She didn’t mention their parents, and Jamie held on to the tiny, delicate hope that maybe his sister wouldn’t spill his biggest secret to the world at large.
“Okay.”
“I want you to stop keeping the important things in your life from me.I’m not a little girl anymore.You don’t need to protect me.”
To Jamie, she would always be his little sister and always need his protection, but he knew better than to tell her that right now.“I’ll try not to.”
“I’m still mad at you.”
“You have every right to be.”Jamie sighed heavily before continuing with, “I’ve wanted to introduce you to Kyle for a while now.The timing just never seemed right, considering the risk we run.I’m sorry.I should have made more of an effort.”
“Yes, you should have.”Leah turned on her heels and left the office, shouting, “Katie!He’s all yours!”
Jamie ran both hands through his hair, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart as Katie appeared in the doorway.She winced a little in greeting.“I’m sorry, your sister arrived out of nowhere, and you know how she bulldozes over everyone.I couldn’t keep her away from the office.”
“I had the soundproofing on most of the day so I could concentrate.It’s not your fault she saw what she saw,” Jamie replied.“Where’s Kyle?”
Katie grimaced.“Keeping out of sight of your sister and Sean.”
Jamie swore softly.“I need to deal with Sean first.”
“Probably a good thing since he needed to speak with you before Leah showed up.”
“Where is he?”
“Living room.”
“Can you send him in?”
Katie nodded and disappeared.Jamie eyed the whiskey bottle in the wet bar situated in the corner but thought better of it.This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have with alcohol on his breath.
Sean came in moments later, quietly shutting the door behind him.“Your sister is in a vicious mood.”
“I know,” Jamie said.“Listen, about—”
Sean raised a hand, cutting him off.“Let’s pretend that was practice for your cover.It’s easier for both of us if we go that route.”
“I’m not going to ask you to lie for us.”
“The thing is, I’m very good at lying.”Sean shrugged, his gaze intent and unwavering.“The CIA required it.Hell, it’s in the job description as a warning before you even apply, whether or not you’re recruited.Don’t join if lying to your loved ones will prove too much of a problem.To this day, my family doesn’t know I was CIA, and they don’t know I’m MDF.”
“The MDF allows immediate family to know of your status, especially as a metahuman,” Jamie said slowly.
“It seemed easier to keep to the status quo when I joined up.”Sean’s smile was tight, almost a warning, and Jamie opted not to pursue that trip down memory lane Sean was trying so hard to steer him away from.“So they don’t know, and the MDF won’t know about you.I don’t need any payment to keep my silence, so don’t offer.That’s a trail you can’t afford—figuratively speaking, not literally.”
Jamie had two options.He could take Sean at his word and believe the other man wouldn’t ruin his career and his life, or he could spend the future waiting to get called into the director’s office to explain his flagrant fraternization with his team’s sniper.
Sean was MDF; Jamie opted to believe him.
“Okay,” Jamie said, clearing his throat.“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.I’m about to give you a headache.”Sean held up his tablet for Jamie to see.“I was going over the potential invite list the others managed to compile.A couple of names jumped out, one being an alias that Emmet was known to use back in the day—Rian Monaghan.I can’t be sure it’s him, but you asked me the chances of Emmet being in London at the same time as Cillian.My wild guess is still high.”
Jamie took the tablet from him and studied the list.“If Emmet shows up at the gala, what are the odds Cillian will as well?”
“Officially on the list or unofficially?”
“Would it matter?”
