Page 54 of Code Name: Reaper
“Yeah, Mom strongly suggested I take a shower and put on fresh clothes. By the way, where is she?”
“She went for a walk. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Okay. On the one hand, I got much-needed rest and I feel a lot better for it. On the other hand, I need to talk to Amaryllis and I fear that isn’t going to go well.”
“Probably not,” he agreed. “But first, I want to talk to you.”
I glanced at my watch. “I really should?—”
“Sit down, Kingston.”
“Yes, sir.” I pulled out the second chair that sat by a café table.
“There’s something you need to ask yourself.”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you, or do you, think Amaryllis is responsible for your asset’s cover being blown?”
I rested against the chair and thought it through before responding. “Honestly, therewerereasons.”
“What were they?”
I looked at the houses on either side of the inn’s property. There was at least one window open. “Maybe we should go somewhere more private first.”
Once inside, he poured us both more coffee, then motioned for me to sit on the sofa. “Go ahead when you’re ready.”
I started by reminding him that, other than myself, Amaryllis was the only person who knew about his cover.
“Are you certain about that?”
“Fairly.” Bad answer, but it was the truth.
“Go on.”
I gave him the rundown of all the things I knew about her and all I didn’t, including that she’d taken off without letting anyone on the team know where she was or that she was safe. I also told him there’d been many instances where she was evasive, whichI saw as another red flag. “I’ve known her for a month, Dad. It makes more sense that I wouldn’t trust her.”
“But you did, so that’s moot.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“Shouldn’t have what?”
I looked up at him. “Compromised my asset.”
“You’re right. It started with you, Kingston. Which means…”
“I should’ve been angry with myself instead of her.”
“I’d say you were.”
And I’d taken it out on her. Still, it didn’t change the fact that Dagger’s cover was blown andsomeonewas responsible.
“I agree you shouldn’t have shared such sensitive information with someone you, by your own admission, don’t know well. I also think you did it for a good reason. You wouldn’t have otherwise.”
“You’re right. I wanted her to know she could trust me.”
When he raised a brow, I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees.
