Bryce didn’t hesitate to correct me, “It’s nothing if you love each other.”
Maybe. If she could forgive me for putting her in danger, maybe the age gap wouldn’t matter. I hoped Bryce was right. My last thought before passing out and my first thought upon waking up was Nina.
Changing the subject, he asked, “How’d you two get yourselves hospitalized?”
Sucking in a deep breath made my lungs scream, but that didn’t stop me from doing it again in preparation for revealing my secrets. The first step to rebuilding my relationship with my brother.
Bryce waited as patiently as a younger brother is capable while I decided where to start and how much to share.
Maybe it was the morphine; maybe it was my newfound rebellious streak, but I went with the blunt truth. “I don’t work in logistics, I’m in the CIA.”
Bryce blinked a few times, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he processed my truth bomb.
“Damn, I thought you’d make me work harder for the truth.”
“You knew?” Surprise filled my voice.
“Not that you were CIA, but I suspected the logistics job was a lie.”
“You never said anything.”
“I figured you’d tell me when the time was right.”
His nonchalant tone didn’t match the disappointment in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you, any of you. It was for your safety,” I babbled like a nervous teenaged girl.I’m blaming the morphine.
“I’m a cop; I can protect myself and our family.”
He was an upstanding cop in a small town, but didn’t have the skills required to deal with traitorous CIA officers and global mercenaries. “It’s not about your ability.”
“So you’re a spook?”
I cringed, hating the term.
“I’m an information analyst who sometimes finds himself in the thick of things.”
He looked me up and down. “How thick?”
“That I can’t discuss.”
“Ongoing investigation,” he said, accepting my answer without arguing.
I nodded.
“What will you tell our siblings?”
“I don’t know yet. I don’t want to keep lying, but I have an oath to uphold.”
“You told me.”
“You’re a cop.”
“Touché.”
“I’ll figure it out before I see them.”
“You have less time than you think. Everyone except Ethan is outside.”
