looks to Emma and then to me, resolve in her eyes.
“You’re a smart man, Nathan. You know how to use your resources under the table, behind closed doors, and turn people to your side even when they know it’s not the smart thing to do.”
I get the feeling she’s not talking about my business dealings anymore but about how I used Emma to get FBI info. She’s smart, though I wonder when she figured out that Emma was telling us both everything.
She turns to Kyle. “I did my homework on you after our meeting. I know your type, your style. Don’t go in guns blazing. Subtlety is sometimes the most effective and efficient style of warfare.”
Standing up, she slaps the laptop closed, pulling out an SD card and handing it to me. “The docs. It seems I’ve got quite a bit of work to do to cover my own ass with my missing partner. You’ve got about twenty-four hours before people start looking into him. I’ll do my best to make sure what they find doesn’t lead them to your doorstep. You do your best to make sure he’s never found.”
I nod and offer her my hand, knowing what it cost her to say that. “Thank you.”
She takes it but pulls me close, squeezing the life out of my hand. “Hurt her, and you’ll be the one lying dead in your kitchen.”
She leaves and the tension fills the room once again.
Suddenly, our ragtag team of four is back at the plate. I ask the question first. “What do you want to do?”
Kyle looks from me to Carly, his eyes hard, and I know his answer even before he gives it voice. “I’m done. You have balls in play still, but I feel like I can step away. I’ve got the answers I wanted and the justice I needed. The man who pulled the trigger paid with his life, which was my goal all along. Anna would want me to move on, and I’m going to honor her by doing that. With Carly.”
I nod, understanding his role in this. He didn’t sign up for international conspiracies just to avenge his dead fiancé and baby . . . and he’s done so.
“I can respect that, but it seems I can’t do that. Not yet.”
Kyle frowns, looking uncomfortable but set in his decision. “I know. Sorry. For everything.”
He stands and pulls Carly to her feet with his good arm. “We’ll get out of your way.”
I stop them, holding out a hand. “Plenty of bedrooms upstairs. It’s been a long day, a really fucking long day. Just crash here. You’re safe.”
Kyle laughs darkly, lifting an eyebrow. “Safe? You’ve had two breeches in the last twenty-four hours.”
I snort at the dig. “True, but I figure with both me and you around, we’re a lot better off. And still safer than a Holiday Inn. Higher thread count too.”
Emma and Carly grin, and even with the pendulum swinging over my head, there’s a moment of levity. Carly steps forward, hugging Emma tightly and questioning her. “You sure? 110% pinkie-swear you’re sure about him?”
Emma looks back at me and then smiles big at Carly. “Abso-fucking-lutely. You sure too?” She stage-whispers, “He’s kind of a monster, you know?”
Carly’s smile is pure devilment, her eyes sparkling as she bobs her head up and down. “You have no idea. This is the trained version. I’ve domesticated him to this level with pure focus and never-ending steadfastness, even when he tried to push me away.”
I swear I see the slightest blush on Kyle’s face, but he doesn’t seem the type to get embarrassed about any damn thing. I decide it must be a trick of the light when he swoops Carly up and tosses her over his good shoulder.
“Which way?”
Though Carly is screeching, she seems to be right where she wants to be, or at least on her way to it. “Upstairs, second door on the left. Not right. That’s Caleb’s room when he stays over.”
I would not want my brother walking in on what I suspect is about to happen.
Chapter 45
Kyle
I meant what I said. I’m done with the past. Done wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing, in pain and misery.
I have been reborn in her eyes, and like any born-again convert can tell you, there is freedom in that new beginning.
I toss Carly to the bed, not even taking notice of the fancy shit that surrounds us.
All I see is her. All I am is the me that she sees, a