Page 34 of Smoke and Mirrors

“Now!” Kace roars, causing me to jump.

The men all groan and head out the door.

Luca stops in the doorway. “You know how this ends for her,” he says, his eyes narrowed.

“Fuck off, Luca.”

With that, Luca sighs, allowing Daisy out the door before he pulls it shut behind him.

“How what ends?” I ask nervously, scrunching the bottom of my sleep shirt in my hands. “And who was in my apartment?”

Kace moves to the sofa, lifting it and placing it back up in its right position. “Not sure,” he answers. “I’m working on it.”

I sigh, my body suddenly feeling so exhausted. “Stop talking in riddles, Kace,” I tell him, trying to make my voice sound determined. “This has gone too far. I meet you, and suddenly my life is being flipped upside down. Did this have something to do with you? Was I in danger? Am I in danger?”

His hands clutch the back of my sofa, his fingers digging into the cushion so hard that his knuckles turn white, and veins protrude from his arms.

“I’m an Operative.”

I frown at his back. The tone of his voice made it sound as though it almost pained him to force the words out. I give him a moment, a chance to explain before I realize he isn’t going to offer the information willingly.

“An Operative? What exactly does that mean?”

“I work for a secret division of the government that was developed to fight against the darkness in the world,” he offers this as an explanation, turning his head to watch me over his shoulder.

Laughter bubbles up, and I can’t stop it, the sound cutting through the tense atmosphere of the room. Kace doesn’t smile, though. His expression stays the same.

I start to pace. “Okay. I’ll play. So what… you’re like James Bond? Jason Bourne? All Covert Affairs and secret-agent man working for the CIA and MI6 and stuff like that,” I manage to stifle a giggle.

I’m getting hysterical.

I can feel it.

When Kace doesn’t crack, his face seeming to cringe as he speaks, “Yes.” He turns, leaning back against the sofa, folding his arms as though he’s expecting some sort of backlash which, of course, he’s going to get.

I freeze. “You’re serious.”

“I work at a place called The Agency in a Division called Special Operations Seven or SO7,” he answers, rolling his shoulders.

I unconsciously take a step back. “This is some sick joke. Did Luca put you up to this?” Thinking it’s within his sense of humor to freak me the hell out. “This isn’t funny.”

He steps forward. Instinctually, I move away as he stalks toward me, fire burning in his eyes. “Does it look like I’m fucking laughing?”

I snap back at his sharp tone, my back hitting the wall as he crowds me. “No. This kind of thing… it only exists in movies,” I tell him, pressing myself against the wall, suddenly very aware that if he’s telling me the truth, he probably knows a hundred and fifty-seven ways to kill me. Maybe more.

He laughs, the dark sound sending a chill through me. “Luca, Eli, Axel… we all exist. And we are fucking good at what we do.” One of his hands moves slowly, the roughness of his palm dancing across my flushed cheek. “We live in the darkness so others can bask in the light,” he whispers. “I kill the people who are a threat to their lives.”

“Kill…” The word leaves a bad taste in my mouth. “Y-You kill?”

He nods, his eyes still glued to where his hand touches my skin as though he’s mesmerized. “Some people don’t deserve to live, Lily. They hurt innocent people, get joy out of causing others pain. So, you want to know who I am?” His cerulean eyes burn against my skin. “I’m their karma. I’m the one who brings back the balance.”

I hold my breath, my head swirling.

I can’t have him here.

I can’t be around him right now.

It’s too much, I feel as though I’m drowning.

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