“Well, when you rob a Chinese corporate HQ, there’s bound to be some governmental interest—”
“Don’t patronize me.” She cuts across him. “The only way that plays is if they already knew our target. And if that were the case, why not pick up all of us?”
I frown. Declandidknow, so the Feds must’ve known too. Tasha raises a fair point: why target Kurt alone? “Why was Declan so interested in that wallet, back when hewasan Agent?”
“Because it’s worth more than all the diamonds,” Kurt replies.
“Not the answer,” Tasha says.
“Maybe, but there’s more to it,” I say at the same time.
He meets my gaze with a hint of a curve at the corner of his mouth. “It’s not really my place to say, but since you’ve asked, Declan wanted the wallet to negotiate foryoursafety. A guarantee you wouldn’t be prosecuted.”
My breath catches. “How do you know?”
“He told me.”
I scoff. “The pathological liar tells you, and you believed him?”
“Yes,” Kurt says simply.
Damn. Kurt wouldn’t trust without reason. Have I misjudged Declanagain? “But if he wanted it so bad, why didn’t he just…” I trail off as I figure it out, but Kurt answers anyway.
“Ask you for it? Because he knew you wouldn’t give it to him.” He looks uncomfortable for a moment. “My fault. I did tell you not to trust him, but at that point, I was still not sure on which side he’d come down. I made things more complicated, and I apologize.”
“So that’s why he drugged and kidnapped me,” I say, thinking out loud, following it through to its natural conclusion. There’s no affront in my voice, but again Kurt is quick to reply.
“Yes he did, but now you know why.” He jumps to Declan’s defense. Like it’s important to him whatIthink of Declan. “He wanted the box, sure. Ulterior motives, sure. But motives that werein your interests. He knew you wouldn’t have given it to him for the asking.”
“He only wanted the box for his career,” I mutter, even though I can’t convince myself of that any longer. Not when he had it in his possession, then resigned.
Every step of the way, Declan’s been ahead of me, carving the path forward to ensuremysafety. Even when he had a funny way of showing it… that resulted in some fucking big orgasms.
“He wanted the box, but I’m pretty sure he wantedyou, too.” Kurt gives me a considering look, as though he’s wondering what transpired between us once I woke up. Or has somehow guessed at my thoughts.
I feel a blush coloring my cheeks and glance away.
Tasha clears her throat. “Well, that tells me all I needed to know about whattheyget up to,” she says dryly, and my blush is full-on now. Then her voice hardens. “But it doesn’t explain why the FBI were so interested in it, Kurt. Or who your contractor is, when it clearly isn’t them.”
“That’s my concern,” he replies. “I always handle—”
Her eyes widen. “Shit.If it’s not the Feds, it must be the CIA.” She sucks in a breath. “That makes perfect sense. They couldn’t touch Meridian Pacific because it’s on US soil. So they usedyou!” Her glare intensifies. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
His silence is answer itself.
“The goddamnCIA, Kurt?” Tasha’s voice rises. “Are youinsane? What could possibly have compelled you to take that job?”
My brain is racing ahead. Declan must’ve known the CIA were onto the box. The FBI couldn’t act either, not against Chinese interests. We get the box—hegets the box—and he could… what… dictate his price?
“It all worked out fine,” Kurt argues.
“‘It all worked out fine’?” Tasha echoes, incredulous. “How do you know they’re not going to come and cap us in our beds to tie uploose ends?”
And what was I? Declan’s prize? Damn… did he trade the box to Kurt for Kurt’sapproval? Like I’m something to bepurchasedwith a goddamndowry?
“Let’s just say I’m certain on that,” Kurt says.
“You’recertain?” Tasha’s on her feet. “Who does your planning? Who do you thinkneeded to know?”
