intended to lure me out?
“Back door,” I said. “I need to make sure the place is clear.”
“Oh no. I left the door unlocked. I just… I thought you… I heard a yell, and…”
He’d come to save me. I wanted to pull him to me and kiss him again, but I couldn’t do that until I knew we were safe.
When we reached the back door, I debated having Ezra wait in my car, but if someone came for him when he was alone, his chances were worse than they were with me, even if someone was in the shop. “Stay behind me. I need to know you’re going to listen to me so I can focus on protecting you.”
“I will. I’m sorry I…”
“Shh.” I kissed the top of his head. “You didn’t know.” Maybe I should tell him everything now. Was I absolutely sure I could trust him?
Yes.
I hadn’t been paying close enough attention with the man Swain had planted in my shop. When I thought back on it, the signs were there that he wasn’t trustworthy. I’d been stupid, but I was more alert now.
Ezra stayed behind me. He was tucked against the side of the building. Once I could tell the back entryway was clear, I took his arm and pulled him inside, making sure to shield him with my body.
I worked my way through the shop, ensuring Ezra was protected every time we moved into a new space.
There was nobody there, but on the front desk there was a handwritten message held down by one of my tattoo machines. Anger surged through me at the thought of some bastard touching my equipment.
All the note said was, “I will win.” It was signed “S.”
Fuck. One of his men had been in here. If Ezra had stayed put… I couldn’t think about that. I had to focus on keeping him safe now.
“Let’s go.”
“Who left the note?”
I shook my head. “You’re better off not knowing.”
“Why did you hire me if you knew it would put me in danger?”
That was a damn good question. I hadn’t expected Swain to target him. I was getting damn fucking tired of being outmaneuvered by that bastard. It was time to get more aggressive. I’d been holding back, playing the long game. This needed to end now.
“I didn’t know. I should have. This whole damn thing…”
Ezra laid a hand on my arm. “What is it? What are you involved in?”
“We need to get out of here.”
“I want you to tell me what this is about first.”
I exhaled. He was so fucking persistent. “A very bad man needs to be eliminated.”
“I need more details.”
“Later.”
He glared at me. “Now.”
Why was he choosing now to be so fucking stubborn? “You had it right the first time.”
He looked at me quizzically, then his eyes widened. “You’re a spy?”
“Former CIA.”
“So this isn’t…”
“No, this isn’t a sanctioned mission. I do… contract work now.”
He seemed to mull that over for a moment. “Who do you work for?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“How can I trust you if—”
I used my hand on his chin to tilt his head up and held his gaze, trying to let him see the real me. I wasn’t even sure I could do that anymore. I could joke around with friends, tell myself that the relaxed, fun man I was with them was the real me, but the truth was, after years of pretending, I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
I had done a lot of fucked-up shit. I’d killed, tortured, and lied to people to gain their trust. I still did those things, but now I only lied to those who deserved it or to protect people. That hadn’t bothered me until now. I didn’t want to lie to Ezra, but it wasn’t just my secrets I held.
I couldn’t tell him everything, and I hadn’t been lying when I’d said that the more he knew the more danger he would be in. Swain already had Ezra in his sights, and knowing the business he’d been involved in, I could only imagine what he had in mind for this beautiful young man.
“You can trust me. My number one priority is keeping you safe.”
“This man you’re after, did he send those men tonight?”
“Yes.”
He bit his lower lip. “And if you hadn’t…”
“They would’ve either killed you or taken you, but I won’t let that happen.”
“You said he’d done terrible things. What kind of terrible things?”
He needed to know enough to grasp how serious this was. “He takes young, vulnerable men and women