“I’m not in love with her,” he whispered, though the images, and the way they made him feel, mocked his words. He couldn’t have Mia believing he was. “How could I be? I didn’t really know her until this assignment.”
“And your assignment was to kill her.”
“Yeah.”
“But you know her now? You took time to get to know her when you were supposed to just go in and terminate her?”
Cripes, his little sister was questioning him. He couldn’t say how he’d come up on Violet crying, how her vulnerability had touched him in a way he couldn’t explain. How her strength, smile, and sass touched him, too.
Mia went on, “You’re the one who told me to do what I’m told, that the Guard has a reason for everything.”
“That’s what I thought. But nothing about this assignment makes sense. A good friend and former Vega recently told me to trust my gut when something didn’t feel right. That’s what I’m doing. You should, too.”
“By going against the Guard and losing everything you’ve worked for? What are you thinking?”
“That’s just it, Mia. I’m thinking that this assignment isn’t right.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why does Ferro suspect I’m involved with Violet?”
“He didn’t say. He told me to talk sense into you before he sent someone else to…remedy the situation. I don’t know what that means, but I don’t like the sound of it.”
Kade kicked the dirt. Why had Ferro dragged Mia into this? Because…holy shit. Ferro must know the Carnelian Dragon. It all fit together, the way the pieces of teak he’d installed on his old boat had. The Carnelian had reported to Ferro that Kade was fighting beside Violet. And now he was going to send someone else out. Kade didn’t like the sound of that either.
“Mia, I’m not going rogue because I’ve lost my head over a woman. Tell Ferro I’m deep undercover, unraveling a bigger conspiracy. Buy me time but stay out of this. Tell him I’m making perfect sense.”
“Why can’t you tell him?”
“Because if I talk to that son of a bitch right now, I’ll spew.” He broke off a branch, crushing it and getting sap on his hand. The pungent scent of pine filled his nose. “Did he tell you anything specific about the woman our father tried to release?”
“No, just the overall story. Why?”
“I never heard the details either. They were confidential. You don’t remember much about our father, but he lived the Guard and then the Concilium. He also trusted his instincts and taught me to do so as well. Even if he caught hell for it. After he died, I shoved his advice into a deep well inside me. I lost respect for everything he was and told me. Now I’m wondering, what if his saving that woman was part of something else? What if she was telling the truth?” There had been evidence pointing to multiple kidnappings, all involving children. His father had worked the case. What if it had been one of the Concilium members his father had trusted?
“Now you’re sounding paranoid.”
“Maybe. But right now I’ve got to take care of Violet.” Take care of her. His chest ached at the thought of keeping her safe, in his arms, in his bed.
“Kade, are you sure about this?”
He could hear the strain in her voice, strain he’d caused. “I’m sure, Mia. I’m sorry you got dragged in.” Not only was his own career crumbling around him, but hers might be, too. She would be associated with the Vega who went rogue. He knew the taint of that.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood in the same moment he heard a whisper of sound nearby. “I have to go.” He turned to find two murderous-looking men coming toward him: Violet’s brothers.
Violet heard the front door close and more than one set of footsteps clomping down her hallway. Her eyes flew open, and she lurched upright. Kade was gone.
Jessup’s voice shouted, “Vee! Get out here.”
She scrambled out of bed, her mind searching for reasons they could be summoning her like this. “Hold on a damned minute.” She threw on clothing and pulled open the door.
Where was Kade? Not in the bathroom.
Jessup’s expression was grim. Behind him, Ryan didn’t look any happier. And both looked as though they’d just been in a scuffle, hair mussed, Jessup’s face bruised.
“What happened?” Her heart lodged in her throat like a clump of mud.
“No, nobody’s dead. Yet.” Jessup’s mouth tightened. He was pissed. “I overheard your boyfriend out there on the phone talking to a woman.”
She had to backtrack her harrowing thoughts. This was about Kade being a cheater? “Yeah, so what? I told you I wasn’t serious about him.” Still, her heart tightened even more.
“He’s not serious about you either. He told the woman he wasn’t in love with you, and how could he be when he didn’t know you until this assignment? Want to know what that assignment is?” He waited a beat. “Killing you.”
