Page 122 of Hushed

She rolled her eyes. “Story of my life.”

“Behave, imp,” Gage murmured in her ear.

“Please, just tell me what you can.” Her voice trembled, and he slid an arm around her shoulders.

“Give him a chance to talk.”

She sucked in a breath and gave Samuel a curt nod.

“While we don’t know for sure that his cover is blown, enough people now know that he’s alive, that we have to do some damage control before it leaks to the press, or it could meantrouble. We’re going to New York because your friend Maggie might have information for us without realizing it. We’re also going to reinsert Reggie if we ascertain that his cover is still intact enough to allow him to continue working. The fact that people in the government who weren’t read into the case realize he’s alive is a problem, though.”

The information Samuel was offering wouldn’t be enough to placate Kenzie, Gage understood that. But it would have to do until Gage got her alone and could lay things out a little differently. His meeting at the White House led him to believe the situation was far more dangerous than he’d originally believed.

“I don’t have room for all of you in my apartment. Where are we staying?” Kenzie asked. It surprised him she wasn’t drilling Samuel for more details.

Gage squeezed her shoulders. “Good question. Patrick and Austin have been kind enough to open their home to us.”

Kenzie’s eyes lit up. “I like them.”

Gage kissed her temple. “Good. Now, I realize you have more questions, but we need to rest.”

They had reached cruising altitude, and it was safe for him to take her back to the bedroom.

“I’m really not tired.”

He twisted a lock of her hair around his finger. “Samuel and Reggie need to talk without us—security clearance reasons—so we’re going to the bedroom.”

She didn’t argue, and Gage wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but he stood and took her hand, leaving Samuel and Reggie glaring at each other.

In the bedroom, a glimmer of her stubborn side came out.

“Let’s get some rest, babe.” Gage stripped out of his shirt and reached for her, but she backed away.

“I have more questions. I’m not fucking sleeping until someone answers them.”

Gage sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him.

“Pet, I get that you’re frustrated. But I’m exhausted and I really just want to curl up with my girl for forty-five minutes before we have to face everything that’s waiting for us. Can we do that, please?”

She huffed. “I told you I’m not fucking tired.”

His expression turned stern, and he motioned her to him again. “I don’t want to spank you with the others outside the door, but I will if you don’t drop the attitude.”

“You drop your attitude.”

Was she pushing him to punish her because she needed it, or because she was spiraling and couldn’t stop?

Either way, he needed to get to the bottom of it before the spiral got worse.

She stood just inside the closed bedroom door with her arms folded, looking every bit the stubborn woman he was used to, so he stood and closed the distance. Fisting a hand in her hair, he twisted until she winced. It got her attention, and the fight whooshed out of her in an instant. She collapsed against his chest and took in deep breaths that told him she was fighting back tears. It was a short-lived fight, and tears dampened his bare chest.

“Shhh. It’s OK, Kenz. We’re gonna be OK.”

“I was so scared when you didn’t show up or check in after a few hours, and listening to everything that Samuel said out there, made me realize just how much danger Reggie is in. I don’t want to lose him again. Not when I just got him back. And Reggie told me he’ll never get to be Reggie again. If he ever does get to leave this job, he’ll have to do it under another alias. Does that mean we won’t be able to see each other? I can’t imaginethat. That feels worse than him being dead. And oh my god I sound like such a bitch. Like I’m wishing for him to really die.” The words tumbled out between ragged sobs, and he just held her and let her get through it.

When the words stopped and only tears were left, he scooped her up and climbed onto the bed with her, settling against the wall and holding her tight.

“Shh. I will make sure he’s still in your life even if it’s not as Reggie. He’s not going to die. Reggie has many people who care about him who will make damn sure of that. So don’t stress about that either. I know. I know, that’s easier said than done,” he added when she started to protest. “You are not awful for the way you feel. It doesn’t mean you want your brother to really die. And finally, I’m sorry for worrying you. I was locked in a room with a bunch of insensitive asshats who didn’t want to listen to reason. It wasn’t until I got Samuel involved that anyone started paying attention.”

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