Zane nodded. “That’s a really good idea. I’m glad the Agency finally gave her some protection. Did she say anything about the IG?”
Cass shifted a bit closer to him. “Yeah. It didn’t seem good at all. She didn’t want to get into details on the phone, but it sounds like someone is trying to insinuate that she’s working with Al-Nidal.”
“That’s even crazier than thinking I’m involved with the cartel. She’s one of their brightest up-and-coming experts. Why would that make any sense?” He didn’t like this development. The web of danger just kept expanding all around them.
“Beats me. But it shows that all of us are being targeted. Once the cartel has in its mind to screw up someone’s life or kill them, we know how that plays out. Which is why I’m still worried that, in the end, Mason is going to push to have me put in WITSEC.”
Zane shook his head. “That’s extreme. Let’s not cross that bridge until we have to.” He wanted to ask her about something else too. “I know you had your first counseling session this morning, but you didn’t say how it went.”
She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I don’t know how much talking to psychologists you’ve done, but it’s always the same questions. They wanted to make sure I’m not going to lose my mind or hurt myself or someone else, and that I am directly dealing with my feelings.” Her voice rose with each word that came out of her mouth. “I am dealing with my feelings. I’m not one to lock my emotions up in a box. Just the opposite. She encouraged me to find someone I trust and talk to them. Which I guess, considering the only person I trust is you, would have to be you. So that’s what you get for pushing me into it.”
Zane felt himself falling deeper and deeper into this hole. But regardless of anything else that was going on, he wasn’t going to turn his back on her. She’d been there for him a lot over the years, never questioning anything. So now he was going to be there for her. “Whatever you need, Cass, just name it.”
She didn’t respond quickly. Instead, she locked eyes with him as if she were trying to look deep within him. The next thing he knew, she had leaned in and her warm lips were pressed firmly against his. For a moment, his mind went completely blank. But he didn’t freeze. He couldn’t help himself. He kissed her back, blocking out any thoughts or consequences. There was definitely a spark between them. Even bigger than he’d expected.
But after a minute, when she tried to move in closer and deepen the kiss, he regained his senses and pulled away.
“Cass, we’re both dealing with a lot of emotions right now fueled by all of this, but our partnership is too important to risk by crossing any lines.” He knew she wasn’t going to like that response, and he prepared himself for her reaction.
She crossed her arms, starting to sulk. “You know, Zane, sometimes your goody-goody nature can be a real downer. I think you feel the same way about me as I feel about you, and have for a long time. We’re both adults. I just think you’re in denial, or playing like you are because it serves your purpose of keeping the moral high ground in our partnership.”
That was more hurt and anger than he’d expected. He hesitantly took her hand. “Cass, I care about you more than you know. And because of that, I want to protect you at all cost. That includes protecting you from me. I would not be a good fit for you. Yes, we’re good friends and great partners. But I am a crummy boyfriend. I don’t do commitment, and you’ve heard enough about my personal life to know that what I’m saying is true.”
“All right. Maybe we should just table this conversation until you’re ready to face your feelings.” She grabbed her laptop and opened it back up, starting to work again.
Zane figured this was his cue to exit. “Do you still want me to stay here?”
She let out a large sigh. “Do I want you to? Probably not. But do I need you to? Yes.”
“Okay. I’ve got my go bag in the car. I’ll get it and take a room at the other end of the hall from yours. If it will make you more comfortable, I can even stay down here on the couch.”
Cass shook her head. “Don’t be silly. There’s no need for you to do that. It’s not like I’m going to attack you in the middle of the night or something.”
He knew she was attempting to be funny, but it didn’t strike him that way. He felt badly about hurting her. But had she really had feelings for him for a long time? Could he have been that blind?
Maybe so.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
Layla waited anxiously for Hunter to return to the safe house that evening. He’d been doing some work at his office and was touching base with Mason. She’d busied herself reviewing some notes and trying to come up with an enemies list, as Scarlett had suggested. She put people on the list that she thought would never actually hurt her, but Scarlett’s words echoed in her ears. She couldn’t be naïve. She needed to take a brutally honest and objective approach, because her career was on the line. Her good name meant so much to her. It was becoming clear, though, that sometimes she saw the best in people when she should also see that they might be a threat.
As she stared at her list, she still found it hard to believe that anyone on it could have gone so
