Page 49 of A Favor Owed

Shit. I’m losing it. “I just meant you’ve had loans and scholarships all this time. When you have to start paying your debts, it’ll be a whole different story.”

She nods slowly, deciding to buy it…for now.

“Thanks for the advice there, chief,” she says. “I’ve got to get to bed. I have a long day tomorrow.” She opens her door and steps out. I resist the urge to punch my steering wheel in frustration. Instead, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’m an asshole who’s using her. She doesn’t owe me shit in the relationship department. I get out of the car, retrieve her bike, and walk it up to her place.

“Have a safe trip,” she says at the door, her arms crossed.

“I’m sorry,” I say abruptly. “For being annoying and pushy or whatever.” I’m definitely not in the habit of apologizing to girls for bad behavior. I’m never really around long enough to commit any apology-worthy infractions. Siobhan would keel over if she heard this.

Angela looks off-kilter, too. “It’s cool,” she says awkwardly, looking down at her painted toes and wiggling them a little.

“So, that’s all I get?” I say, pulling her braid over her shoulder and getting in her space. “Have a safe trip?”

She looks at me, and a reluctant smile turns up her lips. “What do you want?”

“What I want is you naked in bed with a full box of condoms. But I’m keeping my expectations realistic. How about a kiss?” I put my hands on her face. It’s warm, even though the air is cool. “Damn. Did I just make you blush, Pines?”

“Knock it off, McDaniels.” Her face gets even hotter under my hands. “And yes, you can have a kiss.”

Her shoes add a couple of inches to her already tall frame, so there’s not the uncomfortable height difference I experience with most girls. Her mouth is right there, ready and willing and so fucking delicious. My hands migrate from shoulders to arms to waist before wrapping around her and holding her tight against me.

“Jesus, Brady,” she breathes, pulling away from me. “You’re going to kill me with those lips.” Then her mouth is crashing against mine again, back for more.

“Not if you kill me first,” I eventually manage to say. She puts her hands on my face and presses three quick final kisses to my lips.

“I’ll see you next week,” she says.

“You’ll see me Sunday night unless my flight’s delayed.”

She smiles. “Whatever you say.”

“Goddamn right.” I smile, giving her a smack on her ass. “I like that attitude, Pines.”

She shoves me. “Don’t get used to it. Kissing you makes me a little crazy. I’ll come to my senses in a few minutes.”

“Can you shut up now, please? Every time you move your mouth, I want to kiss it again.” To demonstrate my point, I press my lips to hers.

“Get out of here,” she says, turning to unlock her door. But then she turns back and gives me one more kiss. “Bye.”

“See ya, princess.” I wait until I hear her pathetic door lock click into place, then I head to my car. I’m not used to having a tornado of feelings tearing up my chest, but Angie Pines has managed to unleash one. Different feelings keep pelting me like debris—frustration, annoyance, unease—but mostly it’s a giant vortex of excitement. She excites every part of me. Sure, she can lie and manipulate like a champ, but I’ve got her number on that shit, whether she knows it or not. I can see right through it, right to who she is. And who she is lights me up like a power surge.

I drive home, crackling with this realization like I’ve been hit by lightning. This situation has now evolved into a full-blown disaster. The one time in my life that I’m worked up about a girl, and it has to be this girl. The one who put my family in danger. The one who isn’t supposed to be anything to me but a means to an end.

When I get home, my phone vibrates with a text.I’ve got until Monday to give them intel. Hope you got something.

I start to type out a text telling Lou that Angela is doing human trafficking work. She didn’t ask me to keep it a secret or anything. She’s doing something good. Why shouldn’t I tell him?

Because I’m doing it behind her back. It could have consequences for her, like losing a job she loves. It could end up getting back to her family somehow.

I delete the text and put my phone away.

Head in the game, Brady, I remind myself.Eye on the ball.But as I see it coming at me, I realize it’s a wrecking ball, and I’m good and truly fucked.

Chapter Nineteen

Brady

When I see the lights of New York from the plane, the feeling of dread and anxiety that’s been building up inside me since leaving Angie’s place the night before intensifies. Unlike her, I wasn’t born to keep secrets. I’m close to my family, and I’m an open book with everyone. None of this cloak-and-dagger shit comes naturally to me.

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