Page 107 of Lethal Weakness

He shrugs again. “I wasn’t willing to risk any information getting out about our location. I don’t think any of them would betray me, but the more people who know, the more dangerous it becomes.”

“Jack, won’t you jeopardize your job by going off the radar?”

“Maybe.”

“And you don’t care?”

“Not really, no.”

There’s no distress in his voice, not a hiccup in his step as he makes the bed. He’s as cool as a cucumber, and I’m an anxiety-filled mortar about to go off.

“You can’t throw away your career for us,” I sputter.

He chuckles softly, shaking his head.

“This isn’t funny. I can’t be responsible for ruining someone else’s life.”

He stops what he’s doing, casually folding his arms over his chest. “I have money in the bank to live comfortably for the rest of my life. I don’t need the job. I needed purpose.”

“And you’ll risk losing that?”

“Linden, you don’t get it…” He says softly. “I was ready to throw everything away the night you kissed my cheek.”

I must look like a fish, my mouth opening and closing without making a sound.

“You never said anything…” I stand up, my body instinctively trying to pace, but stop short when pain shoots up my leg. “I never knew what you were thinking…”

“It was the hat,” he says almost teasingly, lifting some of the haze I’m under.

I take the hat that I’m still wearing off, and look at it before tossing it onto the freshly made bed. “No more hat. No more hiding.”

“I do like that hat, though,” he says, rounding the bed towards me.

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” The distance left between us closes until I’m looking up at him.

“I know,” he whispers. “You and Avery can have this room. Get her to sleep tonight, and then you can drill me with questions. I’ll answer everything you’ve got.”

“Everything?” I challenge, narrowing my eyes.

He nods in agreement, but his eyes fall to where my hands flatten against his chest.

“I won’t be able to breathe until I know you trust me again,” he admits softly, but achingly serious as always. “Until I know you aren’t afraid of what I am.” His brows are knit so tight, I would be able to see his worry from a mile away.

“Breathe,” I utter, pulling his shirt. He lowers obediently until I can feel his breath against my lips. “I believe you.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” I add as his hand slides up my back, threading his fingers through my hair at the nape of my neck, pressing his forehead to mine. “I trust you, Jack. I always have. Even when I hated you for lying.”

He squeezes his eyes shut painfully and nods. “Do you still hate me?”

“Not even a little bit,” I breathe before he pulls me in the remaining millimeter, and captures my mouth hungrily.

This kiss isn’t gentle and unsure; it’s possessive and all-consuming, the way he holds me against him… I’ve never felt security like this in my entire life.

My arms snake around his neck and my hands claw through his hair, tugging him closer, needing him more than I’ve ever needed anything.

More than I’ve ever needed anyone. Because I’ve never let myself need someone like this.

He feels it too, the way his arms tighten around me, holding me impossibly closer. So much that all the weight on my foot disappears as he straightens, lifting me and pressing my back against the closed door.