Page 98 of Silent Comrade
“Really?” She rounded on him, pulling out ofhis embrace.
Over her shoulder, Rodeo’s silently mouthedoh, shitmade Red want to laugh. Almost. But he didn’t,because they were in some serious crap here, standing in abathroom, where a lunatic chock full of unchecked Morpheus Viruswho possessed God knows what special ability, played cat and mousewith Britt’s life.
“Work with me on this one, please,sweets.”
The ten seconds that passed were some of thelongest Red had ever endured.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
She waved her hand toward the door. “Soonerwe go, the sooner you can tell me what other secrets you’ve beenhiding.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Britt walked straight into the apartment,not bothering to close and lock the door because, heck, she hadex-military secret … whatevers … for that job. She headed straightto her room. She flipped on the lamp, sat on the bed, crossed herarms, and dared Red not to follow her.
True to his determined and solid nature, hehesitated only a half-step before entering. He closed the door anddropped his backpack and hers on the floor.
How could there be more secrets? A leadweight sensation pulled at her stomach.
A guy she’d been intimate with kept morethings from her. For Britt intimacy wasn’t only about sex. Itinvolved trust, vulnerability, communication. For the first time inyears, she had dared to connect with someone despite the fear theywould be taken away. She had done the one thing that terrified hermost, especially after watching her mother suffer and die andfinding out her beloved brother had been killed.
Her trust had been for nothing. “Spill.”
He rubbed his lower face. “You don’t beataround the bush, do you?”
“Nope. Let’s do this. I’m tired, grumpy, andfeeling threatened because, well, Iwasthreatened. Now Ifind out there are secrets on top of your lies. This, after evenmore amazing sex today. It’s like my brain and heart just wentthrough a blender. And guess what? I’ve got to get up in themorning and keep slogging through all this crap. You’d better makethis revelation brief so I can get some sleep.”
“Well, okay.” He remained a few feet awayfrom her, like she was radioactive and he shouldn’t get too closewithout special equipment.
Red opened his mouth. Closed it. Then hewent to his backpack, unzipped the main compartment, and dug arounddeep in the bag. He pulled out a small black case and unsnapped thefastenings. Two syringes full of pale-yellow liquid rested on foam.Four spaces were empty.
“So, you do drugs?” she asked, heartpounding hard enough to clang in her skull. Maybe this wasn’t sucha good idea, forcing him to reveal what he obviously worked so hardto hide. At least not in a confined space like her bedroom.
Another hesitation. “Sort of, but not.”
“Don’t you dare play the Sphinx here.” Shepointed at him. “Be clear. Now.”
“Fine. I’m infected with a virus that willmake me go nuts if I don’t take this medicine.”
She reared back. Knock her down with afeather. Virus? Like an infection?
“Uh, concise is nice, but you need to expanda little further.”
His tight smile held no happiness. Heclicked the case closed and returned it to the bag.
“Know how I told you I was in themilitary?”
“You lied.”
“No, that’s the truth. I was Special Forces.Morpheus Squad. We all were, including Rodeo.” He paused.“Including your brother Brady.”
Time stopped for five seconds. Her heartclenched. “Wait, you were Brady’s teammate?”
“Yes.”
“You never thought to mention that?”
