He swiped a hand down his jaw and his palm against his whiskers sounded like the rasp of sandpaper. “She knew of you through a few conversations, but I must have never spoken your name. That was a long time ago.”
“To you it was a long time ago, but for me it was just hours ago, and can you imagine how I feel?”
“I’m sorry, Novah.” He reached over and took her hand. “There is something I do need to tell you.”
She whipped her chin up and sighed. “Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like this?”
“I didn’t come on board Langley’s security team for the reason you think.”
Blinking, she asked, “Then why?”
“A few months ago we’d received some information that Langley had contacts with a few undesirable people, including members of the Russian Mob, the Righteous Renegades. After digging up more dirt, I knew I needed to get the proof.”
Stunned, it took her a long moment to gather her words. “So you came to work for Mr. Langley undercover?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Wow.”
“My buddy Dave Banner has worked for him a long time, got me in. I was able to negotiate a spot for Pao too.”
“Langley’s a smart man. He didn’t suspect anything?”
. “The trick is to only lie when it’s absolutely necessary. VK handles security so it wasn’t over the top that I wanted to take on a substantial contract with a company like Langley Industries, and with Banner’s backing, it became pretty easy.”
“So only lying when it’s necessary. That is supposed to make me feel better how?” She lifted a brow.
“Novah, Langley’s a crook. Don’t start feeling sorry for him. Not when the asshat sent you the pictures as a threat,” he growled.
“I’m not feeling sorry for him, but I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner.” Why did she feel like she was on a roller coaster going a hundred miles per hour?
“I didn’t feel there was reason to tell you until I knew more, but then all this went down.”
She tried clearing a path in her tired brain. “Does Banner know what you were doing?”
“No.”
“Wouldn’t that put your friendship at risk?”
“I don’t want to believe it, but a part of me suspects he knows of the underbelly of Langley’s activity.” His fingers tightened on the wheel and she could see the white under his skin.
“It’s hard to know who to trust.” “Do you think Lindsay still loves Langley.”
“No, I don’t. I think she’s angry with him because she feels betrayed. He told her at one point he was going to leave ShyAnne to be with her. She said she didn’t want that.”
“When we were sitting at the table discussing her best interest what I saw in her expression was exactly what I saw in you countless times while we were married. All those times we argued over the same issues, all those little problems that took us farther and deeper away from the true backbone of the conundrum. I always felt like I was betraying you when I left to go overseas.”
“I’m sorry that you felt that way. It wasn’t fair for you to feel that way when you had to face the turmoil over there.”
“I can only say I’m sorry so many times for the man I am.” He blew out a long breath and they approached a small town. He flipped on the turn signal and pulled into the cracked asphalt of a gas station. “I’m grabbing a coffee. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m fine.” She watched him enter through the glass doors and she grabbed her purse, shuffling through the contents looking for her lip balm. Instead, she found a folded piece of paper. Holding it up she saw her name was written on the outside. Unfolding it, she saw that it was a letter from Lindsay.
The driver’s door came open and Egan was back. He slid into the driver’s side, looking at her curiously. “You okay?”
“Please turn on the interior light.”
“Sure.”
Once she could see the words written in neat handwriting, she swallowed at the realization of what she held. “Egan, I found this letter from Lindsay in my purse.”
“What does it say?”
“I’ll read it aloud…”
“Novah,
By the time you read this letter I should be far enough away. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye after all that you have done for me, but this is for the best. I called Peter and told him I was leaving. I explained to him that he’d never see me or the baby again and all that I ask is that he forgets I existed. If he cared for me at all, he’ll let me go, safely. Please understand why I had to do this. Best wishes,
Lindsay.”
“Will he let her go?” Novah met Egan’s gaze.
“I don’t know,” he said quietly, started the engine, and pulled out of the lot.
“Let’s just get to Fin. I feel tired all the way into my bones.”
~~~~~
Peter Langley tugged at his tie, dragging it from his collar as the door to his office opened. He smelled her before he saw her. Breathing in the expensive perfume he bought her, he swiveled and cast his fatigued gaze on his wife. She’d been gone for most of the evening, probably visiting her lover. He wished he didn’t care—wished he could wrap his hand around her throat and choke her to death. He would if that meant he could eradicate her from his brain.
She eased her way in like a hypnotic snare. Her grey eyes bearing into him with the weight of a wrecking ball.
“What are you doing home so early? Did your lover toss you out of bed?” he snorted.
The corners of her plush red lips lifted. “Wouldn’t you like to
