Page 54 of Lone Spy

I pull open cabinets, looking for tea—every size glass and mug greet me. Ash finds a kettle and fills it from the filtered water in the fridge. He puts it on one of the electric burners and then opens the cabinet above the stove, pulling out a tea box.

"You want some?" I ask, holding up a mug. He nods his agreement. I place two mugs on the counter and then lean my hip against it. Ash stands in front of the stove, staring down at the kettle.

"Temperance took you to meet Rebecca Levi," Ash says.

"He told you?"

"I followed you," he tells the kettle.

"Always on duty." My tone is teasing, but there is no humor in Ash's gaze when he meets mine.

"What did she want?"

I chew on my lip. His eyes drop to it and then bounce away, finding something fascinating over my left shoulder to examine. "I want to ask if I can trust you, but the question seems so dumb."

"Because you know you can." His eyes come back to mine—the cobalt heated, almost angry. Daring me to deny it. "You saved my life, Angela. That's not the kind of thing I'd ever forget."

I can't look at him anymore. Not when he's staring at me like I'm some kind of hero. Like I could have left him to burn to death and didn't. The truth is I never could have left him. But a different part of me wanted to murder Martin.

Ash steps closer—the distance between us shrinking to an arm's length. He could grab me if he wanted. I could fall into him if I needed. "Angela." That pain is back in his voice.

I look up at him. He's staring down at me. Earnest. A man this big, this dangerous…earnest. It's hard not to believe him. Impossible not to want him.

"Levi thinks she can beat Grand." I pause, lick my lips, trying to find the words that will explain it. "Wants me to…" I take a breath. Ash waits in the silence of my exhale. I shrug. "I don't even know. Talk with the princess. See Omar again.”

Ash nods, takes a step back, turns to look at the kettle again. "They will ask for more."

I let out a laugh—jaded and harsh. "Obviously."

He looks over at me and there is a storm brewing behind his eyes. "They will want you to build a relationship with Omar. To gain his trust. To manipulate him in ways that benefit Levi and hurt Grand." His tone is dull and even, as though he's telling me something of little consequence.

Ash's black sweater is made of something soft—a baby alpaca maybe. Something cuddly. Something very unlike the iceberg standing in front of me. "Don't do this," I say.

He blinks but doesn't respond.

"Don't go robotic on me again,” I continue. “Don't tell me they want me to fuck information out of someone without any emotion. It's…bullshit."

His brows raise, surprise touching his gaze. "Do you want to help them?" he asks, his voice more normal, face less masked.

"I think she's better than Grand." Obviously. "But I'm not going to be romantically involved with someone to…spy on him." I shake my head, the idea making my skin crawl. "They didn't ask for that, anyway."

"They won't, not yet. Not until you're more likely to say yes."

I huff a laugh. "Never going to happen."

The kettle whistles and Ash turns to it. He finds a hot mitt and pours the steaming water into our mugs.

"You don't believe me?" I ask.

"I believe you," he says, but there is something hidden behind the words.I believe you believe that, but I also believe you can be manipulated.

"Ash, I'm not some naive girl." His gaze flicks to me and then away. "Excuse me." I stand straighter. "What was that look?" He has the decency to grimace slightly. "Seriously? You think I'm someone who can be manipulated into sleeping with someone to advance someone else’s political agenda?"

"No." He shakes his head. "But…"

"But what?" My spine is a straight rod, my arms by my sides, hands fisted.

"Once you are involved, it wouldn't be so bad to share information, would it?"

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