Page 91 of Taming Achilles

Athanya took a deep breath, and stepped back, her partner stepping with her. Fucking muppet.

“I’m glad you both had body armour,” she said with a raised brow as if she knew something that we didn’t. She probably did. An intelligence officer, huh? That was intriguing. Would be, at least, if I wasn’t mad for the bampot hen in the room we had just left.

It was like saying goodbye to Simona all over again. Because the professional relationship was done, and I felt no need to continue speaking to the lovely Athanya anymore. And I don’t think her hovering partner would stand for it anyway.

I put out my hand to the woman, and she shook it.

“Pleasure working with you, Athanya,” I told her. And she smiled, giving me a nod but saying nothing.

She turned and walked away, her partner giving me a rotten look before training behind her like a puppy.

When they were out of sight, Pip’s door opened, but it wasn’t her that came out. It was that pest, Lea.

“She’s getting discharged tomorrow,” she said without preamble. “We need to take her to see Rhodes before we take her home.”

“Are you mad?”

“Are you forgetting that she’s a professional, with skills you don’t have?” Lea said, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t discount her competence just because you love her.”

“I know that, but she should be resting.”

“She should be doing what she does best.” She countered.

“What’s that?”

“Interrogation. That’s her specialty.” Lea smiled. “Or didn’t you know that?”

“No, I didn’t.” I admitted with some embarrassment. “How did you know?”

“You found out your girlfriend was an MI6 covert agent and you never asked what her specialty was?” Lea shook her head in disappointment. “Men really are useless. They see a vagina and are just struck dumb, aren’t they?”

“Hold on, I don’t like what you’re accusing me of,” I squared up to her. “I have never treated you with anything …”

“You’re not obsessed with my vagina, though.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re obsessed with hers. And because of that, you’re overlooking what she is capable of doing. You want her to interrogate him.”

My foot started shaking, tapping on the ground and making my thigh shiver. I didn’t like it.

“He just shot her. What if …”

“You think she’s weak?” Lea looked annoyed.

“No, of course not,” I said, “But I just found out she was an agent a few days ago, so forgive me for …”

“Get over it.” She interrupted. “It’s not about you. It’s about her. It’s her problem. Her life is on the line, not yours. So get over your feelings and move the fuck on because she doesn’t have time.”

We weren’t talking about interrogating Rhodes. We were talking about killing her father again. About eliminating Victor for her. But that was a choice I wasn’t ready to make yet. It was a decision I couldn’t make until I knew how it would affect Pippa. My future wife.

“Also, she’s pissed at you,” Lea said, her face getting even more annoyed, if it was possible. “Did you flirt with the detective?”

I massaged the bridge of my nose as I felt a headache coming on.

“It’s not like that …”

Lea tutted, and walked back into the room, sparing me one glance before the door closed between us. So much for our friendship. She had obviously taken sides in this relationship, and somehow, Pippa had won out again.

Chapter 44

Pippa

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