Page 38 of Covert Affairs

Could he have both? His conversation with Vivi had him toying with the idea that they might find a compromise. If they wanted, theycouldhave a life outside of espionage and military escapades, but would they find satisfaction in the world of ‘normal?’

Cal and Beatrice had tried it. Their house sat empty, quiet. They lived at SFI and that would continue once the compound was finished and they had living quarters there. Was that the answer? Living and working together with others like you?

Most psychologists would say no. Work should be kept separate from your family life, right? There should be boundaries, you should be able to leave it behind at the end of the day.

But he and those like him never did. Which was where people like Vivi came in, showing them how to be at home no matter where they were and what they did. How to compartmentalize and truly be all they could be.

Lost in this thoughts, he didn’t realize they’d arrived at the Reese property until Connor said, “Kincaid, we’re here.”

Homing in on the coming hours, Ian shoved thoughts about his future with Vivi into one of those encapsulated compartments and nodded. If either of them were to have a future and be able to decide what to do about it, he first needed to pull this off flawlessly.

Once inside the house, he made himself at home, checking in with his counterparts who were in position. Then he followed the instructions Rory had given him for leading MonkeyFingers and her handlers right to him. His fingers pecked at the keyboard and he smiled. “Come and get me, suckers.”

His phone rang.

Sixteen

Vivi was going to tear his head off and shove it up his—

“Hey, babe.”

Her whole body shook with anger. “Don’t you dare, ‘hey, babe’ me. You left without me.”

Cal and Beatrice had brought two chairs into her office and plucked them down, Beatrice locking the door behind them. “We’re ready for our session,” she’d told Vivi with a straight face.

“It’s just a scouting run,” Ian said now in her ear. His voice was light, unconcerned. “I thought it wise to check out the house and the grounds before we move in and become bait.”

He was lying. Had to be. He’dpromised. “And you didn’t want me with you, why?”

“Cal mentioned he was talking to you this afternoon, and his schedule is jam packed. He said something about Beatrice threatening to cut off his you-know-what if he didn’t show up.”

The couple, dog at their feet, stared at her from their seats, faces neutral. Yep, they were all lying.

“I’m going to kill you.” She hissed at them before pacing to the window, her heart squeezing. “We’ll discuss this when you return.”

“You sound worried.”

“I am worried, you moron! Command & Control will kill you!”

“And cheat you out of it?” He chuckled at his own joke and she mentally vowed again to tear his head off. “It’s just a reconnaissance mission. I’ll be there before you know it. I saw this Italian place on my way here. Maybe we could have a date tonight?”

Attempting to mollify her. Yeah, not happening. “I see exactly what you’re doing and I’m not letting you off the hook, Kincaid.”

Then he mentioned what he planned to do to her later in bed and her resolve to kill him swayed slightly. Her toes curled and she felt flush as he went into great detail.

She’d kill himafterhe did all those things.

“Now, don’t stress,” he purred in her ear. “I swear I will do that and so much more to you, and that means I’m coming back to you as soon as I’ve thoroughly surveilled this place and created a plan for us to lure our quarry here, okay?”

She chewed her bottom lip, her stomach a mess. “Promise me you’ll be here before five.”

He paused as if checking his watch. “Six at the latest. I want to check out that restaurant on the way. See if they have decent tortellini. I know how you love that stuff.”

Bastard. “Not a minute later or I’m coming after you.”

“I love you, Viv.”

Gah. That was a low blow. “Get your ass back here and prove it.”

---