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How is all of this possible? Did he lie to me? Why did he lie to me?
A tear slid down my cheek, but I wiped it off immediately. Crying was out of the question. I was also benefitting from this deal.
“Can I have a moment alone with the lady, please?” Jack asked as he rubbed the back of his neck and got on his feet. He swooned on his feet, and Jim turned to him. “Jim?” Jack questioned again.
“Get some rest,” Jim said before he walked out of the room alongside the doc.
Jack and I stared at each other for a long time before he took some steps towards me again and put his hands on my shoulder. “Were you hurt by the sheikh or his men?” he asked as he peered down at me.
I lifted my eyes to hold his gaze, and I shook my head. “No,” I whispered. “I was kidnapped and brought here before that could happen, I guess.”
“Those were my orders.”
“What is all of this, Jack? CIA? Gunshot? You said you had a business deal with the sheikh, and we were supposed to go to dinner after and …”
“I’m an agent, Nina,” he cut in. “But that’s all I can tell you, and I’m sorry.”
He held my gaze without flinching, but I looked away first and nodded before stepping back. My heart ached, and so did my head.
“Right,” I said to him before shaking my head. “I guess I should sit tight and play the role of the good wife then.”
“I’m trying to protect you, Nina,” he said without following me. I turned my back to him and didn’t look back as I walked out of the room and back to where I lay moments earlier.
Jack and I had nothing to talk about anymore, and frankly, I didn’t think it was worth the try. It was clear he didn’t trust me.
Chapter Fourteen
Jack
Fiveminuteslater,Iwalked into the room, and Nina got up to walk out. I stopped her before she could make it out of the door and gently turned her to face me.
“We should talk, Nina.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she answered without meeting my gaze.
“Don’t be so stubborn,” I countered. “I couldn’t tell you that I was with the CIA, and the reason I was coming to Jeddah was to sell out the sheikh. You would have freaked out … you were already freaking out when you are overhead the sheikh’s men talking about arms and deals.”
“Okay, so now you didn’t tell me because you didn’t think I was trustworthy or because I’m a child who would freak out at the slightest secret.”
“That’s not what I mean, Nina,” I said and shook my head. “God, can’t you just understand? I’m under oath not to tell civilians ...”
“Jack,” she stepped and raised a hand in the air. “It doesn’t matter. I thought we had something … or rather, I thought we were building something, but it is obvious I was wrong.”
“You weren’t,” I said, and took her hand again. “This past week has been the best week of my life since you left Denver years ago, and … Nina you must understand that the last thing I want to do is hurt you. Six years ago, I told you—“
“You told me you didn’t want me,” she said, and pulled away from me. “You said it in very few words.”
I remembered the morning after our passionate night too, and I could tell from the pain-stricken look in her eyes that she also hadn’t forgotten.
“I was scared,” I told her. “Ryan’s my best friend and you’re—“
“I’m what?” she asked, and I saw her cheeks flush red, either from her annoyance or the same heat that was flooding me at that moment. “I’m what, Jack, just say it.”
“You’re off-limits,” I answered. “You always have been.”
“You don’t decide that. Not you nor Ryan can decide who I choose to be with or what I do with my life.”
“This isn’t about you deciding, Nina … This is about doing the right thing. I don’t want to ever put you in danger, or see you hurt. I don’t think—“
