Page 102 of When He Lies
The driver looked toward the windows on the second story of the manor. “Another bender.” Disapproval underscored his words.
“I’ll be handling the meeting today. Let’s head out, shall we?” He climbed into the back of the vehicle. The driver shut the door behind him, and, in moments, they were on the road.
A private driver. A luxury car. He could sure get used to living like this.
Hugo pulled out his bloody knife. Then he took his handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood away.
He could live easily like this, but one more person needed to die first. Ryan Quinn.
You’re not a billionaire. You’re not some rich prick. You’re a spy.
News that had come through Konstantin.
Hugo found he was looking forward to killing Ryan. He did enjoy a challenge.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“So strange,” Simone murmured as a faint tremble shook her body. “In my most vivid nightmares, I could never imagine that a man would say that I was the love of his life in one breath, and, then, in the next, he’d tell me to get the hell away from him.” She let out a long sigh. “You know how to make a woman feel incredibly special.”
He’d changed before going to the little chat with Logan in the sitting room. Expensive dress pants. Crisp, fresh, white button-down. Not a wet one that clung lovingly to his muscles. So disappointing. He’d even put on a suit coat. Gray, to match his pants. She strongly suspected he had a gun holster—and a gun—hidden beneath that coat.
Logan’s jaw hardened. His dark eyes glittered. “You are special.”
“Thanks. Just beautiful words. Really.”
“You are special to me. That’s why I need you safe. I need you away from me. I can’t trust the team here. I told you before, I trust my brother, one hundred percent, but Nash isn’t with me. I don’t know Harry. I barely know Jamar and Charlotte.”
“Surface level,” she heard herself say.
He nodded. “If I can’t count on the people near me, then I have to count on the person you trust.”
Her head turned toward Logan.
“I am not trustworthy,” Logan fired back in an instant as his hands fisted. “Ask anyone.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know I trust you with my life.”
“Don’t,” Logan bit out.
“We don’t have time for this!” Ryan snapped. “Look, I need you to take her away.” He took a phone from his pocket and pressed it into Simone’s hands. “I’ll call you when things are safe. Until then, I need you to go with him.”
Her fingers curled around the phone. “You expect me to just leave you to face the danger on your own?”
“Oh, baby.” His hand rose to caress her cheek. “This is what I do. It’s what I’ve done for years. I will close this mission. Count on it.”
“You need me.”
“More than you will ever realize. More than I thought could be possible.” His head lowered. His lips brushed against hers. “There have been too many attacks on your life.” Another careful kiss. “I can’t trust the people near me. That means I can’t keep you safe. Please.” Rough. Gruff. “Go with Logan. I swear, this phone will ring as soon as the case is over.”
She didn’t want to leave him.
“Yeah, okay, before you two start making out again…” Logan cleared his throat. “I happen to have a few questions of my own. Question one, just how the hell did you two even hook up? How do a spy and a, uh, retrieval specialist get together?”
“We were in the same gallery, taking different prizes.” Ryan’s hand lingered against her cheek.
“We got together before that. The gallery incident was during date number three, remember?” Her head turned. Her lips pressed against his palm. “I expect date number four to be killer. Know that my expectations are high.”
“Yeah…” Logan sidled closer. “I get what you were retrieving Simone, but, Ryan, what were you there to take?”
