Shit. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.
“And why should I listen to anything you have to tell me?”
“Because I’m a cop,” he says, his eyes burning into mine.
I laugh. “A cop?”
I stare at him and step back, his words sinking in.
That’s ridiculous … isn’t it?
“You’re a cop?” I repeat, my voice flat.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t think that was something worth mentioning?” I ask, glaring at him.
“It was something I couldn’t mention,” he corrects, frowning at me. “I’m undercover. I’ve been undercover in the same operation for nearly three years, as Frederick Raseski.”
“Alberto?” I guess.
He nods. “They didn’t have enough on him to make charges stick.”
“So, that’s your job? To put him away?”
“More or less.”
I stand up and walk around the room. I can’t believe this.
“I wanted to tell you,” he murmurs. “There were so many times over the last couple of days where I wanted to tell you everything, but I didn’t want to put you, or anyone else, in danger.”
“Is Lily in danger?” I ask. He doesn’t answer. “That’s why you needed to keep her away from the wedding? Because you were worried about her?”
“I was worried about all of you,” he replies.
“You were afraid we’d call you Adam?” I realize. This isn’t about Lily ruining the wedding at all. It’s about his cover being blown. “You said Alberto wanted Lily gone. Does he even know about her?”
“No.” he pauses. “Well, yes, but he didn’t then.”
“Does Julian know?”
“About Lily?”
“About everything.”
He hesitates for a second. “No. He thinks I’m in witness protection.”
I walk over to the window and stare out. This is so much to take in. I’m not sure how I feel. I’m upset that he lied to me, and while I get that he had a valid reason, I still don’t like it. He walks up behind me, but I turn around and walk over to the bed before he can touch me. I need to think, but I can’t do that with him in my face.
“I can go. If you want some space…”
“Yes. No.” I frown, not sure what I want. “Maybe. I don’t know. Don’t leave, but just don’t talk to me. Leave me alone. Go over there.”
He stares at me, his lips twitching into the smallest of smiles. I frown, because I want nothing more than to wipe it off his face. I know I’m not making sense, but he doesn’t have to find it so funny.
“You’re giving me some serious mixed signals,” he comments.
“You should consider yourself lucky that’s all I’m giving you,” I snap.
“Yeah, I heard those rumors too.”
I glare at him. “Now is probably not the time to be making jokes.”
“Right.” He winces. “I’ve always sucked at timing.”
“Were you ever planning on telling me?” I ask him.
“When this was all over and we …”
“You knew where we stood?” I supply.
He shrugs. “Come on, Katie. It’s not like I didn’t have a good reason for keeping this from you. The less people who know, the safer everyone is.”
“Fine, but I hate that you didn’t tell me.”
“And I hate that I couldn’t tell you.”
Can I be angry at him for wanting to keep me safe? Well, I can, but is it fair?
Sighing, I lift my hips off the mattress and climb under the covers. I roll onto my side, so I don’t have to look at him. The silence grows between as he sits there, and I lie here, both lost in our own thoughts. Well, I am, at least. For all I know, he’s sitting over there, dreaming about tacos.
He clears his throat. I stiffen, because why do I get the feeling he’s about to drop another bomb?
“There’s something else,” he admits.
I laugh. I knew it. “What is it?”
“They’re pulling me out.”
“Pulling you out?” I repeat, rolling over to face him. “What does that even mean?”
“They’ve stopped the assignment. As of next week, I’ll be off Alberto’s case.”
“And then what? You just go on your merry way?”
“Not exactly.” He sighs and sits forward, his eyes staring into mine. “If Alberto is free, then I can’t just up and leave. You don’t just leave.”
“So, what, then?” I ask, not understanding what he’s trying to say.
“Witness protection? I’m not sure, but if Alberto finds out I was undercover …”
He looks down, his words lingering in the air. They don’t need completion, because we both know where that sentence was headed.
Fuck.
I roll back over, my stomach churning. I don’t know what to say to him, so I don’t say anything. How can anyone live like that, always looking over their back?
He sits there for a while, then I hear him stand up.
“I’ll be back soon. I better go and meet Julian, before he comes looking for me.”
I cringe when I hear the knock on the door.
Too late.Chapter SixteenAdamI open the door. Sure enough, it’s Julian.