“Yes,” Ren said at the same time Cole said, “No.”
Cole paused, took a deep breath, winced, and said, “I left as soon as I could because we need to talk.”
Her heart stuttered.In her experience, nothing good was ever prefaced with those words.“OK.But why don’t you come in and sit down first?”
He glanced behind her at her couch, longingly.But said, “I’d love to, but your furniture is too far away.I need a minute to work up to that.”
“Want me to carry you?”Ren joked.
“Ignore him,” Cole growled.“First of all, I need to apologize.I’m sorry I didn’t fill you in on what Plan B entailed.I didn’t want you to worry.”
Her throat tightened up.“I could’ve handled it.”
He raked a hand through his hair.“It was a mistake not to tell you.I won’t keep anything from you ever again.But I need you to know that as far as the CIA is concerned, both of us are clear.”
After he explained it, she understood why he’d kept Plan B to himself.It was risky, and she wouldn’t have liked it even a little bit.
Plan B assumed from the beginning that everything was going to get bloody.Before the meeting, he’d had Ren create travel logs and electronic trails that made it look like Cole had been overseas for the past six months.He’d also planted communications that made it seem that he’d cut his travel short because Franklin had called him, wanting to talk about his immunity deal and the possibility of doing freelance work.The story from there was that Franklin wanted to recruit him into doing work for Russian intelligence, Cole refused, and Franklin turned on him.
When Ren tipped the CIA off to Franklin’s whereabouts, they showed up, found Cole, and whisked him off to one of their medical facilities, where he’d been for the last 10 days.During that time, they questioned him (extensively) about his involvement with Franklin and based on his responses (and the evidence Ren had conjured out of thin air), they determined he was innocent and not in violation of the terms of his retirement agreement.
He was free.
“And they know nothing about your involvement.Franklin had already had one of his dirty FBI cronies bury any evidence of your involvement with the Irish,” he added.“So, you’re free and clear of this mess, too.”
That was…a lot to take in.“What about Stella and Eric?And everyone who saw us in that neighborhood who thinks we’re Emma and Clark?”
“Stella and Eric are clear.Since we pointed out Franklin as the sleeper agent, there’s no reason for anyone to go digging in that neighborhood.And as for Emma and Clark, all anyone there will know is that we abandoned the house.We can have Stella and Eric make up whatever story they want.But there’d be no reason for the CIA to show up there.”
“So…it’s all over?”
He leaned in a little so that she had to crane her neck back to hold eye contact.“That part of our story is over.But I’m really hoping that’s not the end of us.Because I meant what I said in that warehouse.I love you, Hadley Lockhart, and I’m going to do everything I can to convince you to be mine.”
She choked out a laugh.“Convince me?Hell, man, I was yours since the first time I spied on you through my bird watching binoculars.”
His brow furrowed like he’d been expecting a fight.“Oh…really?”
“Yes, really, you idiot.I love you, too.”
“So, does that mean you do or don’t want the bribe he brought for you?”Ren asked.
“Bribe?”Her gaze shifted between them.“There’s a bribe?”
Cole looked sheepish.“I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.”
That’s when Ren hauled a huge box up to the door and set it at Cole’s side.“Tenley suggested he bring flowers or diamonds or a new car, but he insisted onthis,” Ren said.“And now that I’ve done the heavy lifting, I’m out of here.”He gave them a two-fingered salute.“Best of luck.”
He was halfway to his truck when Hadley called after him.He turned, cocking his head to one side.
“I’m sorry I called you an evil, unfeeling cuntmuffin.”
His brow furrowed.“You didn’t call me an evil, unfeeling cuntmuffin.”
“Not to your face.”
He chuckled.“So, we’re good?”
“We’re good.”
