The One Who Got Away (Wilde Ways #12) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,49
are taking the standard precautions with your phone and home, correct?”
Antony got that Dex wanted to make sure the call was secure. “You know I have my own tech in place. You’re good.”
“Actually, I’ve been told I’m great. Phenomenal, even, but I am not one to brag.”
“Will you get to the point?”
“I’m sending help your way. You are welcome.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.” If he’d asked for help, Dex would have wanted more favors in return. Nothing was ever free with Dex, and all of the repayments required a ton of interest.
“Yes, you didn’t ask, but we both know you want my help.” Dex’s voice deepened. “You’re mad as hell that someone shoved your girlfriend down the stairs.”
He wasn’t surprised Dex had found out about the attack. “She’s not my—” He broke off. “Mad doesn’t cover it.”
“In case this whole mess is over the heads of the Wilde team, and instead revolves around your work for me, I want someone on scene who can fully understand the situation. Someone in the know, if you will. My agent Jacob will be there shortly.”
Dex was sending in a CIA operative? “How am I supposed to explain him to Ella?”
“I wouldn’t worry overly much about that. I don’t think explaining him will be necessary.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll text you Jacob’s picture. Once you meet him, contact me if you have additional questions. Jacob understands that his job is to primarily stay in the background, so he’ll blend. Blending is his specialty.”
Wonderful for him. “Do you think all this is about the work I do with you?”
“Honestly? No. I haven’t picked up any intel that indicates your cover with me has been blown. But I can’t take chances. Neither can you.” A pause. “What did you find out about the dead man?”
When Ella had fallen asleep the night before, he’d held her for a while. Enjoyed the warm softness of her body against his. Then he’d slipped away to do his work. “His name was Axel Walker. He had a long rap sheet for mostly petty crimes. B&Es, shoplifting. If it weren’t for the fact that someone gunned him down in front of me, I would have said the guy was just looking to mug me, a crime of opportunity, outside of Wilde. But the shooting changes things.”
“Maybe this Axel Walker just pissed off the wrong person,” Dex offered. “Maybe you being there was a coincidence.”
Yeah, right. “Neither one of us believes that, so why even say it?”
“I was merely throwing out options,” Dex murmured. “Did Axel have any known associates?”
“One name kept popping up in my search. A guy from his neighborhood who was arrested with Axel a few times. I’ll be paying him a visit today.”
“I’m guessing the lovely Ella will be at your side?”
Where else would she be? He wanted her close so that he could make sure no asshole shoved her down the stairs again. Shoved her, bruised her, did anything to hurt her. “I want full clearance for her.” The demand just came out. Hard. Rough.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I want full clearance for Ella.”
“And you think you’ll get it because…?”
“She knows I’m a spy. You were at the police station because you wanted to check her out. That means you’re either thinking of recruiting her—which is not going to happen—”
“I would imagine that’s her choice.”
“Or you are already thinking of upping her clearance level because of what’s happening here. Either way, the more I can tell Ella, the better.” He was still half-dressed, and Ella was waiting. He needed to get moving.
“Let me make certain I understand things,” Dex returned. “You want me to give her clearance in order to help your love life?”
“I don’t need love life help from you.” It would be a frigid day in hell before he asked Dex for love advice. “Ella is putting herself on the line for me. She could have died in that stairwell. The attacker rushed right by her when she was stunned on the steps.” He wasn’t backing down on this. “Increase her clearance. I’ve already looked into Ella’s past. I did it when I first hired her. There are no skeletons buried there. She’s safe. You can trust her.”
Silence. The kind that said more than words. Then, finally, “You truly think your precious Ella doesn’t have secrets?”
Dex’s low tone sent alarm bells ringing in Antony’s head.
“How incredibly naive. I thought you were too smart for mistakes like that. Oh, well, you’ll see the truth soon enough.