Page 19 of Braxton

But he shook his head. “Your name showed up on The Agency list, but only as Graves.” He gave her a lopsided, half-smile. “You can imagine the confusion and questions I got from my team when we uncovered that little detail.”

Shit.Quinn fidgeted, not sure how to tell him she’d never gone back to her maiden name. Because what did it matter?

He sat up a little straighter. “Why—”

Before he could ask her to explain why she’d kept his last name after they’d divorced, she interrupted him. “So that’s only three targets then.”

He was studying her intently, neither confirming nor denying her last statement. “I think you should come meet my team.”

She shook her head. “No, thanks.”

“If we’re going to be working together, you’re going to have to—”

“I’m not a very good team player. Besides, I don’t trust your team. And if The Agency discovers we’re hanging out together, my cover will be blown. It’s best if I stay as far away from them, and you, as possible.”

He nodded, but didn’t seem happy about it.

“They want the Russian chemist you have back.” She tilted her head, thinking. “If you give Zaitsev to me, it would help prove my loyalty and—”

“No.”

“Why not? What’re they planning?”

“They want him to make batches of Novichok, a deadly neurotoxin, most likely to take out their enemies.”

“Novichok? What’s so special about it?”

“It’s fast and effective, making it appear as though the victim suffered nothing more sinister than a heart attack,” he explained.

“Oh, shit.”

“Exactly.”

She chewed on her lower lip, considering the situation and having serious concerns about The Agency’s Novichok plans. The possibility they planned to use it on a bigger target, potentially innocent people, made her gut tighten with dread. There’s no way she wanted to be a part of that.

“Let’s choose a target to start with,” she said, sitting back and ticking the final three players off on her fingers. They debated the pros and cons of each then mutually decided on Alvaro “El Escorpión” Mesa.

Brax looked down at his watch. “I should go before—” his phone buzzed “—they think you found and eliminated me.”

Although his tone was laced with humor, she cringed as she studied his bandaged hand. “Sorry about that.”

The truth was, when it came down to it, she hadn’t been able to do it. She still cared about him, and it’s what had prevented her from following through with her plan to blow him sky-high.

“If it makes you feel any better, I had a change of heart,” she said.

He sent a text off then looked up. “Is that why you hit me with your car?”

She smirked. “I did that to save your life. And don’t be such a baby.”

“By running me over?”

“By luring you away from the tripwire,” she clarified. “I’d hardly say I ran you over. It was just a little bump.”

“Luckily, I bounce pretty good.” He stood up and she did, too, following him over to the door.

They both hesitated. Before she could speak, he reached out and gently cupped her face, catching her by surprise.

“I don’t regret that kiss and I hope you don’t, either.” Resisting the urge to nuzzle her cheek against his palm, she swallowed hard. “Remember, Quinn, I’m not the one who left.”

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