“What else?”

“Anything I want.”

“Ugh. I feel so violated. Aren’t there laws against that?”

“I told you, we work outside the law.”

“Well, if that’s true, then why don’t you just take Soren or Izan or whatever his name is out?”

“It’s not that simple. I need to find the diamonds first. Without them, we have no case against Izan. And we can’t risk them falling into worse hands than his.”

“So what are you doing to find them?”

I scrubbed a hand over my unshaven face. “That’s where you come in.”

“Me?” She pointed at her chest.

“Sabrina, I hate to ask this, especially in light of our past, but I need to use our connection to get close to Izan.”

She placed a hand over her stomach and sarcastically laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“I’m not. I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend. It’s imperative I get Izan to let his guard down around me, or at the very least not question why I’m here.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.” She paced the floor, venting her frustrations. “You have a lot of nerve, Cash, or whoever you are. The days and weeks I wasted crying over you. And I kept the stupid doll you bought me, and called every hospital and clinic in Bordeaux looking for you. Meanwhile, I meant nothing to you and—”

That, I wouldn’t have. I set the tablet aside before jumping up and gently grasping her arm, grabbing her attention.

She stilled, her raging eyes fixed on mine.

“Don’t you think for one second you mean nothing to me. My director didn’t want me to take this assignment because he’s well aware of my feelings for you, feelings I should never have had. But there was no way in hell I was going to stand by knowing you were in danger. I know I’m a bastard and you have every right to hate me, but the only reason I’m here is because of you.”

Her cheeks turned the deepest shade of red. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a few inaudible squeaks came out.

I took advantage of her silence. “Will you please help me? I don’t want to see your sister walk down the aisle with Izan any more than you do.”

She took a moment to think, blinking rapidly while breathing heavily.

I knew what I was asking was more than I should, and I hated bringing her along for the ride. But whether she liked it or not, she was already on the train. She had been from the moment her sister got involved with Izan.

Sabrina yanked her arm out of my grasp and stood as tall as she could. “Fine. I’ll help you, but only because I love my sister and I want to protect her. Just know I will loathe every second of it—and you.”

“Fair enough.” It probably wasn’t a good time to mention how much I was going to enjoy it, especially now that I didn’t have to lie to her.

“I’m leaving.” She stomped off.

“You’re forgetting something,” I reminded her.

“What?” she seethed.

“My underwear. Your sister is expecting proof you completed the dare.”

Sabrina turned and gave me a withering glare. “Listen here, buddy. I don’t know what kind of fake arrangement you think this is, but you’d better keep your underwear on at all times around me. Got it?”

“Got it.” I couldn’t help but smile. I liked this fiery side of her.

“Good.” She marched over and swiped a pair of clean underwear off the floor before heading back toward the stairs.

“See you tomorrow, darling,” I teased her.