Page 87 of Gilded Saint

I’ve never questioned Nick’s background. He’s an Oxford boy. Well-educated.

“Have I ever told you MI6 recruited me?” he asks.

“No.” If I’ve been monitoring a British asset for the last five years, I’ll strangle Jack Sullivan. I breathe that flash of anger away and ask, “You turned them down?”

“Something like that.”

“Ever regret it?” I have no idea if I’ve landed in safe waters or if he’s still baiting.

“No.” He pushes up and stares out the window into pitch black. Although, perhaps from where he’s standing, he can see the stars. “I’m more effective at maintaining world order in my current position.”

“World order?” Narcissistic much?

“Financial stability,” he explains. “There was a time in our human evolution where sex made the world go round. Hence the reason marriages served as currency. Those times have changed. Sex is readily available. In modern times, gold churns the earth.”

Given I’m in an arrangement with someone who was bartered by her father, I’m not sure I completely agree with him. But the essence of his philosophy rings true.

“How did you end up at the syndicate?”

“Luck.” He slowly turns. “I’m a lucky man.”

He may harbor suspicions, but he has no evidence.

His references to Willow don’t sit well with me. I need to know she’s safe. I push up from my chair and flatten my hand across my midsection, smoothing my shirt.

“Was there anything else?”

“No.”

“Then I’m going to go check on my wife. Take stock of the damage from an afternoon spent with Lina.”

He gives the slightest of nods, but it’s enough to take as permission. My fingers touch the cool metal knob, as he says, “Saint.”

I twist the knob and cock my head to better hear him. “What was that?”

“Keep an ear out for that name.”

“Will do. You have my word.”

Chapter29

Willow

The door creaks, and I peer into the darkness.

“Leo?”

“Hey,” he breathes. The door clicks closed. “Heard you had quite the day.” The mattress sinks with his weight. He caresses my cheek. “Still stoned?”

“Oh, my god, it was not like that.”

“No?” He grins. “How was it?”

“Lina smoked a joint. She passed it to me like twice.”

“Like?”

“I did not get stoned.”

---