samples without Austin finding out. She had to know he would live in safety after she was gone.
“If I can get them to you, you can ensure my sisters know the truth.”
His dark eyes subsided, his shoulders relaxing. “You owe me answers. Tell me how to find them and I’ll go in.”
Shaking her head, she gave a patronizing laugh. “Now, you think you’re a D.I.R.E. super agent? You’ll get killed, Austin. I won’t allow that to happen. Besides, I was going to ask my sisters to take out all of your old girlfriends. I wouldn’t want you to interfere.”
He shook her by the arms. “This isn’t funny, Belle. You promised me answers and I’m going to get them. We’re going to Mitchell and we’re going to figure out how to do this right.”
The weight of her death hit her like a slap to the cheek. If she died, who would protect him? Once the Madam found out she’d slept with him, had fallen in love with him, he would be a target.
So, where did her loyalties lie? Her sisters deserved a better life, deserved to know the truth. They’d gone through all of the Matheson’s experiments together, all of the Madam’s training.
Brainwashed with all of the lies.
Did she just allow them to live in oblivion to protect Austin?
He, of all people, deserved none of this. She’d brought him into this web of danger for her own gain, had manipulated him over and over. When he asked for answers, she should’ve said no. She should’ve thought of him first, instead of her own needs and desires. Now, it was only a matter of time before the Madam found him.
She had no choice. She had to join forces with D.I.R.E.
They had the resources to find her sisters’ families and protect Austin. Teaming up with the Madam’s enemy was her best shot at accomplishing both.
Climbing from bed, she went to the restroom to clean up. “Call Mitchell and tell him I’ll answer all of your questions tonight. But, only after I eat something. I’m starved.”
Chapter Six
U nder the cloak of night, Austin held Belle’s hand as he led her into the D.I.R.E. San Diego office, Dylan McCall and Teague Hamilton behind them. He’d arranged the late night meeting as she’d requested, knowing she feared the woman who controlled her.
Mitchell had foregone an evening of rubbing elbows with the current Air Force brass to meet with Belle. Somehow, Austin had to show her they were a united front without giving away his new position with the agency. As far as Mitchell and the others were concerned, he’d slept with Belle to get information.
As far as Belle was concerned, it had become more than that.
As far as he was concerned, he’d royally f’d up.
“You must be damned good in bed,” McCall said in a low voice, over his shoulder.
Staring at Belle across the room, he decided she was the one that had been damned good in bed. The assassin had been all woman, hot and responsive like no other before her. Her openness, her willingness to expose herself to him, had humbled him in ways he didn’t deserve. Though he knew she could protect herself and him, he would never allow her to do that. She had become important to him in ways he didn’t want to contemplate at the moment.
Thus, the f up.
“I’m just doing my job,” Austin said, the lie churning in his stomach like bad Mexican food.
Dylan gave him a clap on the shoulder. “Don’t tell Mitchell you fell for her.”
He swallowed down his gasp. “Who said I fell for her?”
“That what-the-hell-have-I-done look on your face.” He walked past Austin to help Teague into a chair at the conference table.
Standing on the opposite side of the conference room, Belle looked like the orphan she’d believed herself to be, her blue eyes wide in her pale face. He’d come to San Diego to work with Jaydan, to prove his loyalty, to prove to himself he could make the agency.
Now, he’d risked all of that by sleeping with Belle. How could he let down Jaydan again? Risk his newly-found position with
“If I can get them to you, you can ensure my sisters know the truth.”
His dark eyes subsided, his shoulders relaxing. “You owe me answers. Tell me how to find them and I’ll go in.”
Shaking her head, she gave a patronizing laugh. “Now, you think you’re a D.I.R.E. super agent? You’ll get killed, Austin. I won’t allow that to happen. Besides, I was going to ask my sisters to take out all of your old girlfriends. I wouldn’t want you to interfere.”
He shook her by the arms. “This isn’t funny, Belle. You promised me answers and I’m going to get them. We’re going to Mitchell and we’re going to figure out how to do this right.”
The weight of her death hit her like a slap to the cheek. If she died, who would protect him? Once the Madam found out she’d slept with him, had fallen in love with him, he would be a target.
So, where did her loyalties lie? Her sisters deserved a better life, deserved to know the truth. They’d gone through all of the Matheson’s experiments together, all of the Madam’s training.
Brainwashed with all of the lies.
Did she just allow them to live in oblivion to protect Austin?
He, of all people, deserved none of this. She’d brought him into this web of danger for her own gain, had manipulated him over and over. When he asked for answers, she should’ve said no. She should’ve thought of him first, instead of her own needs and desires. Now, it was only a matter of time before the Madam found him.
She had no choice. She had to join forces with D.I.R.E.
They had the resources to find her sisters’ families and protect Austin. Teaming up with the Madam’s enemy was her best shot at accomplishing both.
Climbing from bed, she went to the restroom to clean up. “Call Mitchell and tell him I’ll answer all of your questions tonight. But, only after I eat something. I’m starved.”
Chapter Six
U nder the cloak of night, Austin held Belle’s hand as he led her into the D.I.R.E. San Diego office, Dylan McCall and Teague Hamilton behind them. He’d arranged the late night meeting as she’d requested, knowing she feared the woman who controlled her.
Mitchell had foregone an evening of rubbing elbows with the current Air Force brass to meet with Belle. Somehow, Austin had to show her they were a united front without giving away his new position with the agency. As far as Mitchell and the others were concerned, he’d slept with Belle to get information.
As far as Belle was concerned, it had become more than that.
As far as he was concerned, he’d royally f’d up.
“You must be damned good in bed,” McCall said in a low voice, over his shoulder.
Staring at Belle across the room, he decided she was the one that had been damned good in bed. The assassin had been all woman, hot and responsive like no other before her. Her openness, her willingness to expose herself to him, had humbled him in ways he didn’t deserve. Though he knew she could protect herself and him, he would never allow her to do that. She had become important to him in ways he didn’t want to contemplate at the moment.
Thus, the f up.
“I’m just doing my job,” Austin said, the lie churning in his stomach like bad Mexican food.
Dylan gave him a clap on the shoulder. “Don’t tell Mitchell you fell for her.”
He swallowed down his gasp. “Who said I fell for her?”
“That what-the-hell-have-I-done look on your face.” He walked past Austin to help Teague into a chair at the conference table.
Standing on the opposite side of the conference room, Belle looked like the orphan she’d believed herself to be, her blue eyes wide in her pale face. He’d come to San Diego to work with Jaydan, to prove his loyalty, to prove to himself he could make the agency.
Now, he’d risked all of that by sleeping with Belle. How could he let down Jaydan again? Risk his newly-found position with
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