She opened her mouth to protest.
But then Jared walked over and cupped her chin. “You need to stay here. Where I know you are safe. I know that you want to help, but this is helping. Because I can’t concentrate on finding North while worrying about you. If you’re here, I won’t worry. For all his faults, Zander does have this place secure. All right?”
Shoot.
She wanted to argue, but she knew she couldn’t. So she nodded.
He leaned in and kissed her lightly. “Good girl. Don’t worry. I’m going to bring our boy home.”
64
North woke up with a strong sense of danger.
He forced himself to stay relaxed while he took in his surroundings. This is why he hated sleeping with others.
Sleep was difficult for him. Relaxing, letting down his guard . . . nearly impossible.
So he usually only slept an hour or two at a time. And he was never fully rested.
Unless he slept with Angie and Jared.
That had truly shocked him. He’d been able to sleep with them without hurting them. Without thinking they were a threat.
And he’d actually slept.
But he wasn’t in a bed with them right now. His mind was muddled, meaning he’d likely been drugged. His arms were tied down and so were his feet.
It was hard to stay relaxed and pretend to sleep when he knew he was in a dangerous situation. However, this was what he was trained to do.
“I know you’re awake, N. I know all the tricks since I taught them to you.”
Fuck.
This was worse than he’d thought. He had hoped he’d been taken by someone attached to Richard Drews. Or even one of Jared’s enemies.
Instead, he’d been brought home.
He opened his eyes, staring around the unfamiliar room. Then he glanced over at the man who had found him in an orphanage, starving and miserable. Who had given him a place to live. Who had trained him into a silent assassin. Along with countless others.
Mr. Z was a slim-built man. Older. Although it was hard to figure out his age. He had a slight accent. But it was hard to pin down what it was. Definitely something Eastern European.
North hadn’t seen him in years. And he’d really hoped he wouldn’t ever see him again.
“I’m sorry we had to meet like this,” Mr. Z said.
“You betrayed us, North.”
He glanced over at the other man who had just spoken. His handler. V.
“You drugged me,” he said to V. “Why?”
“You’ve become defective, N,” Mr. Z said. “You haven’t been following orders. And it’s all right, we know why. It’s really our fault for not watching over you more closely. We left you to your own devices for too long.” He shot V a look.
The other man glanced away, clearly uncomfortable.
North took in a slow breath. What the fuck was going on? Why bring him here and tie him to a bed?
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” Mr. Z said. “Where one of our operatives has developed feelings for a mark.”
