Page 61 of Shadow Lies

Charley had let them go.

Let them walk right out of the cell and away from the black site. Even provided a car to take them back to the hotel.

They were hooded for the whole trip but besides that, driving away on their way back to normalcy was a huge relief.

Wei talked and was released with a warning to not mention a word of the capture.

He was to say he got mugged in the street outside the event. That the criminal didn’t get anything so he didn’t call the authorities to try to keep the incident out of the news lest it reflect badly on China and Beijing during this time when all eyes were on them.

It would work if he stuck to the story. Meanwhile, Charley had the name of the puppet master. A name she didn’t share with them, which was fine.

Alexis could tell Kane was over the whole thing. He wanted nothing to do with Charley or the organization. They’d done their part. It was up to Charley to take down the puppet master and hopefully shut down the camps.

But as for their part in it, Alexis was thrilled they were done and free to go back to her hotel. Together.

All in all, she couldn’t have wished for a better ending to an afternoon that has started off so badly.

After stopping at the front desk to get a key since she hadn’t taken hers with her when she’d been pseudo kidnapped, she walked into her suite with Kane behind her.

He dumped his canvas bag on the table and reached inside. “Here. This belongs to you.”

She stared at the items in his hand.

He continued, “I needed it to look for you when I thought you’d been kidnapped.”

“Ah. Okay. Thanks.” She took the wad of bills and her personal cell phone.

She noticed he didn’t move farther into the room, but instead remained by the door. Hovering, like he was about to go. That was the last thing she wanted him to do.

“When do you leave for the monastery?” she asked.

“The bus pulls out in the morning.”

“And do you have to be back there tonight?”

“I’m not sure I can get back inside the bubble without a lot of hassle. I can meet the brothers outside at the bus in the morning.”

“So you can stay the night then?” Her attempt at sounding casual instead came out pretty much as what it was—hopeful with a dash of excitement.

“Um…yeah. Can we talk?” he asked, casting a dark shadow over her bubble of joy.

Uh, oh. That didn’t sound good.

“Oh. Sure.” She pretended she wasn’t scared and moved to the sofa, patting the cushion next to her. “Sit.”

He did, but in the chair where he leaned forward with his forearms braced on his knees. Kane drew in a breath and met her gaze. “Did you make your cell passcode my birthday after we had sex?”

Oh shit. How did he know about her passcode?

“No,” she denied.

He tilted his head and leveled a stare on her that spoke to his disbelief.

“It’s been my passcode since my parents gave me my first cell phone when I was fourteen,” she explained as proof she hadn’t lied.

The expression of horror that crossed his face sliced her to the core. That was not the reaction she wanted from the man she’d loved since puberty.

“Jesus, Alexis.” He ran his hand over his face.

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