Page 16 of The Spy Ring

SIX

Jagger

“You’re not Jagger?”Tiffany’s cute little forehead crinkled.

I kept glancing back to see if her friend, Morgana, was about to return but she hadn’t appeared. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed that she wasn’t coming back yet.

“Yes, I’m Jagger Chance. I mean, not exactly. Shit, I shouldn’t have said that.” I ran my hand through my hair.

This was much harder than anything I had ever done. Infiltrating the Luciano family and learning Italian in less than two weeks was easier than telling Tiffany I was her husband.

“How could you be and not be Jagger Chance? That doesn’t make sense. Did you change your name?” Tiffany said but right after she spoke her eyes widened.

She straightened her back, and I realized she was remembering. What happened in Vegas was finally coming back to her. But how much? Because I said some things when I was drunk that I shouldn’t have. Thankfully, Katlin can’t get reports on that, unless Tiffany tells someone—specifically, someone in the government.

Shit.

“Yes, I did, but that’s not what I came here to talk to you about. As I can tell from your expression, you are starting to figure it out. Now, in my defense, I had a little too much to drink. I’m sorry. But that’s why I’m here, to rectify it,” I said as I lifted the papers in the air.

“I don’t care if you were inebriated. That’s no excuse.” Tiffany scowled and pressed back into the leather booth seat.

“Look, if we could go somewhere private to talk, I could explain what happened.” I reached for her arm, trying to push out the memory of how her earlier touch sent a shiver straight to my cock.

She stumbled to her feet but stretched over the table to grab her purse before stepping back. “No, we cannot go anywhere to talk. Why would I want to be alone with someone like you? Did you think you could trick me, too? When you showed up at my door, ready to do what you do best, you felt a little sympathy for the single mom with a kid that required extra help? I guess you think I should be thankful for that?”

“No, I mean, I was there to—”

“Save it.” Tiffany held up her arm. “I’m going to leave right now and call the police, so no one has to be hurt by you ever again.”

I began to stand and stop her but as I did, I saw two women come through the front door of the bar. Both women had the power to make this so much worse than it already was.

My heart picked up speed and my training kicked in. I appraised the room to find an out. Unfortunately, the only other way out was through the back hallway that led to the bathrooms and the kitchen—the same hallway Morgana was now exiting.

I was trapped.

My only alternative was to find the less dangerous of the two escapes and take that route. At least, for some reason I couldn’t understand, Morgana didn’t remember me from Vegas, either. We all drank at the bar, walked around the strip, and eventually ended up at the chapel together. Morgana was the witness that signed the marriage certificate.

Yet, both women didn’t remember me. They hadn’t appeared drunk when I met them at the bar that night, but I guess they both were drinking for a while before I came.

I turned toward the Morgana escape route and made my way toward the back.

“Are you all done speaking with Tiffany?” Morgana asked as she met me just outside the hallway by the corner of the bar.

“Yes. And I wanted to discuss something with you, but I don’t want Tiffany to find out. Do you mind if we move back here to talk?” I pointed toward the hallway from where she came.

“Okay.” She tilted her head in confusion.

As I leaned against the wall between the men’s and women’s bathroom, I looked down at Morgana with a serious expression. “Tiffany told me what you two had been discussing.”

This was one of the tricks I learned as an agent. If you wanted information out of people, pretend as if you were included in their secrets and discussions. If a person felt safe with you, they would reveal everything.

“Really? Well, I guess if you are David’s physical therapist it makes sense she would talk to you about it.”

Nodding, I rubbed my chin. “Of course, it does. That’s why I’m here. What do you think about it, in regard to David, of course.”

She shrugged. “Tiffany would know her son better than anyone, but Henrik, my fiancé, felt he would be able to stand throughout the ceremony. I don’t think Henrik would have thought of forcing David to stand throughout the ceremony, as a groomsman, if he didn’t think he could handle it.”

“Tiffany doesn’t think David could stand as a groomsman during the course of the ceremony because of his strength?” I asked just to be clear I understood.

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