“Yeah, when a woman comes, sometimes she?—”
“Oh my God, not that!” My cheeks flush, and I can’t stand that devious smile that tugs at his lips.
He watches me for a few seconds before taking a breath and giving me a distant look as he gets serious. “You wouldn’t get it. How could you? Look at how unmarred and foolish you are to everything around you.” His voice turns more vexed. Like he’s envious of my shit, simple life. Or at least of what it looks like on the surface.
If he knew of the bad things that hid under my bed, he would swallow those words like poison. Two can poke this fucking bear.
“?Hmm. Sounds like you’re using self-punishment to justify whatever it is you and yoursquaddo, right? You’re defeated, and you cope by hurting yourself in ways you can’t forget.” I give him the same emotionless expression that he’s been giving me this entire time to see how he likes it.
The vein in his forehead protrudes, and he clenches his jaw. “I’d beverycareful how you use that sly tongue of yours. I’m not opposed to cutting it out still.”
I don’t let the fear reach my eyes, even though my heart is pounding out of my chest. “That’s the third time you’ve said that, Roman. If you’re done playing house now, you can leave.”
I lift the empty pot and take it to the sink. Before I can move, Roman’s hands come down on either side of me. His hot breath coasts across the shell of my ear. I become acutely aware of every place his body is touching mine and take a deep breath.
“If you are lying about anything, you better tell me now. I won’t be willing to clear the air later, Briar.” His hard chest against my back sends chills up my spine.
A knot grows in my throat.My real name is Chloe.I want to tell him. But if he’s keeping all these secrets, my name shouldn’t be a problem. Especially since I’m in hiding.
I shake my head. “Does that mean you’ll leave me alone and I get to stay?”
He’s motionless. “For now. You’re involved in this, so you don’t really have the luxury of leaving anymore.”
“Involved in what exactly? And I get to keep my tongue?” Unnecessary to add, but I can’t help but push his buttons.
He shifts away and unblocks me. I turn to face him. His dark hair is messy, a few locks hanging over his brows. His features are sharp yet so soft in the crappy kitchen lighting. He’s dangerously lovely. A dark ocean that would drown me in a second if I dared to wade in too deep.
His gaze softens a fraction. “For now.” A slight, mocking grin that may or may not reset my headache.
I watch the stolen SUV idle two hundred feet down my driveway for an hour after he supposedly “left.”
Is he watching me?
A terrible feeling coils in my chest. I don’t think it’s just a cult.
8
ROMAN
I stopthe car halfway down the driveway and throw it in Park. My phone lights up with the hundredth text from the squad giving me updates on the movements of Grahm and a few other Sub-Rosa men we’ve been tracking.
Hopper: Normal activity at the bonfire. Sutherland hasn’t raised any alarms regarding Thornton that I’m aware of.
Bishop: Movement identified in the field leading up to the farm. Keep sharp to the right.
Viper: I’m with Zeus. We trailed the two men to the laundromat. Can confirm that this is where they’ve been passing information for a few nights now, but I never see them go inside. We were able to get a tag on one of their bags before they left the party, so we’ll have more data soon.
I take note of John’s intel and glance up to the right side of the driveway. It’s pitch-black out there, and I don’t have any of my night gear, but it’s not a problem.
I shoot a text back with a thumbs-up before unsheathing my combat knife and stepping outside the car. The air is brisk—the scent of snapped grass and dust fills the night.
There’s not much I enjoy more than blowing off some steam. I pat the side pocket on my left leg to make sure my pliers are there. I need them more often than I don’t.
I pull my hood over my head and slowly wade through the tall grass. It doesn’t take long before I see the footsteps in the dry dirt. Looks like my little friend is out here waiting for Briar to go to bed so he can either cut her throat or kidnap her.
My curiosity is piqued. Why did Nolan tell me she was a precious package? And why does Sub-Rosa give a shit about her? It has to be for the same reason.
She has intel, and it must be valuable.
