Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(41)
“You know a lot about it.”
“Because that’s what I was supposed to be.”
“You were supposed to be in the CIA?”
“Yes. I’m the perfect candidate—well educated, speak multiple languages, familiar with different customs because I’ve traveled all my life. It’s what my father wanted me to do. Up until the summer after I graduated high school, I thought he wanted me to be a lawyer. The file said Devon was recruited by H.M.? That’s Harold Martin; he was the former CIA Deputy Director. He’s a member and he tried to recruit Devon and me. I know because we talked about it.
“I’d just come back from a summer in Europe. I thought Mr. Martin was a lawyer, thought I was meeting with him to talk about my college plans. I’d already decided I wasn’t going to be a lawyer and was going to focus on international-aid work.
“Both Devon and I said no. At least I thought we did. He told me he did.”
“Why didn’t you want to be a CIA agent?”
“The CIA is like the Trinity Masters—secretive, powerful, and they’ll do whatever it takes to get what they want. Unlike the CIA, the Trinity Masters protects its people. Assets and agents of the CIA are in the line of fire, and if something goes wrong, they get no help.”
Franco’s brows were drawn together with concern and concentration. “You thought Devon said no when he was recruited.”
“Yes. The same way Sebastian and I did.”
“Sebastian?”
“My best friend. You’ll meet him soon—assuming the jerk ever shows up.”
“Sebastian Stewart?”
Juliette sucked in a breath. “Let me see that file.”
Franco slapped it closed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Give it to me.”
Franco took her hand. “I may not have grown up with Devon, but after last night I’d say I know him.” Franco leered comically, but Juliette didn’t laugh. His face sobered. “He loves you. No matter what it says in this file.”
“Let me get it over with.”
Franco flipped open to the page he’d found and handed it to her. The asset list was a printout of an email sent by Devon to Harold Martin under the guise of offering him a vacation.
Harold,
It was good to see you. Hope we can get together again soon. Here’s the list of travel options Copper One would be happy to offer you. The first half of the list is places where we have active contracts. Let me know if you want any more information on any of them.
London
Rome
Rio
Istanbul
Ankara
Copenhagen
Edinburgh
Berlin
Sana
-
Paris
Cairo
Belmopan
San Jose
Handwritten to the right of each city was a person’s name. It wasn’t the most sophisticated code, but if only Devon and Harold knew the correlation between city and person, it was secure enough.
Her name was next to Paris.
“I’m sorry, Juliette.”
“I never agreed to this. I never sent him any information. It means that these people,” she pointed to the second half of the list, “aren’t knowing assets, but somehow he’s getting information from us.”
“Are all these people members?”
“There are a few names I don’t recognize, but most I do. And according to this, Sebastian is an active, knowing asset.” Juliette’s stomach rolled as she looked at the name next to London. “He turned down Mr. Martin, same as Devon and me. Sebastian and I both wanted to be aid workers. We took a stand, said that we wouldn’t be part of a system that had caused so much damage in the past. But it looks like he was lying to me, too.”
“Maybe there’s a reason they didn’t say anything.”
“Sebastian is my best friend. He was the first person I told about becoming Grand Master. Devon was going to be my husband. What reason could be good enough?”
Franco took the file from her and set it down. “You’re the kind of woman a man would do anything to impress.” He ran one finger down her cheek. “The face that launched a thousand ships.”
“And burned the towers of Ilium? I’m hardly Helen of Troy.”
“You are, even if you don’t mean to be.”
“Lovely. I’m just another pretty prize for men to use as an excuse.” Juliette pushed to her feet.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“But that’s what I am—the princess whose marriage was more important than she was, the pretty blonde who drives men to do stupid things and becomes their excuse for bad behavior.”
Pain and anger were coiling inside her, a hot, dark snake slithering through her torso. “I’m done. I’m done being anyone’s prize.”
“Okay.”
Franco’s mild reply took the wind out of her sails. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Yep. You’re right—I shouldn’t have tried to explain away their *ness. I don’t know what you’re feeling, but I can empathize.”
Juliette hopped up onto the edge of the desk. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”