“I never cry,” she said, taking another shuddering breath.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
She pulled back, her face ruddy, her eyes still filled with tears. She was a mess, and he realized in that instant, that he would never be able to walk away from her. He was in love with Delilah Eddington-Underwood.
Bloody hell.
Fifteen
After Lila got control of herself, she excused herself and went into the bathroom. Ian had been so worried about her, he had almost followed her. She didn’t need Mr. Big Bad Spy making her feel like even more of a loser.
She finished rinsing her face and grabbed a towel. Looking in the mirror as she dried her face, Lila was honest enough with herself to admit she looked like a hot mess. Her face was all splotchy and her eyes were red from all of her useless tears.
“Lila, love, I’m going to grab some water. Do you want a glass?”
A sob sat in the middle of her throat. She could not handle him being sweet. She cleared her throat.
“Please.”
“No worries.” But he still didn’t leave. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, Ian.”
Another hesitation before she heard his soft footsteps pad away. The man usually didn’t make a sound when he walked, so she knew that he did that for her benefit. Another rush of tears flooded her eyes. God, she needed to get her house in order. She couldn’t be crying like a little baby all the time.
She splashed water on her face again, trying to get her mind back to where it needed to be and her emotions back under control. With that thought and knowing that Ian was going to be gone at least for a little bit, she grabbed her burner out of the secret pocket in her bag. She had been glad that Ian hadn’t discovered it.
L: In a safe spot.
G: You are lying to me.
Always. But it was only to protect her source.
L: No. I am safe.
G: I am giving you 72 hours.
L: Or what?
G: I will take matters into my own hands.
Panic spiked, sending her heartbeat galloping out of control. She could call and argue, but she knew it was a lost cause. Lila had never won an argument with her source.
L: Fine.
She would just figure out another way to stall. After slipping the device back into the secret compartment, she opened the door expecting to see Ian back in the room. He was nowhere to be found. She heard raised voices down the hall and headed in the direction of them.
“You need to keep your damned nose out of my business,” Ian said.
Who was being nosey?
“Lila is my business. We owe her my life, and let’s be honest, yours and Kap’s lives.”
She wanted to roll her eyes. At one time, El had been a fun guy. Always off for some kind of secret adventure. He’d been an adrenaline junkie. After the hours he had spent being tortured, he wasn’t the same man. No one would be, but this man had some damned nerve. Whatever she did with Ian was her own business.
“She stays here under cover,” Ian said.
“I agree, but she needs to help us with the search. You know that.”
