Page 19 of Dirty Justice

He didn’t like justhowquiet she was. Who knew what was rolling around in that brilliant mind of hers? For all he knew, she was plotting ways to kick him out of her life for good.

All he wanted was for her to be happy. But judging by her surroundings, he didn’t think she was. If he had to make a guess, he’d say she was burying her feelings.

Hehadseen her laughing with that guy over lunch, though. Her smile seemed genuine, not forced.

He sprawled out on the bed and twisted to one side to look at her.

Indika gave him a nervous look.

Part of him questioned if now was the time to bring up the fact he wanted something real with her. Or maybe to ask what her lunch date meant. Or if the other man who’d asked her to the movies held any importance in her life.

He bit back all the questions and reached for her instead.

She allowed him to pull her into his arms but the stiff way she held herself wasn’t very promising.

He attempted to distract her. “So how are your parents?”

She gave a little start as if his question surprised her. “They’re well. They’ve been traveling a lot. Now that they’ve been to the US a few times to visit me, the small village in India isn’t enough to keep them satisfied for long.”

“And your sister?”

“She and the three kids are thriving.”

“Three? I thought she only had two kids.”

Indika stiffened and then extricated herself from his arms. “Things change when you’ve been away for three years, AJ.”

He opened his mouth to try to explain how it had been for him—on the run, practically hiding in the sewers to avoid detection from both Abubakar’s croniesandany number of US counterintelligence agents, plus the military who would report him as alive. He was completely off the grid during that time, working to get intel on Abubakar’s next move, going so far as to befriend the terrorist’s own men.

On his own, he managed to thwart several attacks by feeding intel to Blackout, even when they had no clue he was behind the tipoffs. Then Blackout spotted him in Paris, and Apollo barely managed to escape them. If they’d caught up to him…well, he’d be facing this same exact dilemma right now, wouldn’t he? Robbed of any power.

He never got a chance to explain all this to Indika, though. Her phone rang, a little chiming tone that suited her so well, and she rushed to answer it.

Apollo glanced at the time. After eight. The only person who’d be calling at this hour would be a man.

“Devi,” she stated her last name in her throaty accent. She listened for a moment. “Yes. I’ll be ready. Meet you out front.”

Apollo stood slowly, watching her. She ended the call and hurried over to her closet. She flipped through a few garments and yanked a pair of black pants off a hanger, followed by a button-down top.

“Where are you going?” He kept his stare riveted on her as she strode to the low dresser along her bedroom wall and dug out underwear and socks.

She didn’t look up at him. “I have to go. Dammit, I wish I had time for a quick shower.”

A low groan built in his chest. Wherever she was going, she’d be marked with his scent.

“What’s going on?” he tried again for answers, which she didn’t give.

She hurried into the bathroom and shut the door. He listened to water running, and a drawer thumping shut. When she walked out, her stare passed over him.

“Indika, I won’t let you walk out of here without telling me where you’re going.”

Twin dark brows shot upward. “Are you seriously trying to pull the I’ve-staked-my-claim card on me, AJ?”

“If it’s not a secret, there’s no reason to keep it from me. Are you going out with that guy you had lunch with?”

She rolled her eyes. “That was my partner on the phone, idiot. A case we’ve been working on broke free. We’ve got an in, which means I’m going.”

“Now? It’s dark.”

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