Page 97 of Black Sheep

I exhale and redirect my attention to Malone. “The parameters of your assignment have changed.”

Street-hardened eyes meet mine without surprise. “I had a feeling this was coming.” He sighs. “So this is it? You’re firing me?”

“No. I’ve found someone else who can do a better job on the Bearwood Lake thing. But I need you to concentrate on something else.”

He perks up. “Sure. What is it?”

I slide the list of names on my notepad in front of him. He reaches for a pad and scribbles down the four names on it then looks up. “Who are they?”

“Ex-mercenaries employed by MMFR International on military contracts. There were twenty strong. They’ve all gone underground. But these men were in charge of the outfit.”

“Something else to do with Finnan?”

My jaw clenches. “Everything is to do with Finnan.”

He eyes me for a beat, carefully composing his words. “And you’re hoping these men will further your…crusade?”

My mouth twists. “Crusades are not my thing, but…yes.”

“And if they can’t be found?”

“You buffering yourself against defeat even before you’ve taken a first crack at the job?”

“Hey, I’m a pragmatist. Bright sides are for Disney Princesses.”

“Okay, here’s a little pragmatism for you. Find the men within the week or you will be fired. How’s that?”

“That’s…fair.”

I rise and button my jacket. He’s back to doing his meerkat impression as I walk away.

Cleo is finishing her drink when I reach her. Intelligent blue eyes dart to Malone for a second. “He looks like a cop.”

My knuckles trail her arm, the knowledge that I’m unable to stop touching her a living truth inside me. “Because he is. Not a very good one so far, but I live in hope.”

“In hope for what?”

“That he’ll find me the answers I seek.”

Her eyes widen into watchful pools, and a trace of color leaves her cheeks. “An-answers to what?”

I open my mouth to tell her then caution myself. She still has a connection to Finnan. A connection she refuses to divulge. A connection that might put her in harm’s way should he find out what I’m up to.

Arctic fury sizzles along my spine at the thought of Finnan harming her again.

“This will be over soon, Cleo. In the meantime, you’re going to have to trust me on a few things.”

A virtually impossible request if the look in her eyes is any indication.

“I…I don’t know that I can, Axel,” she whispers brokenly.

A wave of pain hits me like a body blow, knocking the wind out of me.

Jesus, what am I thinking, asking her to trust a murderer? Isn’t it enough that she doesn’t run screaming from me every time I come near her? That she allows me to touch her? Fuck her?

For how long though? Will there come a time when she won’t? The very idea of that slashes me wide open.

I note the light tremble in my hand as I caress down to her wrist. When my fingers mesh with hers, I’m gratified that she doesn’t pull away. “Fair enough. But know this: I’m doing everything I can to ensure that you remain safe. Is that good enough for you?”

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