Page 104 of When He Defends
“Emerson,you know it’s going to be bad.”
Emerson pulled in a deep breath. She tried to control the rage that made her fingers want to shake. She hadn’t expected Cass’s bombshell. No, dammit, shehadexpected it. Feared it. But actually getting confirmation… “We both could have died when she blew our cover.” Her own mother, putting her in danger. Worse,putting Gray in danger.There were some sins that could never be forgiven.
“Technically, that prick ex of yours blew it.” His eyes never left her face. “I already have an agent digging into his records because I figured he’d been the one to sell us out. Thought he wanted to have the case blow up so he could try and replace you.”
“Instead, he was just following orders. The way he’s always done.” Her mother said jump, and Nathaniel obeyed.
“I think he’s been tied to the attacks on you.”
She could not move. There were buttons on the wall near the observation mirror.One, two, three?—
A light knock rapped against the observation room door. The door opened a second later, and Agnes popped her head inside. “They made contact, Agent Stone. Just like you said they would.” Her lips pulled down. “Rylan was always a bit of a jerk, but I didn’t know he was a traitor, too.”
Gray advanced toward Agnes. “What did you learn?”
“Rylan just called Nathaniel Hadaway. They plan to meet outside of O’Sullivan’s tonight. Honestly, it’s not the smartest place to meet. I mean, come on, tons of cops and agents hang out there. If you’re gonna have a clandestine meeting with someone,bemore clandestine.” She rolled her eyes.
“Does Rylan realize you’re aware of the meeting?” Gray asked.
“I don’t think so. I can be very sneaky when the occasion calls for it.” A pause. “The occasion called for it.”
“Thanks.”
Emerson felt a heavy weight settle in her stomach. “Guessing we just found out which person at the FBI has been feeding intel to Nathaniel.”
“And to your mother.” Gray was grim. Pissed. “I already peeked into Rylan’s bank records. Some large deposits were made recently. Deposits that traced back to one of her donor accounts.”
Right. Of course. A donor account. Not her mother’sownaccount. She would try to hide her paper trail.
“You want me to be your backup?” Agnes remained in the doorway. “Because I know you’re planning to make that meeting tonight.”
“Damn straight, I am. But I have other plans for backup.”
“I want to help.” Agnes lingered. “What can I do?”
“Get me the exact location for Senator Maxine Marlowe and Owen Porter.”
Agnes bobbed her head. “Done.” She bustled off down the hallway.
Emerson realized that she’d twisted her hands together. Slowly, she let them fall.
Gray eliminated the distance between them. His hand rose. Cupped her cheek. “Before this night is over, you’ll get all the answers that you want. No more fear, Emerson. No more broken mirrors. No more always looking for a shadow to sweep out and attack you.”
She swallowed. “You think Nathaniel has been stalking me.”
“Don’t you?”
The idea that a man she’d been involved with intimately might be tormenting her, playing sick games with her… “He’s a psychiatrist. He’s supposed to help people.” Nathaniel? No, no. Emerson shook her head. “I’ve alreadylookedinto this. Into him. You think I didn’t suspect Nathaniel, too? The way he steamrolled into my life? The way he wouldn’t let go when I tried to break things off? But hecan’tbe the one who first attacked me all of those years ago. When I was seventeen, he was studying in Oxford. He was an ocean away. There is no world in which he was the man who broke into my home back then.”
“Maybe not then,” Gray agreed. “But I sure as hell suspect the bastardnow.” His fingers slid down her cheek. Down her neck. Rested over the faint scar that marked her.
His touch was warm and strong and so careful, all at the same time.
“You said you loved me, Emerson.”
Her chest ached. “I did. I do.” She wasn’t going to pretend or hold back. With Gray, she wanted to be all in. No hesitation and no fear. “Butyouhaven’t said?—”
“I love you, Dr. Emerson Marlowe. I would fight like hell for you. Any day of the week.”
