Page 18 of One Secret

Cyrus shakes his head.

'No, I didn't know that.'

The guy who I'm convinced works for shady organizations and powerful men (the kind who probably favor cigars and "making people offers they can't refuse") hadn't done a standard background check on me?

'You… you didn't investigate me?'

For his part, Cyrus appears more surprised than I am. Even uncomfortable. He shuffles his feet, resettles his shoulders, and pins me with a hard look.

'No,' he admits again. 'I didn't.'

I think there might be something sweet in that. But the last thing I need to do right now is dig for it.

I clear my throat.

'All right, well... the salient point is that my VISA isn't exactly up-to-date. If Mr. Blue Suit runs my name through the wrong system, I could get flagged and deported.'

Minimum wage job. Tiny apartment. Baby on the way. I can cope with all of that.

The imminent threat of being sent home to face a court martial? Yeah, not so much.

My baby might not have the greatest of mothers. But she or he is going to at least have one.

'They're not going to care about your immigration status,' Cyrus says.

'I care.'

Whether they intend to use it or not, I don't like strangers holding leverage over my head.

'You need to get me off their radar, Cyrus. Completely.'

The tightening at the corners of his eyes could be a wince.

'I can't do that.'

I grind my teeth.

'Only because they think we're involved,' I growl, still annoyed over that little tidbit.

'We are involved,' he says.

'Not like that.'

'Not like what?'

I glare at him. I'm not playing this game.

'Cyrus, you need to sort this. Keep me out of it. Please.'

A little humanity comes back into Cyrus's expression. He seems tired. Frustrated. Even a little contrite.

'I tried,' he says. 'He thought you were part of my team.'

'Yeah, he thought I was a spy. I got that.'

Again, Cyrus seems surprised by my powers of observation. Had I not worked so hard to construct a new life for myself as a simple bartender over trained soldier, I might have been insulted. Instead, I choose to take it as a positive critique of my acting abilities.

'Better that you're my girlfriend than my partner,' Cyrus explains.

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