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I did care about the past. I cared a whole fucking lot about it. I wanted to know everything that fucker did to her. I wanted to know where she grew up, what she dreamed of being as a child. The file that they had given me was filled with the story she gave everyone else, but I yearned to know just how much of it was real and how much of it was to help cover up her identity.
But I didn’t yearn to know because of the job… I yearned to know because ofher. Because of the little agent who, above all odds, seemed to make me feel things for her that Ireallyshouldn’t.
“Who knew you could get so romantic?” she said with a small smile. My face heated.Was it romantic or cowardly?
“Sit the fuck down,please. If your stomach growls again, I’m afraid the whole house will crumble from the ferocity of it.”
She walked to the table with a newfound skip in her step. I didn’t have to force her to eat, and I was irrationally happy when she moaned after taking a spoonful.Thank God.When I took a sip of my own, I couldn’t help but grimace. It certainly wasn’t awful, but I could do a hell of a lot better if the fridge was stocked.
“Better than your mom’s?” I asked hesitantly.
“Waybetter,” she said, then paused. “I’m sorry that I said I hated you.”
Her words caused me to freeze. I hadn’t really thought twice about them since she said it. Her apology hurt even more than the original words.
“You should hate me,” I muttered. “It would be easier for the both of us.”
Hate me. Yell at me. Throw me out and never speak to me again. At least then I would be forced to leave or make a quick decision. If it continues on like this, I won’t be able to pull myself away from her.
“It hurt your feelings,” she said. “I saw it.”
I pursed my lips, not at all wanting to have this conversation.
“I knew you were lying,” I admitted after a moment. Did it hurt? Did it hurt for her to look at me with so much hatred and pain that I couldn’t think of anything other than falling to my knees and begging for her forgiveness?
“Doesn’t stop it from hurting,” she said. “I just… I don’t know what to do with you.”
Hell, I didn’t know what to do with her.
“Enjoy the time we have together,” I said with a shrug. “Regardless of everything, I don’t think I can stay away from you. Nor do I want to.”
The rising blush on her face caused warmth to spread across my chest.
“Yet you still don’t want to know more about me,” she muttered.
“Ido,” I said with a force I hadn’t meant. “I didn’t mean to insinuate that I didn’t.”
“At least let me tell you my real name?” she asked, her eyes brightening. “Then when you remember me, you can know therealme and not this… cover.”
I shrugged. I would remember her as the emerald-eyed, shy little agent that changed what I thought I knew about myself, her real name didn’t matter.
“Only if you want.”
She sat back with a smile.
“Yates is my grandmother’s,” she said. “Hughes was my father’s, but before I changed my identity, I was officially Tiffany Crowe. Honestly, I’m glad for the name change. They all just sound so—Quinn?”
No. No. No. No. No.
I froze as soon as I heard that name. I knew Russell was connected, but never did I think they would share the last name.No. Please can the world just go back in time, even for a few seconds?
I cursed the universe for dropping this on me. Cursed Rolf for putting me in this situation.
But most of all I was cursing myself because even after everything, I opened my mouth and asked, “What do you know about Alec Crowe?”
Blake
She knew more than she was letting on.
