Page 99 of Secret Weapon

I didn’t have to worry about the Craft Cabin while I was away, just everything else.

“I asked Emmy to give you a room in the guest villa by the ocean,” Ana said as we stood in the hallway of Skywater House.“I thought you might want some space.”

“From her?Yes.”

Right now, I was just trying not to gape.Once or twice, when the job called for it, the general had reluctantly funded accommodation in a five-star hotel, so I was no stranger to luxury.Emmy’s house fit that definition.And itwasa house, not a home.The place was too perfect for anybody to actually live there.

“Give her a chance,” Ana said.

“Iamgiving her a chance.I’m here, aren’t I?”

And so was a giant.He stepped out of a doorway ahead of us, and the man was even bigger than Alex.

“Emmy’s husband,” Ana whispered as his gaze locked onto me.

It was like having my soul sucked out, which probably explained a lot if he looked at Emmy that way too.He paused to kiss her on the forehead, then headed in my direction.

“You must be Darya.”

“Yes.”

He offered a hand.“Black.”

“Is that your first name or your last name?”

“Consider it both.You did a nice job on Emmy’s nose.”

Was he expecting an apology or something?Because he wasn’t getting one.

“Yes, I did.”

One corner of his lips twitched.“How’s your arm?”

“Better than it was yesterday.”

“Do you need further medical attention?We know a plastic surgeon who’ll exercise an appropriate degree of discretion.”

“My budget doesn’t run to cosmetic repairs.”

Might as well get that out there.

But my statement seemed to amuse him.“I wasn’t suggesting that you should pay for it.Let me know if you need an appointment, but in the meantime, we have work to do.”He looked past me.“Ana, Quinn’s online.”

“I need to show Dasha the guest villa first,” she said.

“Alex can do that since he’s staying there as well.”

He was?Well, that was…an interesting development.One I couldn’t say I hated.The jury was still out on Black.He was certainly courteous, but darkness lurked around the edges, and instinct told me he was dangerous.

Ana glanced my way, and I gave her the merest nod, letting her know I was okay with the situation.Think of the money.She didn’t seem fazed by Black, so I had to take that as a good sign.

“What’s first on the agenda?”I asked.

“We’ll meet in the dining room when you’ve stowed your luggage.Does anything need to go in the weapons locker?”

“I prefer easy access.”

“As you wish.”

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