behind the group responsible for taking Dina and so many others for that prison-trafficking scheme. I also knew that if I told you what I had planned, you’d prevent me from going after her because it was too dangerous.”
She huffed a laugh and surveyed her hands. “I’m not good at asking permission. I’m sorry. Again, I didn’t work closely with you, get to know you, just to use what information I could secretly glean from you.”
He’d shifted to watch her as she spoke, and as she said those last words, her face colored. Her cheeks grew even more rosy than they were from the cold. Rae hung her head, and he had no doubt what she was thinking about. Every conversation, every thought seemed to come back to their previous investigation—the two of them together a volatile mixture that had reached the flashing point and ignited.
“I’m sorry about everything, Liam. I didn’t mean to use you.”
“You don’t need to keep apologizing. I’m over it.” And her. At least that’s what he would keep telling himself.
She had come into the field office wanting an interview and had somehow ended up talking to Liam, who’d also been tasked with looking into the drug and human trafficking ring. She claimed to be gathering research for an article. Something about her—her deep-seated passion as well as her optimism—drew him to her that first day. They were on the same page in some respects, reaching into the dangerous shadows to pull people out. He saw a passion in her that he once had when he’d first started, but his job had lost its luster. Rae inspired him. Though he was working undercover, they shared information. But going after Malcom Fox—that was his mission, his task. Not Rae’s.
He could still hear the terror in her frantic voice when she called him about Dina’s disappearance. Rae feared she’d been trafficked again.
Then Rae disappeared, leaving Liam feeling helpless. Until he saw Rae bound and gagged—then he hadn’t been helpless. It had all been an elaborate setup to flush out the undercover cop in Fox’s organization. Liam did everything he could to save her, including giving up his cover. In the end, Fox was charged, so all was not lost.
A car sped down the street going much too fast, drawing him back to the present moment.
He said nothing more regarding her apology and explanation. Being here with her almost felt like they had come full circle. Except he’d prefer not to be betrayed and used, but maybe it was more that he reaped what he sowed. Working undercover required him to get close to people, befriend them and gain their trust, all so he could use them for information to catch bigger fish. Rae had been doing her job like he had. That was all. She’d saved a life. He could applaud her for that. Dina had been found.
But had Rae ever cared about him? Some part of him wanted to believe that she had. Or maybe part of him wanted to believe that she hadn’t—so he wouldn’t so easily give his heart up again.
Her eyes shimmered. “She escaped because I followed through.”
“I hear what you’re saying—you’re going to follow this through and hope for the same results. But remember that Dina escaped as you were caught and could have died.”
“I know you risked everything to save me. Please tell me that you know I never meant to hurt you. I never lied to you about—”
“Movement. The sheriff is exiting the building with a detective.” Liam was glad for the break. Their conversation about the past was circular. It could go nowhere.
Rae said nothing for a few moments, then, “He isn’t going to be happy that we’re following him.”
“Nah. He’ll see us and know what we’re up to. I just wish Heath were here. He could make this a lot easier. He would convince the sheriff to let me assist. Or Heath could be the one to go to the house with him.”
“I don’t get it,” she said. “Why don’t you just work for the county, then? You could do a lot of good.”
“Yeah, well, there’s considerably more freedom involved in what I’m doing now.”
“Freedom that’s limiting you. You could just as easily interrogate this guy if you were officially a detective. Detective Liam McKade.”
Hmm. Different from his old title, Special Agent Liam McKade. It did have a nice ring to it. “Well I’m not a detective, and I don’t want to interfere with the sheriff’s investigation. Let’s see