Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(48)

Now fully awake, Juliette sat up. Franco, who’d been asleep at her back, did the same. “Do you two always have dramatic conversations in the middle of the night?”

Juliette ignored him. “It’s not like I could have changed my mind and called off the engagement. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

“I see you a couple times a year, and when I do see you, half the time you’re busy making it clear that you hate me. When was I supposed to start the conversation that would guarantee you never spoke to me again?”

“It’s my fault?” Juliette’s hands curled into fists.

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

Franco grabbed a sheet off the floor and tucked it around Juliette. “You have to give him a chance to explain.”

The speeches she’d prepared when she wrote the summons were forgotten. Franco was calm and resolute, his hands on her shoulders urging her to stay, to listen. Tension radiated off Devon. When Juliette took a deep breath and let it out, loudly enough that they both could hear, Devon seemed to relax.

He cleared his throat. “By the time you decided you wanted nothing to do with the agency, I’d already been working for them for a long time.

“I started out as an asset when I was eighteen. I officially joined the agency midway through college. I was recruited the same way you were, just five years earlier.”

“So you’ve been lying to me for years.” The words were bitter, and only Franco’s hand kept her on the bed.

“No. I’ve been hiding the truth from you for years. I thought you’d change your mind and it wouldn’t matter. When I realized you wouldn’t, I didn’t know how to tell you. I always assumed we’d end up in the agency together.”

“Information. What information were you getting from me?”

He sighed and pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. “I ghosted your computer and email accounts.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“Damn it, Juliette. You know how this works. I don’t want to torture information out of locals, or put guns into the hands of people who aren’t trained to use them.”

“Then what do you do?” Franco’s question was genuinely curious, and as was becoming custom, his apparent failure to react to the tension between Juliette and Devon helped ease the situation. His avid, almost lewd curiosity let the air out of Juliette’s balloon of outrage.

Devon’s snort-laugh was weary. “The best information comes from either locals or aid workers. People like Juliette.” He sat up. “The best way to stop terrorism is to eliminate environments where terrorism thrives. Water, food, doctors—these are all things we can provide, if we know they’re needed.”

“All those times other charities stepped in?” Her work with North Star had overlapped with the arrival of other charities or initiatives multiple times.

“Not every time, but when you had intel on high-risk areas, I did my best to make sure the region got whatever you said it needed.”

“And what about the rest of my email?”

“I never read it.”

Juliette snorted. “Right.”

“I’m serious. Do you think I wanted to read about the people you were dating and sleeping with? That would have killed me.”

“I’m supposed to believe that you—”

“Yes,” Franco said.

“Excuse me?” Juliette twisted to peer at him in the darkness.

“Yes, you’re supposed to believe him.”

“Stay out of this,” she demanded.

“No. If we’re going to be in this together, I’m not going to stay out of it. Your past impacts me.”

“You have no say in whether or not we end up together.” Juliette kept the words cold.

“I know that, but I can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with the two of you.” Franco spoke simply, the absolute truth of what he was saying clear in his voice.

Once again, his words sapped the tension from the room.

“Neither can I.” Devon reached out and laid his hand over Franco’s on Juliette’s shoulder. “My future has always had you in it, Jules. Always. I love Rose, too, but not the way I love you.” He squeezed, emphasizing their physical connection. “Or the way I’m coming to love Franco.”

Could she forgive Devon?

Would she have done any differently if she were in his position?

It was time to grow up.

“I want to be angry with you, both of you. Devon, for lying to me for years. Franco, for assuming things I may not be ready to commit to.”

Both men stiffened, the air around their little trio tightening as they waited for the “but”.

“But, I need you both. I was never meant to be Grand Master, and it’s going to be hard.” Franco scooted closer to her until he supported her back. Devon picked up her hands and kissed them. “I’m a woman, I’m young, and I don’t even like half of our rules. I need both of you to help me do this.”

“Anything you need, querida.”

“Always. My heart is yours.”

“Devon, I’ve already asked Franco, but now I’m asking you. Will you be one of my councilors?”

“Yes. I’m honored.” He kissed her hands again.