Page 34 of One Secret

By claiming her as my lover, I'd forced her into a seat at the table. A table full of dangerous, powerful men. For her, this trip is about Darcy claiming her own hand. With the insider knowledge she might pick up at Felix Caruso's resort, she'd have a play to make if anyone poses a threat to her immigration status. It's a defensive maneuver.

And whilst I might hate that said maneuver puts her at the heart of a dangerous situation, it's the only strategy available to her right now. Because of me.

Plus, I'd be lying if I denied the help it afforded me in keeping Fiori's suspicious nose out of my business.

'I'm a fantastic multi-tasker, Cyrus,' Darcy reassures me. 'I can keep an ear out for what I need and help you with your plans. Besides, if I don't at least look like I'm in the know and that we share a few secrets, we're not going to convince anyone that we're truly a couple. And then we're both in the shit.'

Again, it's hard to argue with her on that.

'Fine,' I agree, trying to decide how much I need her to know and how much she should be kept clear of. 'Like I said before... I'm looking for someone. They'll either be on the island personally or I'll be looking for information that will lead me to them.'

'Who is it?'

'I said—'

'I know what you said before, Cyrus. But I'm here now. The stakes are higher and I think I need to know.'

Goddammit...

Fine. Fuck it. I'm getting tired of fighting her at every turn anyway...

'An assassin,' I admit. 'I'm looking for an assassin. Like me.'

'Last location?'

Again with the just breezing right past the little tidbit that I kill people for a living.

'Austria. But they're highly mobile, so that's almost irrelevant at this point.'

'"Almost"?'

I resettle awkwardly in my seat. I have to debrief Nat a little on my missions but, on the ground, I always work alone. I've never had to be so open with my intentions, so detailed in my explanations...

It doesn't sit well with me.

'Even if he's not there anymore... I know who this guy was meeting in Austria,' I explain. 'The head of the Caruso crime family.'

'The guy who owns this island,' Darcy says, piecing everything together very quickly.

'Right.'

'What about the assassin?' she asks. 'Anything on his identity? A name?'

'No. I only know his moniker.'

Darcy waits for more. When none is forthcoming she tries to push:

'Which is?'

I shake my head.

'I'm not going to tell you that.'

'Cyrus...' Her tone is dark with warning but I'm digging my heels in on this one.

'No,' I say, looking her straight in the eye. 'I'm serious Darcy. You say that name in the wrong company, you reveal that we even know that name to the wrong person, and there's a high chance you're dead within the hour.'

'And I screw up your plans,' she adds. As if my mission is of greater concern than her life.

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