“And I also told him that I believed that you would help us, not hurt us.” He lowered his head as if to get more on my eye level. “Am I right?”
“I’ve already helped you. I didn’t tell anyone that you kidnapped me, remember?”
He smiled. “I do remember, and that’s why I wonder if you came back to me because you want to help me with these enemies on our tail.”
“I came to you because I missed you, Emil.”
He leaned in to kiss me softly.
“And because I was pissed that you stranded me.”
“I hope you believe me when I say that part of the reason I did that was because the Cartel was on us too consistently for it to be random. I was worried that the longer we stuck together, the more you’d be in danger.”
I frowned. “What was the other part of the reason?” I asked, hating how timid and insecure I sounded.
“The whole agent-and-assassin incompatibility.” He shrugged.
“And now you’re thinking we can be compatible with your asking me to help you and your family?”
“Iknowwe’re compatible in every way that matters. It’s just a matter of a career shift for you.”
I laughed once. This joker. “I’m not surprised that Luka would want me to help against his enemies. And while I don’t want to give up what mattered to me before and turn traitor like the agency said I did, I can see how severely they turned against me first.Theycastmeout. They’re the corrupt ones not abiding bythe laws. They’re not stopping criminals and making the world a safer place if they are playing games with lives like this.” I shook my head as I embraced that low-burning fire of anger about how they’d tried to set me up to be killed by the Mexican Cartel.
If it weren’t for Emil, I might’ve been killed.
If I wanted to do my part—any part—in making the world safer, I had to accept that Emil wasn’t a monster living without any code. He was more like a hero—myhero.
But is that my head talking or something else?I’d never been in this deep with a man before, and I couldn’t tell if the attraction that linked me to him was overruling my logic to the point of no return.
“I only need to ask one thing.”
He raised his brows.
“Is Luka part of the Obsidian Eye?”
His brows spiked higher. “The what?”
I gaped at him. “The Obsidian Eye.”
He shrugged, shaking his head. “What is that code for?”
“You’ve never heard of it?” I couldn’t believe it.
“Not yet. What is it?”
I relaxed, putting my head in my hand. “Oh, thank fuck.”
“What is it?” he asked again, setting his hand on my knee. “Sadie?”
“It’s this new secret alliance and plans and—” I winced at the start of a tension headache. “A group of leaders coming together.I’ve been following leads about who’s in it or wants to run it. I worried that Luka was interested in it and if I told you that was why I wanted to bring you in for questioning, you’d kill me.”
He frowned, framing my face and rubbing my cheek with his thumb. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Just a headache.” He was too sweet, noticing how I felt instead of pressing for more details.
“Then lie back. I’ll get you water and something to eat.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he kissed me and urged me to lie down.
