Page 25 of Rhys

A deep scowl fell over his handsome face. “What the fuck?”

“Don’t worry. I made sure he knew you had no knowledge of my true identity or why I was there. I tried convincing him to let me stay a little longer, but it was too late. My orders were to leave Kabul immediately, or the Agency would have no choice but to put you on the kill list.” Vanessa stared up at him, praying he could read the truth in her eyes. “Don’t you see? I had no choice but to leave. If I hadn’t, they would have killed you.”

“You do realize how crazy that sounds, right?”

“I do.” She nodded again. “But it doesn’t make it any less true.”

Running a hand over his jaw in disbelief, Rhys asked, “Why didn’t you tell me? You could’ve—”

“There was nothing I could do. If they even suspected I’d broken cover to warn you, they would’ve added my name to that same list. It’s how these people work. Hollywood gets a lot of things wrong, but that’s not one of them. Someone on my level with the knowledge I have… The CIA doesn’t just look the other way with something like that.” She exhaled slowly. “And they certainly wouldn’t risk sharing that knowledge with a civilian.”

“I wasn’t a civilian. I was in the fucking military.”

“Doesn’t matter. You weren’t Agency. That’s all the justification they needed.”

“Jesus.” Rhys turned away, raking a hand through his hair as he paced a small area of the room.

“I’m so sorry, Rhys. If there had been any other way, I swear I would have…” Vanessa’s chin began to tremble with emotions she could no longer hold back. Holding her arm a little closer, she tried not to wince from the ever-growing pain.

In a slow, almost hesitant move, Rhys turned back around and faced her once more. His expression softened slightly when he spotted her fallen tears. “It’s been a long day.” He changed the subject completely. “We both need sleep, and you’re hurting.”

“I’m fine.”Liar.

“Greyson told the team to be at the office first thing in the morning so we can get into the whole Kenneth Austin story.”

“I thought you wanted to know everything tonight.” That had been the deal, after all.

“It’s almost two, Vanessa. It can wait until morning.”

Looking around, she found a clock mounted on the far wall. Sure enough, the hands showed it was one fifty-two a.m.

Time sure flies when you’re getting shot at.

Without another word, Rhys walked back into the kitchen and pulled something from one of the smaller cabinets. Filling a glass of water from the faucet, he returned to the living room and offered her the water along with three white pills.

“What is this?” She took the water and pills from his hands.

“One’s an antibiotic, and the other two are ibuprofen.”

“You just happen to have an antibiotic lying around?”

“Charlie Team’s medic, remember? I keep a stash of stuff like that here so I can be sure to keep my go-bag stocked.”

Guess I’m not the only one whose job comes with special perks.

Trusting he wasn’t trying to poison her—not that he wouldn’t be justified at this point—Vanessa popped the pills into her mouth and swallowed all three with a generous gulp of water.

“Thanks.” She handed him back the glass. As if on cue, a large yawn struck, prompting her to cover her mouth until it had passed.

“Need anything else before we turn in for the night?”

A clear dismissal if she ever heard one.

“Just my weapons bag.”

“Sorry, sweetheart.” He didn’t look sorry in the last. “That one stays with me for now.”

For now, which meant he was entertaining the idea of trusting her with it. Not ideal, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.

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