Page 58 of Between Love and Honor

“What kind of proof?”

“I’m not sure exactly. But I do know he was communicating on the dark web with my nemesis of the past three years, the Mariner.”

A sharp breath sawed through his lungs. “Your nemesis?”

“Yes. The arsehole fancies himself an internet broker for secrets and violent crimes. He’ll do anything for the right price. I’ve had to intercept or retrieve many of the items he’s sold. Fortunately, we are always able to take down the buyers. But the Mariner is very slippery. No one has been able to track him down. Yet. But I will get my hands on him. Just you wait.” She grinned at him. “And when I do, he’ll be one sorry twit.”

Ben jumped off the futon and began pacing the small room, his ire building with every stride. “You were the agent sent in to intercede?”

Taken aback by his tone, she stiffened her spine.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His eyes were wild with a mixture of anger and incredulity when he turned to face her. “For crying out loud, Quinn, those people are the worst form of scum.” He squeezed his head with his fingers. “They are terrorists who wouldn’t think twice in abusing and torturing you or killing you.”

“I am more than capable of taking care of myself. Or do you need another demonstration similar to today’s?”

He swore violently before gripping her shoulders and pulling her up to face him. “Damn it, Quinn. Just the thought of you getting within an inch of any of those bastards makes me homicidal. They have no morals. I don’t even want to think about how they would have dealt with you if you got caught.”

“Well, then, isn’t it a good thing I don’t get caught?”

Ben snorted. “You came damn close in Tunisia six months ago!”

The breath stilled in her lungs. “How do you know that?”

His fingers relaxed on her arms before he rested his forehead against hers. She could feel his fierce pulse still hammering his temple.

“You said you couldn’t wait to get your hands on the Mariner. Well, sweetheart, you’ve not only had your hands all over him, but your mouth, too.” His tone indicated he was just as shocked by the turn of events as she was.

“I don’t understand,” she managed to stammer.

Except she did. This place. His skills. The close contact with the Secretary of Homeland. She had sensed he was more than he appeared to be and she’d been right. The Mariner was a provocateur. And a very good one. She’d never once picked up a clue he was one of the good guys.

“We’ve been working together,” she whispered in amazement. “All this time and we never knew it.”

He brushed his lips across her hairline. “Yeah.”

Another realization dawned on her. She stepped out of his embrace.

“Then you’ve already seen the list.”

Ben shook his head. “I haven’t. And I’ve never been asked about it. Not by Ronoff or anyone else.”

“Someone is pretending to be you.”

His expression grew steely. “No, someone is pretending to be the Mariner. No one but you and the Secretary know we are one and the same.”

A warm feeling of pleasure surged within her at the thought of knowing his most guarded secret. He eased them back down onto the futon.

“It’s probably the same person who is selling the list,” she said. “We need to find out who that is.”

He lifted her chin with his fingers. His honest hazel eyes bored into hers and the pleasant feeling grew stronger.

“I like that you used the term ‘we,’” he remarked, his voice husky. “I need you to know you’re not alone, Quinn. Not anymore. We’re in this together now. Trust me.”

She traced her fingers along his arm. “I haven’t trusted anyone in a long, long time. Not since you.”

He shifted her so she was straddling his lap. Her hair formed a curtain around them when she pressed her forehead to his. “Was it real back then?” His whispered words fanned her cheek. “Us? Was what we had real? Or was it just a role you were playing?”

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