He stroked my arm again. ‘Well, I hope that was obvi?—’
‘Not in my villa. On Aetheria.’
‘Ahh.’
‘Don’tahhme. That’s not an answer and considering our marriage ended because you were always off somewhere solving the world’s problems?—’
‘Hold on,’ he interrupted. He sat up abruptly, leaning against the bedhead, and pulled a pillow onto his lap. ‘Our marriage ended because you wanted it to – you left me.’
‘Hah! Like hell I did. It’s impossible to leave someone who was never even there, Tommy.’
Feeling exposed under his steely glare, I got up and went into the other room, picking up my hoodie off the floor. I shoved my arms into it and yanked it over my head, thankful it was long enough to cover everything I wanted covered.
‘Ally, please come back.’
I moved into the doorway and stood with my hands on my hips.
‘If you can answeronequestion.’
‘Go on.’
‘What’s your job – yourrealjob? Are you some sort of spy or something? Fancy yourself as the next James Bond, do you?’
‘Well, no, because he’s fictitious.’
‘Aren’tyoufictitious? A skipper –really? I mean, yes, you can sail – very well, I might add – but you seriously want me to believe that you gave up your career as an engineer to live and work here?’ I asked, throwing my arms out wide. ‘It’s a playground for spoilt rich people. And you always hated this kind of excess. You said it wasgauche.’
‘It is.’
‘So, what are you doing here then?’
‘I can’t tell you that.’
‘Gah!’ I shouted, digging my fists into my thighs.
I didn’t care who heard us – before when we were fucking or now that we’d moved onto the fighting portion of the evening’s program.
He got up, the pillow falling to the floor. ‘I would if I could, but I can’t – not yet, anyway. You’re already too close to this.’
‘Too close? Newsflash, Tommy – I’m caught right the bloody middle of it! So, before you fill me in on what the hell is going on with Julian and Kovalec and all the rest of it, I want you to answer me – once and for all. Are you a spy?’
‘For want of a better word, yes.’
‘Oh my god,’ I gasped – ridiculous, really, given that every sign had been pointing toyes. But hearing the truth from Tommy’s mouth shocked me to my core.
He sighed loudly, then ran a hand through his hair, mussing it to perfection. He scouted for his jeans, which were on the floor next to me. Still dazed from his revelation, I picked them up and tossed them to him. He caught them one-handed – so many skills, that man – and put them on without bothering to locate his briefs.
‘Let’s sit,’ he said, passing me and heading to one of the sofas.
‘Am I going to need a drink for this?’ I asked, nerves snaking through my stomach.
‘Probably wouldn’t hurt. I’ll have one too.’
I nodded, part numb, part jittery mess, then poured a glass of wine from the bottle I’d opened earlier. I topped myself up and took both glasses to the sofa, where I sat beside Tommy. I handed him his wine, then tugged at my hoodie until it covered my thighs.
‘Okay, I’m ready,’ I said.
‘Trust me, you’re not.’ He was probably right, but what choice did I have? I was part of this now and I needed to know.
