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“Kaz is undercover,” he mutters.

Joy and I stare at him like he’s switched languages.

“Under what cover?” I say slowly.

“FBI.” This comes from Duke.

Joy and I look at each other, then at Aria, who raises both hands, palms out. “It was on a need-to-know basis.”

“Hold on.” I wave my hands to quiet everyone. “Does this mean Kaz is working with Mason?”

“Could mean he’s trying to get something out of him,” Mav offers.

“Or Mason is his target,” Duke says.

“Or he is working with him,” Hunt adds.

“Those are three entirely different things,” I point out.

“Yeah.” Mav gives me a look that manages to be both sympathetic and unhelpful. “Kaz can be damn cryptic.”

I go still. “Does Bree know?”

Aria gives us a sheepish look. “No, she doesn’t. And…we can’t tell her. That’s something Kaz has to do.”

“Talk about a cluster fuck.” Joy swings toward the bar. “Moxy, love, we’re all going to need another round.”

“And jalapeño poppers,” I add.

“Definitely the jalapeño poppers.” Hunt pulls a stool over and settles beside Joy.

Duke checks his watch. “Elena should be here shortly.”

“Does she know, too?” Joy asks.

Duke draws a zip across his lips.

“So everyone knew but me,” Joy says mournfully.

“And me…and Bree,” I remind her, looking at Moxy, who brings our drinks over. “I’m gonna need a chaser with my beer.”

CHAPTER 31

taya

I’m back in my office, and it’s like nothing has changed—which is both the comfort and the cruelty of it.

When Griffin betrayed me, it hurt. But it wasn’t like this.

That relationship had had time to live, fester, and I was aware of who Griffin was—a weak man who desperately wanted to be strong.

Mason is a strong man, was a strong man, and to see him be weak like this has been monumentally disheartening. That’s the euphemism. What it has actually been is heartbreaking in the way that only happens when someone you gave real trust to turns out to have been keeping a ledger on it.

Thankfully, there’s a lot of work to be done, which gives me something to focus on, something to keep me from sitting too long with the pain of it—of being made a fool again, of giving too much of myself, too carelessly, and still not having all the pieces back.

Judge Colbeck gets back eighteen days after the preliminary hearing—before Clara does.

I haven’t pushed her. I don’t feel I have the right.