tired and even if she didn’t want to, she’d brought this to Jack’s door. The right thing was to be honest and upfront with him. “They’re after my sister. They think I can find her.”
“Is that why you believe she’s alive, because the cartel told you?” His lips ruffled her hair as he spoke against her head.
Not wanting to, but knowing she needed space to explain this, she pulled from his hold and immediately felt the loss of his body bolstering her bravery.
Jack pulled some slack into his tux pants legs and leaned against the dresser, folding his arms.
“When I went undercover with Ravelino, it was for intel on his drug and arms trade shipments. The longer I was there, the more I realised my handler was more interested in a previous undercover mission, but he wouldn’t give me any details. Then one day Iago visited the house. I hadn’t seen him before, I’d just been dealing with his brother but Iago took a shine to me.”
“What did your handler say?”
“He told me to play along, give him what he wanted and to find out about his previous girlfriend. I didn’t want to do it, that wasn’t part of the job. I signed up as a maid, not to play the part of whore for the Ravelino brothers, but they kept pushing.”
“So, you gave in and played the part.”
Astrid hung her head, the shame of the job she’d done burning a hole in her chest. “Yes.”
She saw Jack’s jaw twitch and could almost hear the grind of his teeth from where she stood as she glanced at him.
“What led you to believe your sister is alive?”
“A picture of Adeline was in one of the rooms beside the bed. She was dressed differently, but it was her, and she was with Juan Ravelino. I started asking around. When I got the chance, I asked my handler about it, but he got angry and said I wasn’t to ask questions, just get the answers he wanted.”
“And those were?”
“He wanted to know the location of one of the brothels in the south of Mexico.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, but when I kept asking questions, they got suspicious, and the agency burned me.”
“Iago found out you were CIA?”
“Yes.”
“Someone tipped him off?”
Astrid sat back on the bed, suddenly exhausted. “I think so, yes.”
Jack’s brows drew together in a straight, stark line; his body taut with what she recognised as his pissed off stance. “Are you going to let me help you now?”
“Yes.”
He opened his arms. “Good. Now come here.”
The stubborn part of her wanted to resist and tell him no man would ever tell her what to do again, but Jack was different. He wasn’t ordering her around because he thought less of her as a fighter or that she was weak, he was, in his own way, trying to offer comfort. Whether that was for her or him, she didn’t know.
Her arms slid around his back, and she felt the muscle against her as he wrapped her up as if she was precious.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was heavy with tears, and she wanted to kick herself for showing too much emotion, but she was tired of hiding.
He pulled back so he could see her face, his hands cupping her neck just under her earlobes, his thumbs caressing her lips. “What the hell do you have to be sorry for?”
“I ruined it all. Now you know how tainted I am.”
Jack’s jaw locked tight, and he looked up at the ceiling before catching her eyes again. “You’re not fucking tainted. You’re perfect, Astrid. You did what you had to do to survive, and that’s not weak or shameful so don’t take that on yourself. You’re a warrior, a beautiful, sexy, warrior princess, and I’m kicking myself that I took so long to see it, but I do see it now. I see you, Astrid, and I want to help. I want us to explore whatever this is between us.”
“I could have said no.”
Tears tipped over her lower lids and caught on his thumbs as Jack wiped them away. “And you would’ve been burned sooner. We both know it and the agency most probably would’ve taken you out. You did what you had to, and the only blame lies with the man who touched you and the man who put you in the position where you had to allow it.”
“You’re a good man, Jack Granger.”
“I’m not sure everyone thinks so. Roz hates my guts.”
“Well, that’s because you and