Page 108 of Breach of Honor

He sat in the chair in front of my desk, elbows on his knees and leaning forward. “What’s going on with you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I see everything.”

An icy chill ran down my spine. What had he seen? I kept forgetting “Big Brother” was watching. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“There are a couple of things I’ve noticed watching you. When you’re stressed, you pace with your hands on your head. When you’re annoyed, you drum your fingers on anything: a glass, a table, the arm of a chair. You’ve been doing both a lot in the last few weeks. What gives?”

“First off, you work for me and I don’t have to tell you anything. But if it’ll make you feel better… my girlfriend and I are having problems.”

“Problems?”

“Issues.”

“Issues?”

“Why do you keep repeating me?”

“I don’t buy it.”

“You don’t have to… Mr. Axel.”

He glowered at me. “You’re hiding something. I don’t believe for a minute you’re having problems or issues with Miranda. That woman loves you. She’s nice, and your parents adore her.” They did adore her, and if they ever got wind of this fake affair, they’d be beyond disappointed in me.

“Nothing you’ve said is untrue. But it doesn’t mean things aren’t going on behind closed doors.” Things with the FBI I was forced into and sworn to secrecy.

Axel tilted his head, studying me. Damn, it made me uncomfortable. Was he trying to read my mind or something? “You’re lying. There’s more going on with you, and it has nothing to do with Miranda. Whatever it is, you can trust me. I’ll help you. Remember, I was an Army Ranger, and I’m a computer genius.”

I didn’t know if I could trust Axel or even York. If I could, I’d spill my guts. I’d tell them everything I knew about Jason stealing the money to the FBI and undercover Cori. But I couldn’t say anything because of the arrangement with the Feds.

“Listen, it’s just girlfriend troubles. I appreciate your offer, and if I ever need a badass ranger to mess some people up, I’ll call you.”

Axel stood, nodded, and stalked out of the room.

Something told me to be careful around Axel, that he’d be watching me even more closely. But I couldn’t worry about Axel now. Miranda was my priority. I dreaded telling her I was going sailing with Jason tomorrow. It wouldn’t go over well.

I just hoped I could keep her from breaking up with me.

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