Page 89 of Spy With Me
Cooper hugged him, enveloping him. “It’s okay, but we havesome things to talk about.”
A long sigh was heard from his left and then Tris wasjoining in. “I forgive you, too.”
“Tristan,” Big Tag barked.
“No.” Tris threw himself in. “You can keep me out of thedrama but not the family love, uncle.”
He heard Tag growl, but the circle got a little bigger.
He never imagined having a circle at all.
He hugged his brothers as they welcomed him home.
* * * *
Devi really wanted to know what her uncle was saying toZach. She tried to turn around. There was a place at the end of the hall thatwould be perfect for eavesdropping. “You guys get settled in. I’ll be there ina minute.”
Kala stood in the way. “Nope. What’s happening in there isnot meant for feminine eyes. I’m absolutely certain my father is about to breakZach down in that way he does. I should know. He’s the only person in the worldbesides Coop who can do it to me.”
“I break down all the time,” Kenzie admitted with a smile.“It feels good to let it all out. Do you want to cry? I’m worried about Ben soI’ll cry with you. Normally I need a session to get going, but you havetormented love vibes right now. I think that should do it.”
“You’re such a menace,” Tasha said and pointed to the door.“Go on, Dev. We’re not listening in. Zach deserves some privacy. Believe me. Iknow what it feels like to have the man I love in conference with my father.Things are going to turn out okay. I’m actually happy it’s my dad talking tohim and not yours.”
Because her uncle loved Zach and her dad didn’t really knowhim. In her dad’s mind Zach was the asshole who lied to his daughter. She wouldhave some work to do on him.
No. She wouldn’t because it was all a mess and it was endingand it was too soon and she… Devi took a long breath, trying to banish thepanic. Tasha. She forced herself to look at Tasha. He loved Tasha, and she wasas far from her cousin as a woman could be. She needed to remember that. Zachwas in trouble and he was facing something grim, and he didn’t want to gothrough it alone. Who would? They were friends. They liked each other. It wasokay to spend this time with him.
She couldn’t fucking breathe.
“I’m sure he wants to know what Zach’s been doing and anyintelligence he can give about his mom.” Devi was happy the words came outeven, and she was pretty sure she wasn’t showing how close to the edge she was.She needed to survive this whole mess of a meeting and get some sleep andtomorrow they would run their op and…
“He wants to talk to Zach about you,” Kala assured her.
“He shouldn’t.” If her uncle was going to pressure Zach toleave her alone, she was going to stop him. Anger felt way better than sorrowand fear.
She was going to lose him. He wouldn’t be careful. He wouldfight until they killed him, and even if they didn’t, he was adamant that hewould turn himself in. He would be in jail for the rest of his life if he waslucky. He would probably be an asshole about it and not even marry her so theycould have conjugal visits. He would tell her to forget about him. How was shesupposed to forget about him? How was she supposed to go home and pretend likethis time never happened? Like they never happened? Was she supposed to flyhome in time for play night at The Hideout? Find a new Dom?
“She’s freaking out.” Kala let herself fall onto one of thetwo queen-sized beds in this room.
Lou plunked her bag down on the other. “She seems to betaking it well. I’m surprised.”
Kenzie studied her for a moment. “Nah, Kala’s right. She’sfreaking, and like usual she’s trying very hard not to talk about it. I don’tget this. It’s good to talk about our feelings. I try to talk about how hard itis to love an enemy all the time.”
“He’s Canadian. He is not our enemy. No matter what happens,we’re still family,” Tasha said with a shake of her head. “Besides, I thinkwe’re now working with them, so it definitely doesn’t feel like we’re enemies.Didn’t Dad and Mom decide you can tell Ben about the whole ‘hey, I’m twins, andI’m not the mean one’ thing when you’re ready?”
Devi sat down, thinking seriously about letting this line ofgossip begin and when her cousins were thoroughly involved in arguing, shecould sneak out and go yell at her uncle for trying to take this time from her.
She could tell Zach she would run with him. She could leaveit all behind and be with him. Until they ran out of luck.
“Nope, this is a discussion for another time,” Kenzieannounced. “We have to figure out why our cousin is so freaked out.”
Uhm, because she spent several unintended weeks in a foreigncountry wearing underwear bought at a mini-mart in the Welsh countryside.Because she was in love with a man for the first time, and it was perfectexcept for all the fucking things that were wrong. Because she’d been kidnappedtwice in one year. Because she didn’t have a job and she was going to have tomake decisions soon. Ones she didn’t want to make. Ones she didn’t have themoney to make. And she would make them alone because Zach would be gone. Eitheron the run or in a box of one kind or another. He would be gone. Gone. Fuckinggone.
“I think she’s going to blow.” Kala sat up and sighed. “Wemight need a fight club.”
Tash and Kenzie and Lou turned on her at the same time. “Nofight club.”
How long had Kala been talking about fight club? Which shewas not going to do.
