“And you thank him for that by spying on him?” I protested, feeling personally attacked.
Li cleared her throat. “You can hope Marcus will remain reliable, Joey, but his pack is compromised. We cannot risk being blindsided by his switching sides when things get difficult.”
James lunged forward in his seat, slamming his hands on the table. “I said, find someone else.”
Hill’s flinch was subtle, but I noticed the way his body had shifted toward Li with a protective frame.
Li hadn’t moved an inch. Her expression remained a mask of calm authority. It seemed my foul mouth unnerved her more than a physical threat. She reached out and rested a hand on Hill’s forearm for only a second before pulling away. “That’s a waste of time and resources,” she declared. “Neither of which I’m willing to spare.”
“Buther lifeis expendable?” James forced through his teeth, nodding toward me.
“Joey’s a hunter because of you, Detective. Haven’t you taught her that risking her life is part of the job?” Li reached over Hill’s arm, retrieving the manila folder from in front of her agent. She dropped the file onto the table and opened it. “Where were you during the warehouse battle, Detective Cooper?”
I frowned. “I told you. It’s because of James and the other hunters that we survived that night.”
“That’s understood, Joey,” Li said with a bob of her head. “What I don’t understand is the timing of his arrival.” She scanned the file. “Detective, it says here you arrived at the end of the fight. But that’s peculiar, given our file also says you were the one who brought the hunters to Blackwood’s aid in the first place. So, I’ll ask again: Where were you?”
Afraid to meet his gaze, I watched James from the corner of my eye.
Did I know where he’d gone after he left that night? No. All I knew was that he found out I cared a little too much for the Alpha, and he panicked.
I knew he’d convinced two-thirds of the hunters to leave with him, putting us at a tremendous disadvantage.
I knew he’d abandoned us—he’d abandoned me… and it appeared Li knew it, too.
James didn’t respond. He sagged back into his chair, locking his eyes on Li like twin barrels of a loaded gun.
“Wanting to protect Joey is very noble of you. But don’t allow your regret to make you lose sight of what’s important. Do not impede her from protecting her country.” Li closed the manila folder.
She fixed the cuffs of her white blouse until they again peeked from under her blazer in equal proportion.
“If what you’ve said about the Alpha is true, then he has nothing to hide.” I looked up and realized Li’s gaze was now pinned on me. “But standing up for what’s right can make enemies even out of our kin. You’d be protecting him.”
James and I shifted in our seats. I cared for the old man the way a daughter cares for her father, but what happened between us validated Li’s declaration. The warning resonated deep within us both.
“As long as Marcus remains faithful,” Li continued, “wewill protect him.”
There was that word again…Protect.It echoed in my mind, reverberating through me and shaking the walls of my self-preservation to ruin.
“What would I need to do?” I asked, as if compelled.
“Agent Hill will be your point of contact. You and Detective Cooper will report to him directly, with updates.”
“How do we reach him?”
“I’ll reach you,” Hill replied with a smirk. “I’ll drop in for a briefing every couple of days.”
I frowned. “You don’t think Marcus will find it strange if James shows up wanting to be friends all of a sudden?”
Li didn’t hesitate with her answer. “If that were his assignment, yes. But Detective Cooper won’t be reporting on Marcus’s movements. He’ll be reporting on yours.”
Great.
James muttered under his breath.
I stayed silent for a moment, wondering if I should’ve felt insulted. Did they expect me to push back and act a fool?
Fuck that shit. If Marcus had nothing to hide, I sure as hell didn’t.
