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MATTEO
When the crunch of gravel indicated Carter had returned, I carefully put back the photos I’d been looking through. I glanced around the room that served as an office for him and made sure everything was back in place. Then I slipped off the gloves I’d grabbed from his go bag and tossed them in the trash. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t know I’d been going through his things. It’s what any of us would do when left alone in an enemy’s house, but I didn’t have to be blatant about it.
He would never have left me alone here if there was anything serious for me to find. I hadn’t expected to find anything that would tell me more than I already knew. There were pictures of him with his friends and a few older ones of his family, but nothing recent, nothing since he’d cut off almost all contact with them at eighteen. I looked through his books and a collection of old records. As expected, I didn’t learn a damn thing, but I had to try. What kind of spy would I be if I didn’t?
I ran a hand over my hair. I’d never meant to be a spy, and I sure as hell never meant to hurt Carter the way I had.
I glanced out the window and saw Carter had returned alone. That was good. If he and his friends had decided they were going to kill me, they would have all come back together. At least they would if they had any sense. They should know by now Carter was never going to end my life, not unless I betrayed him again. Even then, it wasn’t a sure thing. He was a good man. Far better than I was.
Carter entered the cabin, and I saw the relief on his face when he saw me. He covered it quickly, but not quickly enough. He’d been worried I would run. At least I’d proven to him that I could keep my word.
He probably thought I’d only keep it when I really didn’t have any better options, but the real truth was that I was so fucking lovesick for him, I couldn’t do anything but what he said.
He’d thought I was the one in charge all that time we’d been together in Columbia, but from the first night, it was never me. It was him. I would do anything for him.
He glanced around, and I was sure even though he saw nothing out of place he knew what I’d been up to.
“You enjoy going through the place? Find anything interesting?”
“Some pretty damn funny pictures of your friends from high school, but I had seen some of those already. It’s rather sparse in here.”
“I’m not out here much. I have an apartment in the city, but I’m sure you already knew that.”
I nodded. “I know plenty, like that this cabin is located on land Ford and his boyfriend, Jay, purchased recently. Is that where you went, to their house?”
“Yes. But the only thing I want to talk about now is how much you know about what’s actually going on. How much deeper did your mission go than the CIA wanting to infiltrate a cartel?”
I felt the color drain from my face. “I don’t know anything other than that. I’m the lowest level of agent possible.”
Carter took a step toward me. “Don’t fuck with me. I was just on the phone with X.”
Oh shit. I’d hoped I was wrong. “Obviously I knew you had some knowledge of that vigilante operation since you knew Leo, but you’re working with him, aren’t you? X was behind this whole attack on the cartel. His plans were the whole reason Miles wouldn’t back down.”
“Miles Montgomery never backs down from something he wants, but he decided he wanted that particular warehouse because he was asked to as a favor.”
I snorted. “Only X can ask that kind of favor.”
“True, though Miles might try.”
“I don’t know much. I swear.”
“X seemed to think you know a hell of a lot more than I do. He told me you called Leo and said your handler cut you off. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” Carter moved even closer. If I took a deep breath, my chest would press against his. I tried not to breathe because the air was too full of the scent of him.
“You’re scared, and that means something horrible is going on. You’re going to tell me what it is.”
“I can handle this on my own.” I pushed as his chest, but he grabbed my wrists, trying to hold me in place.
“You lost that choice because I can’t really trust you now, can I?”
“What does X say? Does he trust me?”
“As far as he can throw you.”
“I suppose that’s about right.”
“Other than Leo, I don’t think he trusts any spooks.”
