Page 33 of Kept By The Agents

"Good point." I hadn't thought of that.

He nodded and continued. "People who are coerced into helping aren't sticking around once the lead starts flying. We'll be fighting the people who deserve a bullet once that happens."

"Makes me feel better."

"Speaking of feeling better."

"No." I didn't want to talk about apologizing to Cat.

"You're going to have to talk to her sooner or later. She's still holding back. We need her on this mission, need her fully committed. Otherwise she'll insist on leaving, and that'll make her vulnerable to the Raleka. That means you need to settle this."

We both watched as a man strolled by. Something about him had the hairs on the back of my neck rising, so I kept an eye on him until he was out of sight. Everything about this mission had my protective instincts in an uproar.

"Why don't we talk about your plan instead?" I shot him a condescending smile because I was now pushing the way I'd decided not to this morning. If he wasn't going to let me do things in my own time, I wasn't giving him that luxury either.

CHAPTER 15

Brando

As much as I wanted to snap back at him, that was what Suave was expecting. "Alright." I couldn't help the laugh that escaped at the look on his face.

"Okay. What is your plan?" he asked.

"That depends on you."

He waited, walking along with me until I explained.

"If you're willing to share her, and she's interested in our arrangement, I want to make her ours."

A grin spread over his face. "I had a feeling that was the case. Why wouldn't I want to share her?"

"You two were together before we met. You were going to marry her at one point. Just you and her. For all I know, she's off limits to this kind of deal."

Suave sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "I've loved Cat since the day she walked up to me in high school and demanded to interview me for the school newspaper." He shot me a grin. "When I went to tell her that was fine, she didn't wait to hear what I would say, assuming I'd turn her down. She snapped out that neither of us was happy about it, but it was happening."

I chuckled, picturing a younger Cat arguing with a guy twice her size. It wasn't that hard to imagine. I had to give her credit, she was brave. Most women would never go after a sex trafficking ring on their own. Not even to help other women. It was too dangerous if they were caught. She was brave alright, but she was also reckless.

"I knew in my senior year of high school that Cat was going to be mine."

My brows shot up. "Did you ever think you'd go back? Make it up to her?"

"At first," I admitted, "but then time passed and I never found the time and I knew I just needed to move on. So, I tried." I shook my head and sighed. "Seeing her now just makes me realize I never fully did. I still love her. I'd just buried the feelings."

"What made you leave-"

Shouting from up ahead cut off my question. We gave each other grim looks, then broke out in a jog to see what was going on. As we came out of the back alley we slowed to a stop. Men were devastating the farmers market. Shouting, ripping apart booths.

"What the fuck?" Suave asked.

Women were screaming as they ran away from the mayhem. Everyone, except the owners of the stands, was trying to flee. Three men stepped in front of us.

"Inside," one said in Russian.

My nod was barely noticeable, but Suave stepped past them as I did. They closed in ranks around us. More men were ushering the terrified people together into a circle.

"Gather 'round!"

One of the men stepped up onto a booth near the middle of the street. Curious to see what was happening, I led the way into the throng of people. I didn't like our avenues of exit being blocked, but if we had to we'd fight our way out.

---