Soren laughs, soft and warm, and pulls me into his chest. He presses a kiss to the top of my head and murmurs, “You’re ridiculous if you think that. You’re perfect.”
My breath catches.Oh my god. Soren actually thinks that doesn’t he? I tilt my head up slightly to look at him. Oh hell… I blush hard and will my heart to calm down before closing my eyes again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
~ Natural Interactions ~
Soren
I’m sat alone in my study two days later, the heavy oak door closed, the only light coming from the desk lamp and the faint glow of the city skyline through the windows. The estate is quiet tonight, but my mind is anything but.
I pick up the encrypted phone and dial the number I’ve used only a handful of times over the years. It rings twice before Agent Ruez answers, his voice clipped and professional. “Sinclair.”
“Ruez,” I reply, my voice cold, the tone I use when I want someone to remember exactly who they’re speaking to. “I need information.”
Ruez says, “Of course. What do you need?”
I fiddle with a pen in my free hand, hoping for a win. “Have there beenanysigns of Zero Hour in the city recently? Any chatter from your undercover ops? Movement? New faces?”
The line goes quiet for half a second, the kind of pause that tells me he’s choosing his words carefully.Ruez knows better than to waste my time with pleasantries. “Honestly? Nothing solid,” he says. “We had a member captured and questioned by the CIA on the other side of the country two weeks ago. He gave up some names, but the trail went cold fast. Since you handled Mr. and Mrs. Everly, the group’s been fracturing. Their case has gone quiet here. My guess is they’re looking for new pastures to start again, but their members are being picked off one by one. Whoever’s left is keeping their heads down.”
I lean back in my chair, fingers drumming once on the desk. The news settles like a weight lifting, but only partially. “Good. Keep me updated if anything changes. I want no more ghosts from that organisation showing up in my city.”
“I’ll keep my ear to the ground.”
“Make sure you do. And Ruez… if I find out you’re holding anything back, our arrangement ends.Permanently.”
The line goes quiet for a beat. “Understood.”
I hang up without another word and set the phone down. That’s one less thing to be on high alert for. The worry about Zero Hour will never fully leave me, but maybe I can breathe a little easier. Still, the city is full of people with vendettas. Finn is dead, but there will always be others. I can’t let my guard down, not when Kit’s safety is on the line.
I lean forward, elbows on the desk, and stare at the dark wood grain.
He’s been home for two days now, resting and healing. I’ve barely left his side except for the necessities, but even then, I’ve made sure someone I trust is with him. The thought of him finally being able to walk around the estate without fear… it’s the only thing that’s kept me sane these past few days. I exhale slowly, the tension in my shoulders easing just a fraction.
???
I’m forcing myself through the tedious stack of paperwork for the legitimate side of my businesses… I hate this part of the job, the boring, soul-crushing numbers and red tape, but I need to know it’s done right. No one else gets to touch this shit. One mistake and the IRS starts sniffing around, and I don’t need that heat.
A knock sounds on the door.
I sigh without looking up. “Yeah?”
Ray pops his head in. “Time for food, boss.”
I grunt and nod. A break from this will be good. It’s draining, the kind of work that makes my eyes burn after too long. I stand, stretching my shoulders until they pop, then follow Ray out, closing the study door behind me with a firm click.
As we walk down the hall, Ray asks casually, “Did everything go okay with Ruez?”
I tell Ray most things, especially when it comes to organisations like Zero Hour. I just nod. “Nothing to tell.”
Ray smiles. “That’s great.”
I side-eye him. “Doesn’t stop other threats.”
Ray laughs under his breath. “Take the win, man.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the small grin that tugs at my mouth despite myself.
