“No, I would have run.”As she should be doing now instead of arguing with him.
“Exactly!”he exclaimed as if she had just proved his point.“Lying to you sucked, but I don’t regret it.”
Andrea gasped and spun around to walk away from him, but his hand lashed out and gripped her arm firmly.She didn’t try to pull away because she knew it was useless.He was much stronger than her.
“Don’t run away from me until you hear the rest of what I have to say.”
“I’ve heard enough,” she hissed.She had wanted answers, and now she had them—a decision she was regretting.Now she needed to be alone and plan her next move.Andrea tried to pull her arm free, but Jack wouldn’t release her.
“Only because it allowed me to get to know you better.Not on a sexual level but on a personal level.My motivations changed after our date.You were no longer just an assignment to me,” he said as if he hadn’t heard her.
Andrea tried to tug her arm free, needing to escape, to shut her ears and heart from his words.She wouldn’t let his words affect her.He was an admitted liar.She couldn’t believe anything he said.But his grip was like a steel band.
“Where are you trying to go?”he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“I need to get in contact with WITSEC.They’ll help get me away and arrange a new identify.”At least she hoped they would.She didn’t have her burner phone, so she didn’t have the number to call, but she knew where to go.She tried to remember the code word.
“So that’s it then?You’re just going to keep running and hiding.”
Andrea stopped her struggles to glare up at him over her shoulder.“What else can I do?They killed my sister as if she was nothing, and she had been working with them.What do you think they’ll do to me?”
“I’ll protect you,” he stated assuredly, turning her in his arms to face him.Andrea didn’t feel the same.
“Says the spy sent to extract information from me by any means necessary.Please,” she scoffed.She’d take her chances with WITSEC.At least they were honest.
“Protecting is what I do for a living.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near me.I hate you,” she spat, wishing she could actually feel hate toward him.She was upset, that it was true, but she didn’t hate him.Part of her understood why he’d done what he did, but her emotions were raw, and all she wanted to do was retreat and lick her wounds.
“Go to them and you’ll always be hiding.Is that the life you want?Always on the run.Always looking over your shoulder.Looking at every face, wondering if they are mistaking you for your sister.”It wasn’t, but her choices were limited.“You don’t have to like me, but you can trust me to keep you alive and safe.Regardless of your feelings, I’m not letting you out of my sight until this is over.”He shook her as if to emphasize his words.
“Why, because I have the drive?”
Jack looked at her, baffled.“What drive?”
Shit, she hadn’t meant to let that slip.She’d just assumed Jack knew about the flash drive.Had seen Holly give it to her.Apparently not.“It doesn’t matter.I am no longer your obligation or whatever.Tomorrow morning, I’m leaving.It was just sex between us.Nothing more.”
“You know damned well it’s more than that,” he hissed, his voice low and grumbly.His hands flexed around her biceps, but he didn’t release her.
“I don’t.I think you used me and said whatever you wanted to get me to trust you, and you’re still doing it because you want something from me.But I will tell you this.”She stepped closer until their chests were touching.“It doesn’t matter what kind of torture you use on me, I will never help you.Now release me,” she said calmly, proud her voice didn’t warble.
“Not until you forgive me.”
Andrea reared back.Was he insane?“There is no forgiving you for betraying me and using me.”
“Want to bet?”
Her eyes narrowed to slits.“This is not something to bet on.”
“Forgive me,” he whispered, rubbing his chest against hers.
“I can’t, and stop that.”Andrea closed her eyes to block him out.She wouldn’t cave so easily.
“Not the right words.Why won’t you forgive me?”He brushed her hair over her shoulder and dipped his head, rubbing his nose along her neck.
“Because I don’t trust you.You used sex to get close to me.Do you know how cheap that makes me feel?”
“No, I didn’t.”He shook his head in denial.His hair rubbing against her cheek.She caught a whiff of his shampoo.It wasn’t the same one she’d used tonight but one she’d smelled on him before.
