Page 24 of Sweet Little Spies

“Absofuckinglutely not,” Tristan said, the idea turning hisstomach. “It’s not happening, Carys.”

The whole room erupted, everyone arguing. The twins thoughtit wasn’t a terrible idea, promising they could train Carys and Aidan. Cooperthought he could watch over them. The parents all thought it was the singleworst idea anyone on the planet had ever had. Lou tried to explain all the waystech could keep them safe.

And Ian sat, quietly watching.

The knot in Tristan’s gut tightened because the truth of thematter was only one person mattered. “Ian, they can’t do this.”

The man he’d called uncle turned his way, his eyes slightlycold. His voice was low, meant for Tristan’s ears only. “You would rather theylose their futures instead of trying to find a real way out of this situation?They won’t forgive you, Tris. This might be your only way out, too.”

“Then they never forgive me.” He’d always known it couldhappen.

Ian’s head shook. “I don’t think they’re going to let youmake the decision for them. Can you address Carys’s question? How long will youkeep them in limbo? How much of their lives are you willing to ask them to giveup?”

Why couldn’t anyone understand? “I’m trying to save them.”

“And they don’t get to decide for themselves?” Ian asked.

“They don’t understand this world.”

Ian shot him a disappointed look and sat back. “Then they’relucky we do.” Ian held up a hand and raised his voice. “Everyone stop.” Helooked at Carys. “Is this what you want, niece?”

Sean’s head fell back. “Damn it.”

“Yes,” Carys replied simply and reached out to her mother.“Mom, I need to do whatever I can to fix this. My cousins won’t let me die.”

“I won’t let you die.” Had she forgotten he was fuckinghere?

“You need to do this?” Grace asked, tears in her eyes.

Carys nodded. “Then I’ll have my life back, and I can figureout what to do with it.”

She’d always known what she wanted. Him and Aidan and aweird family and a career. A house with dogs and a cat. A life they could allenjoy.

He’d burned it down for all of them.

“Then let’s sit down and figure out the op’s parameters,”Ian said, pushing back his chair. “I need to go call Langley and give them anupdate. The rest of you take a break and figure out where you’re bunking downfor the night. Aidan and Carys, you can stay with your parents or at Aidan’s ifCoop and TJ stay with you. Otherwise, I think it would be best for everyone tostay with the twins for a couple of days. When does this conference start?”

The better question was when had he lost control?

“Thursday,” Aidan replied. “We were flying out tonight andstaying at a nice hotel before we joined the group at the compound.”

A brow rose over Ian’s eyes. “This isn’t being held at aconvention center?”

“Like I said, it’s exclusive. We’re staying just outside thecity. Dr. Huisman has a number of guesthouses on his property. It’s more like ameeting of some of the greatest minds in the business. Though we are supposedto get a tour of the foundation,” Aidan explained. “I got the feeling it’s alot of talk around a fire pit and stuff. Exchanging ideas.”

Aidan could get him into Huisman’s home?

There it was. There was a part of Tristan that loved thechase so much he actually excited at the thought. One percent of him. The restwas terrified, but he couldn’t deny the thrill was in there, too.

If they were on this mission, they would also be workingunder him to some degree. No one could cut him out. No one. Not even IanTaggart.

“But I don’t want to work with Tristan,” Carys said in afirm voice, her chin stubbornly up.

“Then you won’t work at all,” Ian replied. “Because he’s thesubject matter expert here, and I’m not in charge of him when it comes to this.Make no mistake. I will take care of you. The team will watch out for you, butTristan’s pulling the strings here.” Ian turned Tristan’s way. “Tell me, whowould you call if I tried to take you off?”

“The director. I would go straight to him.” He wouldn’twaste time moving up the line. The director of the Central Intelligence Agencywas well aware of what he was doing.

“And there you have it.” Ian stood. “Think, niece. You workthis op, you’ll work with him, and you’ll likely have to take some orders fromhim. Now I’ve got calls to make including to Canadian intelligence.” He sighed.“I said that without laughing. My world is dark now. Get something to eat andfigure out your situations. Sean and Grace, Avery and Li, come down to myoffice so we can get the shouting done and I can tell you how I’ll protect thebabies with my balls.”

---