“Yes. Yes. Rocky came to see me, and when he explained what you’d called him about, I knew something was happening. When we didn’t immediately hear from you afterward, I was scared that Hawk had… it doesn’t matter. You need to be on the first flight back to the States, understand?”
“Is it safe there?” Out of all the questions I want to ask her, this is the only one that makes it past my tight lips.
“Safer than they were. I’ll explain when you come home. Bring Cian too… and Faina?”
“Yes?”
“I’m so, so glad you’re alive. Come home to me in one piece, okay?” The line clicks before I can promise her that, then I hand the phone back to Richard.
“Thanks.”
“You’re lucky my boss won’t let me trace that call because I would have arrested whoever was on the other side.”
“You want to arrest my hairdresser?” I snort, amused.
“We both know that wasn’t your hairdresser.”
“Do we? Do we both know that? I guess you will never know, will you?” A light smirk warms my lips. It feels good to get one over on him after everything he forced me to do. “I’m a free woman, remember?”
“I hadn’t forgotten.” He spits out the words so fiercely that spittle glints in the air between us and shines on his lower lip. “Immunity. How the fuck did the two of you pull that off?”
“Weren’t you listening?” I glance back at the police station and jerk my thumb toward it. “I suppose if you ask nicely, the captain will explain it to you again. Although he did seem kind of pissed at you. I guess conducting an Interpol Investigation on Australian soil without alerting the proper authorities is kind of a no-no. Maybe you’re the criminal here.”
“I won’t forget what you are!” Richard surges forward and grabs my upper arm in a vise-like grip.
Pain flares through the bandaged bullet graze but I bite back my wince.
“My boss might think the sun shines out of your ass because you took down Hexagon, but I know the truth. You and your little boyfriend are criminals and I’m not going to let that go, you hear me?”
“I think you’ll have to.” Rather than struggling in his grip, I lean into Richard and narrow my eyes as my voice turns icy. “Because I did what you couldn’t. I fucking did your job for you and I’m glad your boss appreciates just how big of a deal it is that we took such a major international criminal off the playing field. Somethingyoucouldn’t do. Maybe rethink your strategy, Richard, because it sounds like you’re on the chopping block and not me. If I remember correctly, it was something about the unsanctioned sale of weapons?”
Richard’s eyes widen. “What did you do?”
“I told the truth. That you let Hawk go in favor of chasing the weapons rather than him. I suppose that wouldn’t be muchof an issue if you didn’t have a track record of letting the big fish escape just to get a small win. Some would call that questionable.”
“Richard!” barks a deep voice behind us.
We both turn to see the other Interpol agent who arrived not long after we were apprehended, standing in the doorway to the station.
“What?” Richard yells back angrily.
“We’re not done here. Get back inside.”
“Looks like you’ve got your orders,dog,” I whisper, finally jerking my arm out of his grip. “Run along.”
“This isn’t over,” Richard snarls at me. “I’ll be watching you. And you know, one more thing. Your father would be disgusted.”
Soft laughter bubbles inside me. “Good!” I call after him as he stomps away. “I don’t aspire to be anything like him!”
Like a petulant child, Richard flips me off before vanishing inside the building and a warm peace settles over my shoulders once more.
What an asshole.
Massaging my arm, I head down the steps and settle down on a black bench next to a low wall.
I need Cian.
I haven’t seen him since we were dragged out of that boat and worry is growing in my gut.
