Page 100 of Scarlet Angel

“Are these your properties?”

“Technically, no.”

Her lashes flutter, and I can’t tell if her attention is on the handheld device or me.

“I’m not leaving you.”

A dull pain throbs in the recesses of my skull. I should be out the door, on my way to a meeting with my security team, then off to check on Lina, but I’m sinking into the leather sofa and pulling my topless angel onto my lap. I bury my face into the curve of her neck and close my eyes, breathing her in.

“What is this? You’re not giving up.”

She grasps my chin, pulling me from my haven.

“I’ve fallen hard for you.” She has to see it. “Your safety is paramount. It’s everything.You’reeverything.” My sternum cracks with the admission. “These people…the men they hire are deadly. Once I deal with them, I’ll return to you.”

“I’m not leaving you to fight my war.”

“After this, I’ll let you call the shots for the rest of our lives. But right now, pick your bloody haven. Don’t fight me on this. You won’t win, love.”

CHAPTER25

NICK

“You’re trapped in a den of vipers, mate.”

Nomad’s voice booms from the speaker. I check the rearview and my side.

“Have you got something for me? Are you risking a trace for the thrill of frisking my balls?”

“I’ve convened with some experts.”

“Members of the intelligence community?”

“You could say that.”

Leo? The CIA? An affiliated group? Doesn’t matter, I suppose.

“And?” I flick the blinker and pass an elderly driver sitting far too close to the wheel.

“We’ve got some questions.”

“You’ve got me for ten minutes, tops. Let’s hear it.”

“Any chance you can smooth things over?”

“Would I have bloody well called you if I could sort it myself?”

“Valid. Obviously, it’s a best-case scenario.”

“Next?”

“You splinter the alliance.”

“As you said, they’re vipers.”

“Any of them you trust?”

“The one I trusted most served as a messenger.” And I would’ve said Amir, but now he’s on a different list.

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