My mind wanders to Ian. He must have known Brian’s real identity, who he works for. In fact, if the situation were reversed, I’d wonder if Brian already knew the truth about who I really am. Maybe Ianwastrying to protect me.
And who put a hit on Brian, the FBI agent? Well, come to think of it, it could have been anyone. If he goes after people like me—and it sounds like he does—any and all of us would want him dead.
I force myself to breathe slowly, to not bolt from this room and gather the girls, go into hiding. More than anything, I was afraid to let my monster out. To lose Brian, this foundation of family that keeps me balanced and grounded and whole. But this might be worse. This might be the end. And now he knows about me. He knows I can track down a killer, that I have a gun tucked into a holster at the back of my yoga tights, that I have my own secrets.
The question is, how will he judge me when I tell him my truth?
His earlier words echo:You’re like him.Like Ian.
Maybe he already knows.
Chapter Fifty
“Where are you?” Piper’s voicecomes through the line, utterly annoyed. “I have plans, and I’m late.” She volunteered to watch the girls while I picked Brian up from the airport, and for a couple hours after that—but it’s approaching ten at night, well into date time.
“We…” I look over at Brian on the gurney, his eyes squeezed shut, face flushed with pain. And he doesn’t even know I’m an assassin yet. “We’re in the emergency room.”
That’s kind of true. We’re in a room. This was an emergency.
“What?” Piper barks. “What happened? Why am I just now finding out?”
There is no appropriate explanation forThere’s a bullet in his shoulder, but I try. “He hurt his arm.”
The line is quiet for a beat. “His arm.”
“Mm-hmm.” I pick at the pilling on my new yoga pants. “Very painful.”
She snorts. “Serves him right.”
“Piper—”
“Just get home, okay?”
We disconnect, and I look up to see the doctor—Linda, I think Brian called her—shaking her head, pulling away from him as she looks down at something—the bullet, probably—in a metal cup.
“You were lucky,” she chides. “I told you, you have little ones now, you have to think of them before you get caught up in shenanigans. You could have died, do you understand that? Here, let me get you some antibiotics…”
I find myself wondering when he last saw Linda, and more importantly,why.
She disappears again, and I brace myself for his questioning. But it doesn’t come. He just sits, his eyes screwed shut, focused on breathing.
“She’s right,” he says. “I should have been more careful.”
“He kidnapped you. It’s not your fault.”
“No, but…” Brian’s eyes flick open, their dark brown depths full of—something. I don’t know what. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter now.”
He’s holding something back. Which, of course he is. We both have been pretending to be people we’re not. But he came clean, at least about the FBI thing. I still have plenty of questions though, starting withWho were those people you introduced as your parents?and ending withWho was the woman at the frat party?I watch him, wondering what else he has to tell me.
“Here you are.” Linda procures a bottle of pills—antibiotics—and puts it in Brian’s palm. “I’d give you more pain medicine, but I think maybe it’s good for you to feel the burn a little.” She smiles, and it’s not kind. “Change the bandage every three days. Signs of infection, call me.” She pivots her gaze to me. “You don’t have a bullet in you, do you?”
I shake my head no and she nods, satisfied. “Very good. Shoo, everyone out. I have the newUnsolved Mysteriesto watch.”
We make our way into the hall, and Brian focuses on breathing evenly as we head for the elevator.
“What about you?” he asks once we’re safely back in the van. “Where did you learn to shoot a gun and track a killer and—” He waves a hand, indicating, I assume,all the rest of it. “CIA? Homeland?”
I grip the steering wheel, hesitating to answer. Brian’s presuming I’mfriendinstead offoe. He always assumes the best about people. I start up the van, pull away from where I parallel parked, and direct the vehicle back toward home. He’ll find out soon enough.
