Page 34 of Arrogant Bastard

“The extras will arrive at zero six hundred,” Eric confirms.

I swallow the rising bile and remind myself of the need to use honey to catch bees. “They’re all over eighteen, right?” I blurt. “And they all consented?”

Eric, whose name I suspect is false, gives me a peculiar look. It’s not the first time I’ve asked this question. And, unlike my previous assignment where I followed orders without question, I’ve probed the ins and outs of this assignment to the point where I run the risk of being insubordinate. But there’s too much at stake.

“Fully verified,” he answers after a few tense seconds, and sends a narrowed-eyed, what the fuck? glance at Killian. “And, no, they won’t be doing anything they’re not already doing in their regular jobs. With the exception of one or two of them. But you don’t need to worry about that.”

I open my mouth to question this new piece of information. Killian shifts in his seat. And because I know, again, that it’s unusual for him—I’ve never known the man to fidget, ever—I decide not to push my luck, and close my mouth. He’s trying to protect me. There are those who believe he’s risking his career and safety by vouching for me for this assignment. I’m still relatively new to the game, and this operation has been a long time in its execution. If I fuck up, it won’t be just my ass on the line. I can’t do that to the team or to Killian, especially when I know why he went the extra mile for me on this occasion.

This mission is personal. Eric and a few others have been dubious about my motives from the start, but I’ve only confirmed my true intention to Killian. Well, it was more like he laid the evidence before me and I didn’t deny it.

He knows I’m doing this for Julia. My sister.

“Faith?”

Shit. I spaced out for a second. I refocus to find both Killian and Eric staring at me. I nod briskly. “Got it. Thanks, Eric.”

He looks a little skeptical, but he returns my nod and leans forward to disconnect the feed. I feel Killian’s stare but I keep my eyes trained on the dark monitor.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble.

He doesn’t speak for a long time, and my skin tightens in mild panic.

“Look at me.”

Double shit. Those three words never bode well for me. It normally precedes a chewing out or a super-intense fucking guaranteed to leave me a babbling wreck.

While I would much prefer the latter right now, I’m about to get the former. I grit my teeth and face him. The considerate lover who worships me is nowhere in sight as he stares, tight-jawed, at me. “What the fuck were you thinking, asking questions like that?”

“I wanted to be sure.”

“No, what you were doing was handing Biggins the excuse he needs to throw you off this assignment. If you have questions, then ask me. Let me give you the assurances you need. Don’t you trust me?”

My hesitation sends him rushing to his feet. The chair he was sitting in powers back and hits the wall of the secret room we’re using as a communications base in the villa. “Shit, Faith, you’re scaring the shit out of me. You barely slept last night, and you’ve been jumpy all day. Maybe I should think about pulling out of this op.”

I surge to my feet too. “No! You can’t.”

Cobalt-blue eyes glare at me. “Like hell I can’t. I’m your superior. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

I take a breath to calm myself. “You know I haven’t been on board with using such young escorts at the party. But we’ve put months into it. We’d be stupid to pull the plug now.”

“We’ve been over security a hundred times. They’ll be protected. But if you can’t trust me enough to get your head in the game, then there’s no point. I’d rather we be stupid than dead. Maybe we need a few more weeks, just to get your head straight.”

“No. Absolutely not. Weeks means more children, Killian. Sold to dirty assholes to ruin or worse. If I can’t sleep now, you think I’ll be able to function then?”

“Do you think I can sleep at night worrying that going in before you’re ready can get you hurt? You think I’ll be able to live with myself if something happened to you?”

“Nothing will happen. I promise. I just got a little off, that’s all. I’m okay now.”

He paces back and forth in the room. Rubs his hand over his stubble. “No. I can’t risk you, Faith—”

“Please, Killian. I can do this.” I keep my voice low and even. Getting hysterical now will lose me even more valuable ground.

He stares at me for an age. I force myself to remain still, knowing in my bones that, as much I want to employ other means to bring him around, trying to use sex to convince him will be the absolute wrong move.

He finally exhales. “We’re going to spend the rest of the afternoon going over every single detail again. Get one fucking detail wrong, and we’re getting back on the plane and going home. Got it?”

I nod.

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