Page 134 of Sins of Innocence

"He lied."

"About his demotion being temporary? Yeah, I figured that out."

"About Mick keeping an eye on you through me."

"Well, I know that. We weren't actually dating, but we are married."

It's not a question, but the doubt she feels is right there on her expressive face for me to see.

"Mick did not order me to keep you under surveillance."

"He wouldn't have to though, would he?" she asks. "No way are you going to allow me to do anything that could put his plans at risk."

"You wouldn't want to." That's not Áine.

She's a good person. She'd never collude with scum like Kenneth.

"But even if I did, you'd make sure it didn't happen," she presses, like something about this is important to her.

"I'm not spying on you for Mick. The only orders he's given me in regard to you and the girls is to keep you all safe." I didn't need those orders either.

"Oh." She sighs. "I still don't trust him."

"You don't need to."

"That's easy for you to say."

"Yes."

Her frown isn't friendly. "I need more words right now."

"If you trust me to keep my promises to you, Mick's plans don't matter."

"I do trust you. I don't know why. Married, or not, we barely know each other."

But she trusts me.

Fuck, I like knowing that.

"I will never betray that trust."

"I believe you'll try." She pats my chest. "That's all any of us can do, Kieran. Even Captain America is fallible."

"I'm not Captain America." And I'm not going to let Áine down.

Not like I let my mom down.

"Whatever you say." She looks around my room. "I'm glad you moved into our apartment. There's no room for me in here, much less mom and the girls."

Her apartment isn't as safe as the Bunker, but it's an easier domicile to keep secure than if we moved into a standalone home. House hunting is going to have to wait.

"We'd have a hard time sleeping together on this bed. It's so narrow, but I can think of something we could do on it," she says in a sultry voice that goes straight to my cock.

We spend the two hours before my meeting with my not-so-new recruits finding out what forms that something can take.

Chapter twenty-seven

Threat Assessment