Page 54 of Poison Evidence

The thought of erasing her baby’s memory caused her to shudder, but she nodded.

“I’m sorry, Ivy.”

And she knew he was apologizing for so much more than the idea of deleting precious data. Because hegother. Probably better than any man she’d ever known. He’d researched her to the nth degree—hell, he even knew her favorite wine and had stashed it in the cave. Her gaze flew to his. “The wine. Did you put it here hoping to seduce me?”

“Not seduce. Just a comfort. I figured you’d be hostile. Afraid. The wine is as much an apology as anything.”

She nodded. His words rang true.

“If I could find the AUUV without involving you, I would.”

She grabbed his shirt with both hands. “And if I could finish what you’ve started withoutyou, I would.”

“If you were to do that, then two people who matter to me very much would die.”

She’d suspected as much. What would happen, in the end, if she had a chance to take the AUUV from Dimitri? Could she make that decision?

She had no answers, only more questions and the uneasy feeling that before this was over, she’d be asked to make more impossible choices.

She rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Brief. Chaste. “Thank you, for the apology. And the wine.”

“Do you trust me, Ivy?” His voice held the same pained edge that had infused the question when he’d asked it before, as they stood in this exact same spot, right after he’d seduced her with words.

“No.” She gave him a wry smile. “But I’m willing to consider a heartless screw.”

“No, thanks. Not with you.”

She released him and stepped back. “Well then, time to set up CAM and RON. Bring the maps. I want you to tell me everything you remember about the corals and wreckage and geology you observed on your dives as you searched for the AUUV. I can calibrate CAM using your charts and first-hand knowledge.”

Ian Boyd opened the door of his small house in Maryland and faced his boss, Keith Hatcher, and the ultimate owner of the company he worked for, Alec Ravissant. He didn’t bother to hide his surprise at the unannounced early morning visit.

He’d met Rav many times in the months since he started working for Raptor, but it had always been in a social capacity, outside of Raptor business. Rav, the junior senator from Maryland, had to stay out of Raptor business, which was why he had Keith.

They most frequently crossed paths at JT Talon’s private gym in the heart of DC, where Ian and his small group of new friends sparred on a regular basis. Cressida had been his ticket into the unofficial club, and he’d been surprised at how much he enjoyed being a member.

That the two men had showed up at his house at eight a.m. without calling first didn’t bode well. Official Raptor business happened at the office. But then, Rav couldn’t be there. So this couldn’t be official.

“Sorry to drop in like this,” Keith said.

Cressida peeked into the entryway, and her mouth formed a surprised O at seeing their guests. “This is about Ivy, isn’t it?” she asked.

Alec gave a sharp nod. Ian had to wonder how the man was holding up, knowing his cousin was in trouble. It had been a tense time all around. Cressida and Ivy had become close, but for Alec, Ivy was family.

To Ian, Keith said, “Alec needs your take on the situation, as a former CIA operative.”

“Can I stay?” Cressida asked. “I don’t have the security clearance…”

“Sorry, Cress,” Keith said. “This is off the books, but still, there are rules we can’t break.”

She nodded. “I understand. There’s a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen. I’ll grab a mug, then get out of your way.”

She led everyone into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Ian caught her waist before she left the room. He held her gaze for a long moment, then kissed her forehead. He’d tell her what he could, but she knew he had to respect the limits of the job. He might not work for the CIA anymore, but he still held to the rules, and there were oaths he’d never break.

She smiled and nodded. She understood.

He watched her walk down the hall to their bedroom, enjoying the sway of her ass. Eight months they’d been together, and he still wondered how he’d ever hesitated, why he’d even considered walking away from her. She was the family he’d never known he needed and everything he couldn’t live without.

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