Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
He stood there in the mist, Arthur’s words penetrating his brain. “You think if I take her to bed and be a good boyfriend, she’ll start treating me like a boyfriend?”
Arthur shook his head. “I think you should take her to bed and start treating her like a good husband, a great partner. Show her you trust her. Talk to her about what you can. You aren’t beholden to the Agency when it comes to this.”
“Oh, I assure you they will hold me responsible.”
“Perhaps, but you can be open with Devi because you’re not an operative for them anymore,” Arthur pointed out. “You’re on your own and get to choose your team. I think she would be a good team member if you let her.”
“Isn’t that putting her in danger? Shouldn’t I protect her?”
Arthur looked up and winced. “Don’t ask Lacey those questions. Seriously, it will get rough. You should protect her, but you shouldn’t coddle her. She’s not some child to lock away from the big bad world. Besides, she seems to find trouble.”
He huffed. “Yeah, I get your point. But what if the Agency holds her responsible, too? I’m obviously more afraid of her in Huisman’s hands, but I don’t like the thought of certain elements of the Agency getting hold of her either.”
“That’s a chance she should be allowed to take. A choice she makes for herself.”
“I’m not going to get to marry her. Or even to have a couple of years with her.” He heard the sorrow in his words.
“Pessimist. You don’t know that. I’m sure in your head this all ends poorly, but you know some powerful people, and they can move mountains when they want to. Besides, have you considered the fact that if you’re the one to bring Huisman in, the Agency can use that to protect their own image?”
He had not. It was a long shot. But it was a shot. “They won’t want to admit I tricked them. They could say they sent me out and then they look smart.”
Arthur stood and pointed his way. “Exactly. If you don’t think Ian Taggart hasn’t already considered that exact scenario, then you don’t know him well. Look, there’s real chatter about something going down soon.”
He nodded. “I think that’s why my mom contacted me.”
“She likely knows far more than we do. The question is will you tell Taggart what you know when you know it?” Arthur asked. “I understand that Lacey and I can’t provide the backup you need. So are you going in alone or calling your former boss? Who happens to be Devi’s uncle and will absolutely protect her from any Agency blowback.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Taggarts wouldn’t allow Devi to be hauled 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 in Toronto.”
Arthur nodded. “Ah, so actual evidence worked. I might have mentioned that.”
To a goat? He wasn’t going to let Arthur second guess Ian Taggart. “Well, they’re all in now.”
“Are they? Or are they carefully working your boss?” Arthur asked, putting the stethoscope in his ears and listening briefly before settling it back around his neck. “One of the things my group is worried about is possible spies inside the Agency. I believe Huisman has his own people in high places across the world.”
Yeah. Lena Gallagher proved that. “I’m confused. You talk like Big Tag is invincible and now you’re worried he’s being naïve.”
Arthur started moving toward the barn, clearly in the belief that Zach would follow him. “I don’t think a man with his background could be naïve about his work. I do think you could be. Look, all I’m saying is if you want 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 stop protecting yourself and be a man and give her what she needs. I have rarely met a 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 younger and 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 that one. I do so with my own sweet wife. Oh, she doesn’t recognize it because I’m a sneaky 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 his wife. In the lifestyle and seemingly happy for years. Because there was more to marriage than youthful passion. There was peace and comfort and someone to grow old with. To spend his life with. To worship and be a partner to in and out of bed.