Page 32 of Sweet Little Spies

Aidan groaned at exactly the same time as Tristan, likelythinking the same thing.

Big Tag.

Why did they let the man out of his office?

“What did you do in my beautiful, sparkling clean andsanitary conference room that would lead to my niece needing aftercare?” Ianasked.

Aidan turned, but Tristan was already facing down thebiggest authority figure in all their lives.

“Nothing that hasn’t already been done in there, Uncle,”Tristan said. “My sub was hurting. She needed a session, but she doesn’t wantaftercare from me. I’m pretty much doing exactly what you and my parents taughtme. I’m taking care of the submissives in my charge. Carys requested hercousins deal with her aftercare. I’m sure she would appreciate Lou being there,too.”

Ian’s expression softened. “Should I get her mother?”

Kenzie stepped up. “Absolutely not. She needs her sistersubs, and you know it. Dad, we can handle this part. You try to get Aidan intosome clothes before his parents get worried.”

Kala sent him and Tristan a look capable of freezing fire.“Yeah, maybe the Doms should think twice about causing a scene they can’tcontrol. The parents are freaked enough.” She looked back to her dad. “We’llhandle it. Well, Lou and Kenz will do the sub thing, and I’ll make sure nothinggoes wrong.”

Lou grabbed a bag of chips and a candy bar from herboyfriend’s stash as she followed the twins. “Send Tash in when she gets back.She’s out calling Dare and keeping him updated. She wouldn’t want to miss thegirl time.”

Aidan didn’t want to miss the girl time, but he heard thelock slide into place after the door closed.

Kala would guard her cousin like the precious gift she was.

He never thought anyone would have to guard Carys from him.

“If you want to avoid your dad, you’ll head down to thebodyguard floor,” Ian said quietly. “They’ll have clothes. And a boxing ring,if you need it. You two have to get your shit together. She needs you.”

“She said she doesn’t. She used her safe word,” Aidanreplied, wondering if he really wanted to avoid his da. His da might give himsome advice. He utterly hated how he felt right now. Vulnerable and stupid, buthe hated how she’d looked more. Angry. Desperate. Hollow.

Tristan sighed. “She used it in an emotional fashion. It hadnothing to do with her being hurt.”

Ian’s brows rose.

“Not physically,” Tristan corrected. “She’s not injured.She’s devastated emotionally, which is precisely why she used her safe word.She’s also angry. I need you to understand I’m not letting them go to Canada. Imight be persuaded to allow Aidan to go if he can prove to me he can handlehimself, but Carys is going to a safe house.”

“Sending her away is a mistake,” Ian said with a frown. “Butit’s one you’re going to make no matter what I say. You’re the single moststubborn asshole I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with Ten Smith. Youshould also know once this mission is complete, I’m going to ask the directorto reassign you.”

“It’s probably for the best,” Tristan said. “I’m glad you’renot trying to get me fired.”

Ian’s stare sent a chill through Aidan. He had zero idea howTris was still standing up to the man. “Oh, we both know I likely couldn’t doit. You’re also a ruthless bastard. I approve of ruthlessness. You’re excellentat protecting the parts of your life that are truly important to you. But Iwon’t watch you ruin your life a second longer, Tristan.”

Tristan’s shoulders lowered slightly, his hands comingunclenched and tone softening. “And if I promise to get out? To get off theother teams I’m working for?”

“If you promise to come home and deal with your family, thenwe’ll talk.” Ian turned. “And think about letting Carys be something other thana pretty prize you show off. You ruined her relationship with Aidan when youconvinced him to leave her out. If you don’t fix it, she’ll shut you both out.Especially if you take him and not her. If you shove them both in a safe house,Aidan might have a chance. I like that outcome better than Carys being alone.So I think it’s an either-or situation.”

Ian strode back toward his office.

“And someone better Lysol my damn conference room,” the mangrumbled before walking through the door. “This generation is rude. Someone getAdam on the phone. I’ve got some complaints.”

“I meant what I told Ian,” Tristan said quietly. “I am goingto leave the other teams.”

Sure he would. Aidan strode down the hall leading to thestairwell. He ignored the elevators. He didn’t want to be stuck in a smallspace with Tristan, and he was pretty sure Tristan would follow him. “I don’tcare. I think you should do exactly what Ian told you to do. Send me and Carysto a safe house, and I’ll take care of her. But we need an end date.”

“I thought you wanted to face Huisman. I thought Huisman wassome hero of yours.”

He had. There had been a moment when he’d thought going onthis mission—all three of them—might heal the breach, but he was past the ideanow. Wasn’t he? “Carys means more, and after what happened, I can safely sayshe needs me. She needs me to focus on her and not to get involved in the verything that broke us.”

“We are not broken,” Tristan said.

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