Page 33 of The Spy
“Did you really think I was going to let Oversight near you, little Monarch? You need someone who has your best interest at heart, not the mission.”
“Then why isn't Saff doing it?”
Saff could have done it. That would have been great. Besides, she was the heir anyway. This would have been the perfect leadership experience.
“What, so you guys can play slumber party? This is serious business. If Oversight wants you, that is not a fucking compliment. They're up to something. And like it or not, you are going to need protection. They are not your mates who want to give you a bloody promotion. They're offering you hazard pay. Do you understand how dangerous that is?”
I frowned. “Isn’t hazard pay the norm?”
When operatives went undercover, they were offered hazard pay as a general rule. I'd seen the package. It was generous. And it could more than cover Riley’s school fees and the extras. My package with Rogues was already a good one. My flat in Mayfair was subsidized. I had a schooling and continuing education allowance for my brother and sister. I had savings that I didn't even need to touch. So it was great.
But everything with Kira was coming to a head. Having some extra funds to give her a little bit more of what she wanted would maybe ease the tension with us. I needed to fix it. We couldn't go on like this because it was tearing Riley to bits. More money would certainly make Kira’s life a lot easier.
You've been making her life too easy for too long.
I wasn't going to worry about that right now. “Fine. Show me around the flat, then.”
“I'm not your fucking estate agent.”
“No, you're my handler. So handle me.”
Did you mean to make that sound dirty?
He took a step toward me, and I resisted the urge to back up. Was he going to kiss me again? The crackle of tension between us singed my nerve endings and made my clit throb. I pressed my thighs together but held my ground and lifted my head, glaring up at him.
“Come on,” he muttered before showing me around. “It’s a one-bedroom flat. All the basics are here. Telly is outfitted with cable and all the streaming channels. Your cover ID is Tabatha Bracknell, and she's very busy. No time to pop by Sainsbury’s or Marks and Sparks and Whole Foods. She’s one of those who keeps vodka in her freezer, wine in the cupboard, and that's about it. A chef's service will deliver food, so we can keep you fed when you are here and not back at Rogues.”
“What will be my schedule for coming back?”
“On the nights that you don't have dates with your billionaire friend, you'll be back on the Rogues campus or at home in Mayfair, whichever suits. But on all other nights, especially when you have dates, you'll be here, keeping up appearances. In the beginning, once you make contact, you’ll have to stay here for a couple of weeks to establish the routine in case he sends anyone to follow and watch.”
“Okay. This is serious, isn't it?”
His shoulders lifted as he shrugged and shook his head. Pausing in the doorway of my bedroom, he said, “Did you think it was a joke, Tabs? They're not playing with you. You're on Oversight's radar now. All I can do is be here and protect you. That's it. If anything goes wrong, they're not going to cover you.”
I swallowed. “Understood.”
“Do you really understand?”
“I think so.”
He turned and watched me, both of us staring the other down. And I could see it. He was worried. That was concern in his eyes, and I had no idea why.
He turned and continued through the bedroom, pointing toward a door. “Wardrobe's in there.” He paused at another door. “This leads into my flat. We retrofitted it so that it doesn't lock for your protection.”
“And if I need protection from you?”
His gaze flickered to my mouth, and his tongue peeked out to moisten his bottom lip. My breath hitched. I couldn't fucking help it because I really, really wanted to bite it.
You will not bite your boss's bottom lip. That's what got you into this mess in the first place.
“You never need protection from me. Don’t you understand? I’m the one who will chase your nightmares away. For the duration of this, I'm your shadow. I’m your confidant. I'm the one you come to when you need anything. Need a shoulder to cry on? It's me. Need to figure out how to seduce this twat? I’m the one to help you. Need a way to decompress? You come to me. You feel like you're going to fucking lose it if you don't get out? Me. Not Saff. Not fucking Devlin. It's me. That's the nature of the relationship between an agent and a handler.”
I swallowed hard, suddenly realizing the predicament I'd gotten myself into. All I had done was chain my tormentor to me.
Gabe
"What am I doing here exactly?"
