Page 62 of King's Man

“Explain.” He balled his fingers into fists. “Christ, Sam. Won’t you even listen?”

With a grunt, Sam stalked to the empty fireplace and stood there, fingers tapping on the mantle. “I saw the list of names, the one you stole from MacLeod. The oneI helped you steal.” He glared. “Don’t pretend it isn’t what it looks like.”

“I won’t.” Sam frowned and Nate straightened his shoulders, bracing himself to tell him everything. “MacLeod has a network of dissidents in America actively working against the Continental Congress. Paul Farris is one of them, and I’m here to gather evidence to prosecute him for treason.” He hesitated, then added, “Colonel Talmach wants MacLeod’s list of subversives. That’s what you helped me take from his strongbox.”

“ColonelTalmach…” Slowly, Sam turned from the fireplace to study him. “You’re a spy, then.”

“I’m an agent of the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

Sam looked ashen, lips very thin and pale. “Dragging 'subversives' from their beds, is that it? Seeing men hang for nothing more than their —”

“Farris is —”

“I don’t give a damn about Farris! Youliedto me, Tanner. About everything. And you made me a part of this… this plot to destroy the lives of other men like me.” Sam’s voice cracked, his eyes shining. “Howcouldyou?”

Nate’s chest compressed. “I’m sorry, but —”

“Sorry?” Sam spun away, arms braced on the mantle, head down. His shoulders shook, breath rattling in his throat. “God in pissing heaven, I’m such a fool.”

“You’re not.” Nate took a hesitant step forward but didn’t dare touch him. “Sam, please listen. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you —”

“You know, I actually thought we could forget about all this politicking and secret committees. I thought we could live somewhere, you and me. I thought we could… that we could work —” He choked off and fell silent.

Into the airless room, Nate said, “You thought we could live somewhere? You and I together?”

“What a damned idiot.”

“No,” Nate said urgently. “Sam, none of this business with MacLeod matters. Don’t you see? It has nothing to do with us, with what’s between us. Nothing at all.”

“If that’s true, then why hide it?”

“Because I knew you’d react like this!”

Sam turned and Nate flinched from the harrowed expression in his eyes. “And that’s exactly why I deserved the truth.”

“But I…” His voice shook. “I told the truth aboutus.”

“You think that makes a difference?”

“What I think is that I love you.” He held out a hand, brushed the tips of his fingers against Sam’s knuckles. “Sam, please —”

“Don’t.” Jerking back, Sam stumbled over the hearth and caught his balance on the mantle, arms splayed behind him. “Don’t you say that. Don’t youdaresay that.”

For an endless moment, Nate stood there, arm outstretched, nothing between them but distance. Then he let his arm fall to his side, dead as his heart, hope scattering at his feet like ashes. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. My love was never enough for you, was it? Never enough to change your mind. Not in Rosemont and not now.”

Sam didn’t yield, his eyes didn’t soften. “How could it be? Love’s only a word, Tanner. It’s what you do that matters.”

“Meaning what? I haven’t given that letter to Talmach, if that’s what you think. I’ll burn it. I’ll burn them all — they’re just rumor and gossip.”

Sam shrugged, indifferent. “Thing is, I don’t believe a damned word that leaves your weasel mouth.”

That was unfair. And it hurt. “It sounds more like you won’t evenlisten. I’d never hurt you, Sam. I’d rather die first.”

Sam remained stony and unmoved.

“Fine.” Nate snatched his hat from the table and ran his fingers along the brim, angry and wounded. “I’m sailing for Boston in a matter of days. I hoped we’d at least part as friends, but if you can’t —”

“Go back to your Congress,” Sam said, stalking to the door and yanking it open. “Go fight for your cause, Tanner. I hope it makes you happy.”

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