Chapter10
Hadley had taken one look at Cole the day he moved into the house across the street and known—justknown, in her bones…or her loins, she supposed—that he wassomebody.The way he moved like a predator and surveyed his surroundings like he was generating tactical maps in his head were dead giveaways that he wasn’t a typical dude bro.
But even knowing all that, finding out he was some kind of retired super spy was a bit of a shock.
She’d never known that spiescouldretire, especially at such a young age.Although, she was willing to admit everything she knew about spies came from the TV showBurn Notice.James Bond had never been her thing.Neither had theMission Impossiblemovies.
But being aBurn Noticefan didn’t qualify her to do spy stuff with Cole.So, the fact that this dickwad was blackmailing Cole into some kind of mission with her pissed her off on his behalf.It couldn’t possibly be good for him to get stuck with an untrained operative in, well, any spy-ish situation, right?
And while she was thinking about it, why wasn’t she more worried aboutherself?Maybe she was in shock.That would make sense, wouldn’t it?It had been an epically shitty night.Her heart rate kicked up as memories assailed her.Rough hands grabbing at her, fear rising off her skin like steam, life (such as it was) flashing before her eyes…
Cole gave her pinky a tug with his.“Hey,” he said quietly, “you good?”
She blinked back tears.Opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out.
“It’s OK.Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, deep and slow.”He demonstrated it for her.She did as she was told and after a moment, would admit shedidfeel a little better.Breathing with purpose to stave off a panic attack…who knew?
“Aw,” Franklin said, hand over his heart.“See?This is going to work out perfectly.You’re already acting like husband and wife.”
Record scratch.
Husband andwhatnow?
“I have intel suggesting there’s a Russian sleeper agent in the Creighton Heights neighborhood in Danville.I have an idea who it is, but I’m not divulging that.Wouldn’t want my operatives to go in with preconceived notions and biases.What I need is eyes on the ground.You two will infiltrate the neighborhood, posing as a happily married couple, conduct surveillance, and get me proof of who the agent is.”
Cole frowned.“Why bring me out of retirement for something like this?My specialty was bringing down terrorists.I suck at fitting in with normal people.You know that.You’d be better off bringing in a current operative who is, I don’t know,sociable.”
A valid question, Hadley thought.Cole did not seem like the kind of spy who’d easily fit in amongst the accountants, lawyers, and finance bros who lived in the posh Creighton Heights neighborhood.
Franklin shifted in his seat.“This is completely off books.”
Cole snorted.“Meaning you’ve gone rogue.You’re following a hunch, your boss told you to let it go, and you don’t want to.Probably because you’re gunning for a promotion and ferreting out something high profile is the only way you’ll ever get it.Fine.Whatever.I don’t give a shit.I’ll do it.But not with her.Let her go, no fake charges, no strings attached, and I’ll get you the intel you need.”
Franklin shook his head.“Doesn’t work that way.A single guy moving into the neighborhood isn’t going to be accepted as quickly as a family man.”
“Then send me in with a freelancer,” he said through clenched teeth.“Anyoneother than her.”
Hadley knew he was just trying to protect her.So, she wasn’t insulted by theanyonein that sentence.What did irk her was the thought of someotherwoman pretending to be Cole’s wife.
She’d probably be some gorgeous, fit, badass operative, too.Like Angelina Jolie inSalt.She’d bat her big, perfectly made-up eyes at Cole as they walked into their pretend house and pretend life, and she’d be stuck going back to herreallife, which was boring as fuck, and she’d probably never see Cole again.
“I’ll do it.”
She’d said the words (even though some distant part of her brain reminded her that being in forced proximity with Cole, pretending to be his wife, was astellarway to fall for him against her will), but they’d squeaked out so quietly that neither man heard her.
Franklin glowered at Cole.“There’s no way I’m trusting a freelancer with this.”
Cole snorted.“But you’d trust a woman with no experience, no training.”
“I’d trustthiswoman since her life is in my hands.”
Hadley cleared her throat.“I said, I’ll do it.”
Again, they ignored her.Hadley wondered if the intensity of Cole’s glare impacted his hearing.“You’re going to get her killed,” he spat at Franklin.
Franklin leaned forward, leveling Cole with a pretty intense glare of his own.“Not ifyoudo your job.”
“I could always break your fucking neck.Problem solved.”
