Riled (The Invincibles 4)
Page 54
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. That is in the past.”
“Come on, you two,” I heard Maya shout. “Kensington and I are making an entrance.”
Cortez raised a brow and smiled. “Kindred spirit?”
“She’s very gracious.”
“Reminds me of someone else I know. You were wonderful with the families at the hospital on Christmas night.”
“My heart broke for them.”
“You soothed them.”
“Did I? I wanted to do more. In fact, I absolutely love the idea. I would love to initiate the same kind of thing, perhaps in London.” Cortez tried to hide it, but I saw him flinch. “I didn’t mean…”
“Come, the ball awaits.”
When the clock struck midnight, Cortez and I began the new year in one another’s arms with a passionate kiss. Not long after, we thanked the King and Queen and then excused ourselves for a night of more mind-blowing sex.
Two days later, I accidentally walked in on a conversation between Cortez and his mother.
“I fear he knows he can get to her on Mallorca,” I heard her say.
“She will have protection.”
“He will stop at nothing, Cortez.”
He murmured, raised his head, and looked into my eyes.
“Why will he stop at nothing?” I asked.
He brushed his lower lip with his finger and looked away. “I do not know.”
A chill went through me. Cortez had just lied to me. He knew exactly why Konstantine seemed to be tracking me, and didn’t want me to know.
16
Rile
“Do not let Konstantine out of your sight,” I told Smoke. “There is reason to believe he intends to act.”
“Roger that.”
“Can you speak freely?”
“If you’re asking if I’m alone, affirmative.”
“How are things going with Siren?”
Smoke made a growling sound.
“That well?”
“Pain in my fucking ass, Rile,” he muttered.
“Blame Decker.” I laughed and ended the call. I actually couldn’t imagine two operatives better suited to work together, once each one let go of their intransigent independence.