“He can’t hear you,” Richard says with a sigh. “This room is soundproofed.”
“What is this?” I demand, watching as Cian walks from one end of the room to the other. He’s pale with dark shadows clinging under his eyes. He seems to be counting as he walks. There are red scratches on his neck and bare forearms and his hair is stuck up in all directions. “What have you done to him?”
“Wehaven’t done anything,” Richard replies. “I believe Cian Gifford has someexperiencewith isolated captivity within aconfined room, and we simply provided that in the hopes of helping him to open up.”
“What?” I slowly turn toward Richard, and he has enough sense to take a step back because I lunge toward him a second later. “The fuck you mean youprovidedthat?” The other cop holds me back by my cuffed wrists and I snap my teeth together, growling at Richard. “I’ll kill you, motherfucker. I’ll kill you!”
Richard adjusts his clothing and clears his throat. “It didn’t have the desired effect, which is why I’ve brought you. The deal I offered you is still on the table. Work for us and you’ll be together, out of here and back on the road. If you don’t then this is his future, only it won’t be a nice room like ours. He’ll be in a four-by-four prison cell for the rest of his life. You can stop this, Faina.”
It’s an impossible decision and yet it’s the easiest one of my life. I swore I would never touch anything related to Interpol after my father died. I’m not a traitor. I know where my loyalties lie.
But the utter distress in Cian’s eyes breaks my heart and I have the chance to save him. At the expense of my own morals? It’s hardly a choice. Plus, if I get him out of here then there’s a chance I can help him get a clean getaway from Interpol and Hawk.
“I’ll do it,” I say as Richard’s mouth opens, likely with another threat. “But on one condition.”
“You’re hardly in a position to be adding conditions.” Richard snorts.
I glare at him briefly. “So no deal.”
“Fine, what’s your condition?”
“Cian comes with me.”
“Cian will be released once you bring me Hawk.”
“No,” I growl. “Either we go together or I don’t go at all.” Staring Richard down, I pour every ounce of anger and hatred into the look. The shock of pregnancy pales in comparison to the burning desire to make sure Cian’s okay, and there’s no way in hell I’m leaving him here.
Richard seems to be debating with himself until finally, he nods with an irritable sigh. “Fine. But you’re telling him.”
Being free from the cuffs is a small relief as the door is opened and I’m shoved into the room with Cian. He doesn’t see me at first, too focused on his counting as he walks away from me.
But then he turns.
Our eyes lock and his entire expression explodes into one of shock and relief. “Faina!”
“Hey, Cian.”
He launches himself at me and for a moment, I soak up the immense relief to be back in his warm arms and breathe in his comforting, familiar scent. My hands fist into his shirt and I bury my face into his neck and he holds me tightly.
“Fucking hell, I thought you were dead! I thought they killed you!”
“I’m okay,” I assure him, my words muffled. “It was a rubber bullet so I’m just bruised. But you…” Leaning back, I cup his face and battle the sting of tears as I study his scratched neck. “What happened?”
“It—” He cuts himself off and his expression crumples. “I was by myself. Just myself. For so long. I don’t even—” Shaking his head, he pulls me back into his arms and groans softly, almost kissing me but hesitating as if he realizes we’re still under observation. “What’s happening? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
His concern is so heartwarmingly genuine and I have to break his heart by telling him the truth of my past. But it will be worth it.
We break apart and I gaze into his eyes, soaking up the warmth and affection I see there while I guide him to one of the metal chairs next to the table and sit with him. “I have something to tell you. And I need you to listen to me.”
His eyes narrow and his hand covers mine on the table as we sit. “What’s going on? Where even are we?”
My gut twists. They really told him nothing. It strengthens my resolve to get him out of here but deepens the pain that I’m going to lose him in the process. Not even news of my pregnancy will keep love in those eyes.
“We’re in a police station not far from the bay, but we were arrested by Interpol.”
Cian’s eyes widen. “Interpol? What… what the fuck?”
“I know, right? It turns out when I was looking into Hawk and his tattoo, I tripped into their own investigation and they came at us for the hotel explosion. They’re going to pin it on us unless we help them.”
