Page 51 of Spy With Me
“She likely knows far more than we do. The question is willyou tell Taggart what you know when you know it?” Arthur asked. “I understandthat Lacey and I can’t provide the backup you need. So are you going in aloneor calling your former boss? Who happens to be Devi’s uncle and will absolutelyprotect her from any Agency blowback.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Taggarts wouldn’t allow Devi to behauled off to some Agency black site to be questioned. “From what I can tell,the Agency is taking the reports about Huisman seriously after what happened inToronto.”
Arthur nodded. “Ah, so actual evidence worked. I might havementioned that.”
To a goat? He wasn’t going to let Arthur second guess IanTaggart. “Well, they’re all in now.”
“Are they? Or are they carefully working your boss?” Arthurasked, putting the stethoscope in his ears and listening briefly beforesettling it back around his neck. “One of the things my group is worried aboutis possible spies inside the Agency. I believe Huisman has his own people inhigh places across the world.”
Yeah. Lena Gallagher proved that. “I’m confused. You talklike Big Tag is invincible and now you’re worried he’s being naïve.”
Arthur started moving toward the barn, clearly in the beliefthat Zach would follow him. “I don’t think a man with his background could benaïve about his work. I do think you could be. Look, all I’m saying is if youwant any chance with the young woman, you’re going about it wrong.”
“You think I should sleep with her.”
“I think you should fuck her. I think you should stopprotecting yourself and be a man and give her what she needs. I have rarely meta young lady who is begging to be topped more than that one.”
Zach stopped. What the hell had Arthur said? “Topped?”
Arthur turned and gave him a grin that made him look youngerand way more potentially perverted. “Topped, Zach. As in sexually dominated,though I think you might want to take it a bit outside the bedroom with thatone. I do so with my own sweet wife. Oh, she doesn’t recognize it because I’m asneaky Dom, but let me tell you it works. Give it a shot.”
Arthur turned and started back toward the barn again.
The old Welsh dude was in the lifestyle? Huh. He and hiswife. In the lifestyle and seemingly happy for years. Because there was more tomarriage than youthful passion. There was peace and comfort and someone to growold with. To spend his life with. To worship and be a partner to in and out ofbed.
Was it worth the risk? Oh, he would risk his freaking soulfor a chance to be with her.
Was it worth the risk for her?
He was making that decision, and it wasn’t fair.
Zach let the rain fall as he thought about a possiblefuture.
Hope was a dangerous thing.
* * * *
Devi looked around the small town and decided this wasabsolutely the best kidnapping ever. Five stars. Fully recommend.
“Get yourself a drink.” Lacey chuckled as she closed thetrunk of the SUV. Boot. Here it was called a boot, and it was full of feed andsupplies they picked up at the store that also sold groceries. The horses hadtheir feed, and she had scones and Welsh currant cakes and a lot of veganstuff, but she was liking it. Lacey was teaching her some great recipes. “I’vegot some things I need to do, but it shouldn’t be long. Hopefully this rainwill stop soon.”
Did it ever really stop? It rained a lot here, but shethought she might not mind if she could cuddle with someone.
With Zach.
“No problem.” She was getting used to the spy stuff. Zachseemed to be more open and would let her sit in on debriefs and talked freelyaround her. But Lacey was involved in things other than Zach’s mission.Probably saving cats and dogs and bunnies from testing of some kind. Or gettingmorehillycoosout of terrible situations.
Lacey looked her over and frowned. “Don’t get in trouble.”
Devi gave the other woman her bestwhat me, trouble?expression. “Will do.”
“I’m serious. You have your mobile, right?”
She had the burner Zach gave her before she left with Lacey.It was connected only to him and Lacey, he explained, and only to be used inemergencies. He then told her that an emergency did not include seeing a cuteoutfit and calling Brianna or Daisy to gush about it.
She was going to be honest. She liked Wales, but in thispart of the country there was a lot of practical clothing.
“Got it,” Devi replied, eager to walk around and see more ofthis teeny-tiny town. It looked a little magical. It looked like a place whereshe could get some inspiration. She had her tablet in her backpack, and sittingin a pub drawing out some designs sounded like a fabulous way to spend anafternoon. “Go do spy stuff.”
