Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(40)

“And what about this? How will he be punished for this?”

“His punishment is that he has to keep working on my father’s journals.”

“That’s a drop in the bucket.”

“Not knowing what’s in that particular drop almost got him killed. I don’t want to wind up in that same situation. I have no idea how many people there are like you—their families have drifted away, and they know pieces of information about us, but don’t know enough to keep our secrets.”

“You should have an archivist.”

“I think one of my father’s councilors acted as an archivist.”

“A terrible one.”

“Will you be one of my councilors?” she asked softly.

“Of course.” Franco’s immediate answer made her feel good, as if in him, she really had an ally with no ulterior allegiances.

Juliette released the tension she didn’t realize she was carrying. The task she’d set for herself—to make sure she never faced a situation like the one her brother had, and to find everyone who might know about the Trinity Masters—was Herculean at best. Yet, she was terrified to ask for help. The Grand Masters gave orders, they didn’t issue requests. “At least most of the current files are in good shape.”

“Are they?” Franco held up a file and shook it. “Those are what I’m going through right now. Every file is completely different. Some are chronological with the birth certificate at the front, some start with the newest information. Some have copies of passports and driver’s licenses; others have a sheet of paper with the information handwritten on it. Some have summary pages, others are just a mess of random information…”

Deciding arm stretches weren’t enough, Juliette rose to her feet and did a full-body stretch, arching her back. When she realized Franco had stopped talking, she looked over. His gaze trailed over her, his eyes hot and heavy with desire.

Juliette’s heartbeat quickened and she licked her lips. Maybe it was time to really make this office her own and have sex on the desk.

Then again, she can’t have been the first Grand Master to have done that. Ew. Maybe she needed a new desk.

In the short time she’d spent being grossed out by the idea of having sex on the same desk where her parents might have, Franco had once again been distracted by the file in his hand.

“I mean, look at Devon’s. His file is excellent. An itemized list of contents, a page on his trinity—oh, uh, look, there’s your name. Moving on…look at this, a nice summary of who he is, why he’s a member, and what his best traits are.”

Devon. What the hell was she going to do about Devon? Had he meant what he said about loving her?

She was so lost in her thoughts she almost missed what Franco was reading from the file.

“‘…cover identity as a lobbyist. He specializes in asset cultivation and information gathering on locations in Eastern Europe and North Africa rated as near-future potential threats.’”

“Wait, what did you say?” Juliette stepped over a few boxes and dropped down beside Franco.

“I was reading off his summary page.”

Juliette snatched it from his hand.

Devon Asher (D.A.) is an agent of the US Central Intelligence Agency. He was recruited by CIA Deputy H.M., friend of D.A.’s father P.

D.A. maintains a cover identity as a lobbyist. He specializes in asset cultivation and information gathering on locations in Eastern Europe and North Africa rated as near-future potential threats. He is the Trinity Masters’ primary point of contact with the CIA and will become CIA Director. A list of assets and major projects is included in the file.

D.A. nominally works for the lobbying firm Copper One. Copper One CEO is P.D. Additional information about his lobbyist position and Copper One job can be found in the file.

“No.” Juliette laid the file on the floor. “No.”

“Juliette? What’s wrong?”

“He can’t be.”

“He? You mean Devon?” Franco rubbed her arms, speaking gently. “Did you not know he was a CIA agent?”

“No. I believed him when he said he was a lobbyist.” She felt sick, physically sick.

“Maybe this is the thing he said he wanted to tell you.”

“You think?” Juliette snarled the words.

Franco held up his hands. “Sorry, I’m just trying to help.”

Juliette stood and paced, kicking things out of her way (and ignoring Franco’s pained noises) as she walked. “Check the list.”

“What list?”

“In the file. Check the list of assets.”

“Okay.” Franco’s tone was deferential. Later she could be grateful that he hadn’t stormed away when she lashed out.

“Found it. In this well-organized file—”

“Francisco!”

“Okay, okay. It says…wait, this is a list of places and names, not assets.”

“The names are the assets. Most CIA agents don’t go running around under false identities like in the movies—those are clandestine services people, and they’re more for show at this point.” Juliette’s hot anger gave way to a weary chill and she knelt beside Franco, careful not to look at the list. “Assets are informants—people who give the CIA agent information. Good agents have lots of assets and can gather information from the safety of their offices.”