Page 53 of Marrying a Spy

Noah shook his head. He couldn’t believe James. “We’re not the same, and you know it. I’m protecting lives, you’re taking them.”

“At least I’m being honest. I’ve done dirty things. I’ve worked for a horrible man. I’m not going to delude myself into thinking I’ve hurt my daughter for a higher purpose. I’m protecting her from the man I’ve become.” Noah felt James’s gaze on him. “Can you do the same? Protect her at all costs?”

Noah massaged his temples as James’s words washed over him. He’d been so convinced when he took this assignment that he could separate his feelings from his work. That protecting other people’s lives was worth his personal happiness. Besides, he couldn’t offer Sophia a happy, white-picket-fence kind of life. He was as far from that as one could possibly get. So why had he allowed himself to fall for Sophia?

Because he was selfish. He’d put his own wants above Sophia’s safety. He sighed as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

“You’re a good kid, Noah. If circumstances were different, it would make me happy to know that my daughter had a guy like you in her life. But we can’t change our pasts. We have to live with our choices, good or bad. It’s hard and it hurts, but we gave up our right to a quiet life when we made dangerous decisions.” James munched more sunflower seeds.

Noah just kept his eyes closed as he listened. James was right. About all of it. And it hurt to admit that he was at the same level as a criminal when it came to being a part of Sophia’s life. Neither of them deserved her. Now, if only he could get his heart to understand that.

Thankfully, his phone rang, saving him from James’s prying questions. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled it out and pressed the talk button.

“Hello?” he asked, not really looking at who was calling.

“Noah?”

Noah sat up. “Scott?” Why was he calling?

“Where are you?”

He sighed as he turned to look at James. “I’m sitting next to James right now.”

There was silence on the other end. A worried feeling began to grow in Noah’s stomach.

“Why?” Noah asked.

“We have some intel. This mission might be compromised. There’s word that Kingpin is not happy with James being there. Sophia might be in danger.”

Noah’s heart began to hammer in his chest.

“You need to get her to a safe house, and we can figure out where to go from there.”

Noah nodded. The tone of his voice must have tipped James off because he had stopped chewing and was watching Noah. “We’ll get her out.”

Scott sighed. “Do it quietly. We need to salvage what we can. We won’t get a change like this again.”

“Will do.” Noah hung up the phone and then glanced over at James.

“Who was that?” James asked, but Noah could tell he already understood the situation.

Noah took a deep breath. “Sophia’s in danger.”

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