Just as she’d suspected, her belly revolted by twisting and threatening to bring up what she’d just sent down to it. But she refrained from gagging and instead chanced a glance over at Hew to see if he’d picked up on her discomfort.
God, she loved his profile.
Loved how his jawline was highlighted by his close-cropped beard. Loved how dark and thick his lashes were. Loved him.
It hit her now as suddenly as it’d hit her upstairs. And the urge to blurt out her feelings was nearly overwhelming.
But she couldn’t burden him with the truth. It wasn’t fair after all he’d done for her. After all she owed him.
So she’d concentrate on what they did have.
Affection. Understanding. Friendship.
It was enough. She’d make it enough.
And besides, Martin deserved better than to have her pining for another. He was thoughtful and sweet. He planned dates and never missed a chance to tell her she was smart and funny. He was clear about what he wanted from her and what he wanted to give her.
In short, he was perfect. He just wasn’t…Hew.
But, god willing, if there’s a way to take all the love Hew doesn’t want from me and transfer it to Martin, I’ll find it.
“Black Widow couldn’t give us a name.” Boss’s booming voice cut across the conference table and into her thoughts.
A disgruntled groan rolled through the room.
Boss lifted a calloused hand, palm out. “Because she doesn’t know the name,” he clarified. “But she knows enough.”
Every head was suddenly pinned in his direction, every eye glued to his face.
“She’s certain Bishop is someone high up in government. Near the top. And if just half of what she told us is true about the things he said to her, the things he knows, I believe her.”
“High up in government.” Fish scratched his chin. “So, who are we talking about? The VP? Speaker of the House?”
“Maybe the head of the Joint Chiefs?” Ozzie offered. “The former head knew about the OG operation here, so maybe…” He made a rolling motion with his hand.
“Could be anyone close to the president,” Boss agreed. “Anyone she trusts enough to tell about us.”
Eliza leaned forward, her dark eyes worried. “I thought the whole point was that Madam President didn’t tell anyone about us. I thought the whole point was the secret was kept between her and my father.”
Sabrina winced.
Leonard Meadows was the first person to come to mind when Boss said the words high up in government.
Something about the man had never set right with her. He always sounded so cold. So…transactional. Like his daughter was just another one of his employees. Like BKI was nothing but a tool to be used and tossed aside if it ever stopped serving him.
Fisher squeezed Eliza’s hand atop the table. “His assistant found out about us. Which means there could be others who know.”
“I can think of maybe a half-dozen folks who might fit the bill. Who the president might’ve felt obliged to enlighten,” Hew added, because he was just so…Hew.
For a kid who’d grown up fending for himself, his ability to empathize with others amazed her.
“Yes.” Eliza nodded, her expression still stricken. “And one of those folks is my father.” She glanced around the table. “But why? Why would he want to kill all of you or expose any of this?” She held her hands wide. “What would that gain him?”
Boss shook his head. “We won’t know the why until we figure out the who.”
Ozzie nodded, his unkempt hair waving in the breeze of the overhead vents. “So that’s step one. Figure out the who. It’s a short list. It shouldn’t be too hard.”
“And maybe this will help.” Boss pulled a black burner phone from his hip pocket and shoved it into the middle of the table. Sabrina recognized it. The last time she’d seen it, it had been in Black Widow’s hand.
