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“Rogue, are you awake?”
“Not really.” His voice was scratchy like he’d been asleep all night.
I checked the clock to make sure it wasn’t later than my body was telling me. It was only two in the morning. “I know you need sleep, but I need to talk to you.”
His eyes widened, and he pushed himself up into a sitting position. “If you’re about to tell me we’re not going to do this again, I—”
“I’m not going to tell you that. I’m going to fuck you as many times as I can possibly get away with.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“Who were you on the phone with before you got in the shower?”
The smile disappeared. “I agree to fuck you, not to share my whole life with you.”
His words hit me like a blow. I rose from the bed and crossed the room. As I bent to pick up my pants, Rogue was suddenly there at my side. He laid a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way, I just… That call. It was… I don’t want to think about it.”
“You might have to. I don’t want you in danger, and my current operation… Shit. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but it involves the Russos.”
“What?”
“I’m here to make sure they don’t revive certain aspects of the Carlottis business as they attempt to secure control of their empire.”
Rogue watched me, his eyes letting me know how conflicted he was.
I wrapped my arms around him and led him back to the bed. We sat on the end, and I held his hands. “Anything you tell me is confidential. I won’t say anything to your brothers, and I won’t tell anyone else where my information came from.”
“I can’t. I can’t talk about it.”
“I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe, whether you tell me or not, but it would be a lot easier if I knew what I was looking for.”
“How do you know I’m in danger?”
“You’ve worked for them in the past. That’s enough.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I had to investigate any possible connections when X told me he was going to have me stay here.”
“X? I thought you we’re here on behalf of the FBI?”
“Technically, I’m here as a federal agent, but in truth, I’m here to take care of things X wants taken care of.”
Rogue shook his head. “Sometimes I think I must really be naive.”
“No one should have to think in the twists and turns that I do. There’s no reason you should have guessed that, and you aren’t naive when it comes to men like the Russos.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you’re alive and not currently in the organization.”
He smiled then, and I couldn’t help myself. I cupped his face and kissed him. The kiss was soft and gentle, so different from what had just happened between us but just as good. When I finally pulled back, Rogue had a dazed look on his face.
“What was that for?”
“Because I can’t resist you. Haven’t you noticed that by now?”
He smiled, but a moment later, his expression turned serious. “The call was from Teddy Russo. He was my go-between with the Carlottis. The things I did for him… I’m not proud of them, but I had my reasons.”
I squeezed his hand.
“I was trying to help my brothers. I wanted to have money when they came back. It wasn’t all for me. It wasn’t because I saw working for the Carlottis as a quick way to get rich. I’m sure that’s what you assumed, but I—”
“I never assumed that. I assumed you had a good reason, and it sounds like you did.”
I saw some of the tension ease from him when he realized that. “He called me because he wanted me to do another job now that the Russos are taking over the Carlottis’ business.”
“And you said no?”
I tensed when Rogue shook his head. “He threatened my brothers. I’m not going to do the job, but I had to pretend I was long enough to make a plan.”
That I could understand. “What’s the job?”
He looked down, saying nothing.
“Rogue?”
A few more moments passed before his eyes met mine. “The Russos want me to bring you in.”
“Shit. I was hoping I’d have more time before they figured out the team and I were here. What else do you know?”
“Not much. They must be keeping an eye on the ranch because they know too much about us, and they knew you’d been here. I’m guessing they have a contact in the FBI.”
I sighed. “I already suspected that, but now I have more evidence. You don’t need to worry. I’ll make sure Teddy is eliminated before he can cause you any more trouble.”
“He’s not your responsibility. I got myself into this, and I am—”
“Anyone that’s trying to hurt you is my responsibility.”
