
I close the distance between us and put a palm on his chest. “You told me once that you’re not as bad as everyone thinks you are. So prove it. I’m asking you to help us stop arms dealers and drug lords. Murderers. You’d be saving lives.”
“Is that why you do this? You think you’re saving the world?”
His cold tone sends a shiver down my spine. “Not the world, no. But yes, I do it to help people. My uncle was killed by a criminal with an illegal gun. I loved him very much.” I swallow back the tears.
“If you’d just been honest with me…” He sighs heavily. “We could have had something, Kennedy. Something really good.”
“So we’ve got nothing?”
“Not anymore.” He nods at the bedroom door. “Get the hell out. I need to go get Coco.”
I nod, feeling like a pane of shattered glass that’s pieces are on the edge of falling to the floor. I overestimated Nix’s feelings for me, and now my career is on the line. I blew my cover to make this offer myself, and I have to go tell Rae it was a bust. Not to mention I just lost the man who means more to me than any man ever has.
“Okay.” I slide into my jeans, and he looks away as I put on the rest of my clothes. How quickly things changed between us.
Once I’m dressed, I get my bag and head for the door. He has his shoes on and looks like he’s about to leave, too.
“Nix,” I say, turning to look at him. “Don’t try to run.”
“So you guys have agents on me, then.” He shakes his head and gives me a look of disgust.
“I don’t know for sure, but I imagine they do. You’re a big fish.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Please look at me,” I plead, my voice breaking.
He turns to me, his expression colder than I’ve ever seen it.
“If you ever need me, I’ll be there,” I say.
“I won’t.”
