Page 55 of Agent's Integrity

“Well, I didn’t expect my visit to be uneventful, whether you were between missions or not.” Steel smiled, but it was still the look of a predator. It was terrifying. He looked at me again, and I had to force myself not to back up a step. He looked like he could read my mind and he half-smirked before turning away. “What’s with the IPF entourage?”

Needing to gain some sort of control in the situation again, I crossed my arms and put a bored expression on my face. No matter how afraid I was, I would die before I showed it. “And what’s with the assassin lap dog?”

Steel speared me with amber eyes. Emerson looked surprised and he shifted his gaze to mine. He lifted a questioning eyebrow at me, and I rolled my eyes. “Come on. It wasn’t a big leap. Walks like an assassin. Talks like an assassin. Dresses like an assassin. I’m not stupid.”

Emerson smirked and nudged Steel. “Losing your touch, man.”

Steel gave him an annoyed look. “Want to put that theory to the test?”

“Can we focus here, Emerson?” I couldn’t keep the exasperation out of my voice. “We need to talk. Without your assassin.”

“Retired.” Steel turned and pushed papers and knickknacks out of the way on Emerson’s desk before plopping down on top of it. Somehow, he managed to do it gracefully and with precise movements. It was disconcerting.

“Retired?” I hadn’t meant to ask that aloud, but it popped out anyway.

Emerson glared at Steel’s back as he pulled out the chair behind the desk and sat down. “He fancies himself retired. I personally think it’ll only last as long as his girlfriend sticks around.”

Steel’s look turned icy. I never saw his hand move, but he suddenly had a blade in front of Emerson. Not touching him, not super close, but obviously a threat. “Watch your words, Captain.”

The warning caused Emerson to sober up, and he gingerly pushed Steel’s arm away from him. “You never used to pull knives on me until she showed up.”

“I never thought you warranted it until you threatened her.”

“Hey, I never threatened her.”

Steel snorted. “Don’t even try to lie.”

Ethan finally spoke, taking a slight step forward. “Can we return to the subject at hand?”

Steel eyed him, as though trying to figure him out like he had so easily labeled me. He said nothing, though, and Emerson nodded, leaning back in his seat. “Why are you here, really? You’re lucky I vouched for you, or they’d be scraping your remains off the floor of that factory right about now.”

His words chilled me, but I pushed them aside. I took a slight step forward, until I was basically in the middle of the room. I couldn’t back down or show fear, not even to Emerson. My side positively ached, and all I wanted to do was to lie down and sleep. I knew my face had to be pale again, but there was nothing I could do to hide it. If this conversation took much longer, there would be no hiding how badly I was holding up.

“It just so happened I found myself on Esmuna and thought I’d look up an old friend.” The words were flippant, and we all knew they were lies.

Emerson at least looked amused. “Really? An IPF agent on Esmuna? I don’t think so.” He stood up and crossed in front of the desk until he was standing directly in front of me. He was trying to intimidate me, but it failed. “Why shouldn’t I let Steel kill you?”

“You already told Archuleta I’d help you retrieve his merchandise.”

He shrugged. “I could simply tell him you were killed in the process. He already doesn’t think you can hack it.”

I jutted my chin out. “Listen carefully, Emerson. I could have given your whereabouts to the other IPF agents I know and let them arrest your sorry backside long before now. But I haven’t. Obviously, because you’re still a free man. I didn’t bring a bunch of agents here to arrest you on your multiple warrants. I think we’ve moved past the wanting-to-kill-each-other bit.”

Steel interjected, sounding more than a little curious. “Is she the one that had you all messed up, Emerson?”

Confusion, and then irritation, passed through his eyes. “No, Steel, she’s not.” He turned to give Steel a disgusted look. “I know better than to fall for an IPF agent.”

Steel had an amused look in his eyes, though it didn’t spread to the rest of his face. I curled my lip at him. “You think I’d fall for a mercenary captain? No.”

Emerson made an aggravated noise and walked away from me, as though putting space between us could distance himself from Steel’s ridiculous question. “What are you doing here, Carter? I’m tired of people not cooperating with me.”

Even knowing the truth was the only thing that would suffice, I still hesitated to tell him. It wasn’t that I didn’t think I could trust Emerson; it was Steel’s presence that had me hesitating. He was an unknown. I didn’t want to spill my story to a stranger, even if he already knew my most dangerous secret.

“You can trust him to keep his mouth shut.” Emerson must have seen through my hesitation. “He’s my friend and I trust him.”

Although that trust didn’t necessarily transfer to me, I was without any other options. So, I settled on an abbreviated version of the truth. “Work took me to Viridis. I got my hands on a piece of evidence that would break my case wide open, but before I could even get a look at it, my partner and I were attacked, I was kidnapped, and the evidence was stolen.”

Emerson sighed. “What is it with everyone I know getting kidnapped?”

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