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“Tell me if you love him.”
13
LYNX
Ihated how confused she looked, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to know whether all was lost, or if after Saint was found and he and I were on equal footing, there was a chance for me to make Emerson mine.
If she loved him, really loved him, I’d do the right thing and walk away. But if she didn’t, I’d know it would be worth it to fight for her.
When she talked about Saint for the second time last night, I wanted to get up and leave like I’d done before, but I couldn’t without stiffing on the bill for my drinks, not to mention how horribly rude it was the first time I did it.
While I’d been the one to say we’d shared a magical night and there would be no others, hearing her agree felt like a punch to my gut. The woman I’d spent the last three years fantasizing about was within my reach, but I could no longer touch her. I was thankful that I’d kissed her yesterday, and more than once. At the time, I never dreamed it would be the last time I would.
When she’d stood and walked away, I felt as though she was taking my heart with her. I spent the rest of the night wishing I could undo all of it and tell Emerson that I cared enough to fight for her—if it came to that.
“Do you, Emerson? Do you love him? If you do, I’ll walk away.”
Her eyes searched mine. “And if I don’t?”
“If you don’t…” Words weren’t enough. I grasped her nape and captured her mouth with mine. When she yielded to me, kissed me with a fervor that matched my own, I had my answer.
She didn’t use words, but with her lips, she told me that, at the very least, I had a chance. I slid my hand down her spine and cupped her bottom, tilting her pelvis so she could feel how much I wanted her.
“Wait,” she gasped, pushing me away. “Paxon and Mr. Ashford are waiting for you.”
I closed my eyes and looked up at the ceiling, silently cursing the meeting we were about to have. “Yes. They’re waiting for us both.”
When we walkedinto Saint’s apartment, three additional men were there, all of whom I’d been briefing earlier when Irish took it upon himself to go directly to Emerson’s apartment. It was something I had every intention of discussing with him later.
“This is my brother, Keon,” I said to her when he approached.
Emerson shook his outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Keon.”
“Most people call me Edge, ma’am.” His eyes met mine, and he smirked, giving me something else to discuss later.
“I’m Grinder—uh, Miles Stone.” Emerson shook his hand too.
“And I’m Cortez DeLéon. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rile kissed the back of Emerson’s hand rather than shake it.
“Are we ready to get down to business?” asked Decker. The man was no-nonsense, something I appreciated a great deal.
“Emerson,” Irish said before I had a chance to speak. “As you’re aware, the CIA and MI6 have been working jointly undercover here and at IPP over the last few months.”
I watched as Emerson processed the information briefed to her. She walked across the room and over to the window.
“These gentlemen,” Irish motioned to my brother, Decker, Rile, and Grinder, “were asked to come on board after the CIA received word of a brush pass between one of our agents and Saint.”
Irish took a step closer to her. “They’re with a private security and intelligence firm. They’ll be leading the mission from this point on.”
Emerson tapped her lips with her fingertip, something I noticed she did often. “What was the mission?”
“To locate Saint and Dr. Benjamin,” Irish answered.
I watched her blue eyes turn a steely gray. “That isn’t what I asked. I said, ‘What was the mission?’ Not what is the mission.”
Irish looked to me, and I shook my head. He’d started this by speaking out when he should’ve deferred to me. He’d dug this hole; he could get himself out of it.
“For the time being, you, Emme, will be working from a remote location, as will I.” For the second time, he didn’t answer Emerson’s question. I could see her anger boiling to the surface. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
