Page 49 of Shielded Secrets

“How come?” She buttoned up her shirt.

“Because of the day and time. They’ll be aware that others are in the offices. They’ll be aware of the chance of people listening. Yes, they called this meeting sort of last-minute like it’s an emergency to talk, but if they really wanted privacy and secrecy, they’d make it for somewhere else less crowded, without people coming and going.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Those offices are supposed to be their private domain. Irina said she and Vik—” She stopped short, smiling. “Um, never mind. I’m not sharing girl talk.”

Finished with wiring her and making sure she was put together, I led her out of the apartment and met with the Baranov soldier here for backup. I was going to keep my distance and tail her, and he would walk closer to her. Because Kelly had always been such a loner, if Jerome or anyone else was watching her, they’d notice that a man was with her now. I wanted that honor. I wanted the world to see that she was mine or could be mine, but for the sake of her getting closer to the enemies and near a person of interest, we had to keep up the ruse that she was alone.

She reached the offices and went inside like normal, and it was agony to wait outside while she went further into the dean’s suite. The plan was for her to busy herself near Jessica’s office and then make an excuse to Jasmine that she didn’t feel well and needed to leave.

With the comms unit in my ear—hidden by my hair and my hat—I listened in to what the others heard from the van in the parking lot.

And it was a whole bunch of… nothing. Jessica and Owen were talking about academic affairs, normal things I imagined a dean and his assistant would usually discuss. Another man spoke up, and a text from Lev confirmed he was a Petrov dealer, but he wasalso talking about normal things to do with student schedules and such. Unless they were all talking in code, this exercise was a waste of time.

Thank God.

I had higher hopes that Oleg would realize how stupid it was to ask Kelly to be a spy now.

Over the wired connection, Kelly sighed with what had to be complete relief. She’d been so nervous but dutiful to do this part I didn’t want her to have in the first place.

“Coming back to you now, Rurik,” she whispered.

She gave her excuses to Jasmine, who sounded like an uptight and hard-to-please boss. Jasmine wasn’t pleased that Kelly would step out for not feeling well, but Kelly was polite and apologetic.

I didn’t waste any time walking around the building to the back entrance. It was a little more secluded than the large walkway out front, and I waited there for her to return to me.

I couldn’t wait to hug her. I couldn’t wait to tell her she’d done a good job. And hopefully, with this done, we could resume talking aboutusand how she could take faith that being with me wasn’t some kind of a conditional situation.

She appeared at the end of the stairwell, hurrying with her messenger bag flapping at her hip. The second she saw me, she exhaled a long breath I bet she’d been holding. Before we walked over here, she’d been so tense and anxious. It would be my pleasure to help her relax and unravel for the rest of the day. Since she no longer had her job at the bar, and she admittedthat she’d already finished all her school work to pass half of her classes, it seemed her free time could be my downtime.

“Stop.”

She frowned, whipping her head around to look behind her as a man called out and ordered her to stop again.

“I said stop!” he said, raising his voice as he hurried down the steps after her.

Who the fuck is this?

I worried for a brief second that someone knew she’d been recording that conversation. That she was working with the Baranovs. This was her biggest reservation about associating with Eva, with me, with any of us. It was a big deal to say you were with a crime family. It was the fastest way to put someone on the opposite side from the law, from innocence.

“I…” Kelly shook her head, facing forward to reach me. “No, thanks.”

“Hey! I told you to stop.” A security guard landed on the last step then hustled after her. I’d never seen him around before. Even though my presence had been spotty on campus over the last two months, I had made it a goal to identify the campus security members in case they’d give me any trouble.

This new guy, whoever he was, seemed to want to give Kelly big trouble.

“No, thanks,” Kelly said, shaking her head and looking at me. That worry and nervousness had crossed over her face again.

“I’m not asking. I’m telling you to stop.” He jogged after her, his face stern with a glare.

“No, thanks.”

“I’m not fucking soliciting either,” he growled. “Stop right where you are.” Then he reached out and grabbed her arm.

I wasn’t close enough to intervene, but she reacted instantly. Spinning to the left a little, she deflected him and yanked her arm away.

“Get your fucking hand off her,” I threatened as I reached her and pulled her close.

“I’m not talking to you.” He sneered at me, then returned his angry stare to her. “I told you to stop.”

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