Beneath the Secrets: Part One(22)

“I know. I know because I still see hope in your eyes.”

It was all she could do to not press her fist to the ache in her belly his words created. She did have hope. It was small but it was real, and she was desperate to discover it was for good reason. But that hope had everything to do with why she couldn’t walk away.

“I’ll make you a deal,” she said, fighting the tightness in her throat. “I’ll let you save me the day you let me save you.”

“I told you, Kara, I can’t be saved. I’ve made my choices. I have my reasons for staying my course. I’m headed to hell and I’ve accepted that.”

And to make this “hope” reality she knew that she was headed the same place. “Then I guess I’ll see you there.”

His eyes narrowed, sharpened. “I find it hard to believe that a woman who’s working in a dangerous environment to take care of a sick mother would welcome a trip to hell.”

“How do you know about my mother?”

“I had someone inside the company files before I ever walked into the building.” And, thanks to the contract he and his brothers had with a large number of airports, he’d been able to charter Kyle to San Fran the minute he’d known his destination. “I know what your HR file, DMV, and any other public record in existence says about you. I know Richter and Mendez believe you’re doing this to pay for your mother’s medical.” He closed the distance between them, towering over her again, the heat of his body radiating into hers. “I believe that’s what you set them up to believe; otherwise you’d jump at my offer to get out.”

“How does being in debt to someone else inside this life get me out, Blake? At the pay Mendez gives me, I only have to work here a year to leave on my own, on my terms.”

“No one leaves Mendez on their terms. Why do you think I contract only for my clients? So they don’t own me, Kara.”

“Mendez doesn’t own me.”

“He does. You just don’t know it yet. Or else you know something I don’t know, and I’m leaning in that direction.” A knock sounded on the door and Kara almost jumped. “That would be our pizza,” Blake said. “Not my ‘crew’.” He reached up and gently slid her hair behind her ear, then leaned in close, his lips brushing her earlobe. “I’m not buying your life story and, one way or the other, be it you telling me, or me finding out on my own, I’m going to discover the truth.” He stepped away from her and walked toward the door.

Kara stared after him, barely able to breathe, frozen in place. Time stood still and her mind raced. She was in so much trouble with Blake, it would take a shovel and ten men she didn’t have to dig her out.

“Kara, can you grab the drinks?” Blake called from the door.

Grab the drinks? That snapped her back to reality. She was in a t-shirt and nothing else. Kara scurried to peek around the corner to find the door angled so that Blake’s body blocked her from view.

“I’m here,” she said, and he handed her two liters of soda. Kara rushed away from the view of the door as he called out, “Order some ice, will you?”

Ice. Right. Kara set the drinks on the nightstand and headed to the desk. By the time she called downstairs, Blake was placing the pizza boxes on the bed, inspecting the contents of each. It was an odd moment to Kara, as if they were some normal couple sharing a hotel snack. And she was going along with it, as if she didn’t know he was going to discover who she was, and then she’d be dead.

***

He’d slept with the enemy and now he was eating pizza with the enemy. On a bed. With her leaned against the headboard, her long, sexy legs stretched out beside his, hers crossed at the ankle. And she was wearing only his shirt. Which he liked her in a little too much.

This wasn’t the first time Blake had slept with an enemy, or shared a meal with one for that matter. It wasn’t the first time he couldn’t keep his eyes off the enemy either. Only this time it wasn’t out of concern he might be stabbed in the back if he looked away. It was because Kara, with her long dark hair and creamy white skin, seemed to seduce him simply by being there. There was only one other woman who’d ever compelled him as she did. That he didn’t know if she was the true enemy was a problem he had to fix yesterday.

“Cat got your tongue?” he asked, reaching for his third slice.

“You have a lot of pizza to eat. I figured I better let you get to it but…”

He finished off a bite and arched a brow at her hesitation. “But?”

“I have ideas on who’s stealing from Mendez.” She placed a slice of pizza on a napkin. “I brought the data to show you. I really want to show you but it’s in my briefcase.”

“What ideas?” He filled his glass with soda and offered her more with a lift of the bottle. “And have you told Mendez?”

Kara held out her glass. “This person cheating him is a family member of Mendez’s. I’m not sure how he’ll take it.”

“So you’d rather I deliver the bad news?” he asked, setting the bottle back on the nightstand.

“Seems a smart choice to me.”

He inclined his head in agreement. “As smart as packing a weapon which I assume you know how to use?”

“Yes.”