Page 56 of Marrying a Spy

“Get out,” he commanded.

Sophia glanced over at Noah, who looked as confused as she felt. James was outside, pacing next to the car. Sophia got out and slammed the door.

“You were not safe back there,” James said as he turned to point toward the town.

“And why is that? Who did you bring here?” Sophia held her ground, folding her arms over her chest, and stared James down.

James stopped and eyed her. “You don’t know what you are dealing with, Sophia. These are bad men. More of them are showing up.”

“And you work with them. What does that make you?” She was so mad that she was shaking. How could her father put so many people in danger?

Regret passed over his countenance as he dropped his gaze. “I’m not a saint, that’s for sure.”

She scoffed. “Yeah. Not how I would categorize you.”

Her father winced, and for a moment, she regretted what she’d said. Her father had made a lot of mistakes in the past, but she wasn’t perfect. She’d made mistakes too.

James’s shoulders slumped as he shoved his hands into his front pockets. “You don’t understand. Leaving you was the last thing I wanted to do. I never wanted to hurt your mother or Benny. Or you.” His lips turned down as he closed his eyes.

Was he telling the truth? She wanted to believe him. But her mind was telling her to keep her distance. James Lewis was a liar. He always had been. And even though she wanted him to change, he always would be.

“Then why did you leave? Why did you let it happen?” She stepped back so she could lean against the car. With how hard her heart was racing, she feared that she just might pass out. Saying all of these words out loud scared her. It opened her up to getting hurt.

James turned to study her. “I was a fool. An idiot. I got wrapped up in something that I couldn’t change. If I didn’t leave, they would have done worse. They took your mother and Ben. I couldn’t let them take you too.” She could see the tears brimming his lids.

James looked much smaller than his six-foot frame as his shoulders slumped and his head dropped. He was hurting too. But she couldn’t get over the fact that he’d brought this on himself. She hadn’t had a choice, but he certainly did.

“Then why didn’t you get out? Why did you get into this lifestyle to begin with?”

James scrubbed his face and then studied the ground. She could see him take a few deep breaths before glancing up at her.

“Can we talk about this somewhere else?”

Sophia nodded. “Sure.”

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