Page 59 of Shadow Lies

He'd been worried about her. That thought sent a flood of warmth to her heart and set her pulse fluttering.

“Charley brought you in because she was worried you’d compromise the operation by drawing attention to the organization’s presence here. Or there. Where are we anyway? Do you know?” she asked.

“No. They put a bag over my head.” He scowled.

She nodded. “I agree they do have some extreme protocols.”

“No worse than the CIA,” he mumbled as he pulled his hand out of Alexis’s grasp and crossed his arms over his chest.

She shook her head at this old debate but they couldn’t get into it because the door opened again to reveal Charley herself.

“All caught up? Ready to get to work?”

Kane’s eyes narrowed. “Do we have a choice?”

Charley smiled. “It really is so nice to finally meet you, Kane. Come. Mr. Wei awaits.”

Alexis’s eyes widened. Wei was here.

“About time,” Kane grumbled as he stood.

She stood too, hoping thatgetting to workdidn’t include waterboarding or whatever else might be in Charley’s playbook.

ChapterTwenty-One

Kane didn’t often let emotions rule him, even though it had happened too much for comfort lately since Alexis had reentered his life.

But right now he truly hated Charley. Her and whoever she worked for.

Her methods. The smooth superior attitude. The way she rarely answered a question directly. And that she’d somehow pulled the wool over Alexis’s eyes.

Charley had actually convinced Alexis that this offer was for a good job. A real job.

People were not grabbed and tranquilized for legitimate job interviews. He didn’t care how covert the organization.

It was all bullshit and Alexis seemed to be lapping up the lies with a spoon like they were chocolate ice cream rather than a crock of shit.

And now he was eyeball deep in some political intrigue likely involving the Chinese government.

He’d gone to the ends of the earth to get away from things like this. Apparently Songshan wasn’t far enough. Next time he’d have to choose a mountain harder to get to.

If there was a next time since Charley had just led them to what looked suspiciously like a cell. He turned to glare at her.

“Relax. I’ll let you out again. But for now, it’s important for the bonding and trust between you and Wei that he think you are all prisoners,” Charley explained.

“You think he’s going to confide in us?” Kane asked, doubtful about this plan working even if Wei didn’t recognize him as the same man who’d knocked him out in the hallway. Thank goodness he’d changed his shirt at least.

Charley lifted one shoulder elegantly. “Let’s hope.”

Hope? Did she expect him to believe that was her plan? Bullshit.

He drew in a breath and moved to the bench by the wall.

“Fine.” He’d give it a try.

Alexis, however, was still standing near the cell’s door looking ready to bolt. Her focus bounced between him and Charley, blocking the exit.

“What’s up?” he asked, pinning her with his gaze.

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