Right Through Me (The Obsidian Files #1)(71)

“You lying, treacherous prick,” she said.

Noah let out a controlled sigh. “Caro—”

“You had your own agenda from the beginning. The whole time you were just manipulating me. Jerking me around. All those things you said.”

“They were all true,” Noah broke in.

“Oh, shut up. How could you play me like that?” To her dismay, she was dissolving. This * didn’t deserve her tears. She barely remembered the other people in the room. She was alone with Noah. The others were wallpaper.

“I meant everything I said to you,” Noah said. “And the two of us are on the same side. But my people and I have secrets that have to be kept at all costs.”

“Secrets?” She laughed wildly. “Oh, great! All costs, huh? I’m the cost, Noah. Who the hell are you guys? What is your deal?”

The others exchanged uneasy glances and looked to Noah for their cue.

“It’s complicated,” Noah said.

“I just bet that it is.” She glared at him through a haze of furious tears. “Let’s keep it simple. Just give me the flash drive.”

“If I do that, everyone I care about will die,” he said. “Or worse.”

Something in his voice undercut her anger. An intuition of some shadowy threat that loomed over all of them. Noah was not lying.

And that helped her not one bit. She had her own monsters. She had no compassion to spare for anyone else. Maybe if he had not sucked her in so completely, she might have been more open-minded, but as it was, no.

“Guess what, Noah?” she said. “That is not my problem. You are my problem. You stalked me, seduced me, lied to me and f*cked me left, right and sideways. I will not smile and make nice. Give me that flash drive, you son of a bitch.” She dove for his hand.

“Flush this.” Noah tossed it into the air toward Zade, who caught it one handed. Then Noah seized her in his arms.

Panic exploded in her chest. “No!” She fought like a wildcat to free herself. Nothing doing. He was insanely strong.

“You sure about this?” Zade said to Noah.

“Get it over with.” Noah’s voice was implacable.

“Don’t!” Caro yelled. “Don’t do it! Please!”

Zade flashed Caro a pained look, and did as Noah commanded. They saw the bathroom light switch on. Heard the swoosh and gurgle as the flash drive was swept out of reach.

Zade came back, avoiding Caro’s eyes. “Done.” His voice was subdued.

The strength that outrage had given her drained away. If not for Noah’s hold on her, she would have crumpled. All that effort. Months of plotting, searching.

“I’ll fix this for you,” Noah said forcefully. “I’ll find another solution. I’ll protect you from Mark for as long as you need protection. I promise, Caro. Just please, be patient.”

She started to laugh, but it degenerated into tears. She choked them back.

Noah deposited her in a big easy chair and stood looming over her as if afraid to turn his back on her. “Relax,” he said.

“How?” she asked, with a bitter laugh. “Maybe you should just f*ck my brains out. It worked so well for you the last time. Too bad it’s just a temporary solution.”

Zade and Sisko edged warily toward the door. “Hannah,” Zade said in a warning tone. “Let’s get the hell out of here. These two have things to discuss.”

“No. We don’t.” Caro’s voice rang like out a bell. “I’m not likely to live long enough to be a problem for Noah.”

“Caro, shut up and listen to me!” Noah’s voice was harsh with frustration.

Sisko snagged a big black wool overcoat from the closet near the door. “You won’t go all AVP apeshit on her, are you?” he asked.

“Get lost,” Noah said curtly. “All of you. Fast.”

They filed out fast, eager to be gone, but Hannah stopped at the door and turned to look at Caro.

“I am so sorry,” she said. “I never wanted to hurt you. It’s not who we are.”

“Really,” Caro said icily. “I’m touched.”

“Don’t hate us,” Hannah persisted. “Please.”

“I don’t hate you,” Caro said. “Good enough? Now get out of here, unless you want to watch me rip off your brother’s arms.”

Hannah’s eyebrows shot up. “Good luck with that,” she murmured.

She scurried out. The door slammed. The two of them looked at each other.

“Caro,” he said. “I swear I won’t let anyone hurt you. Is that understood?”

Caro crossed her arms over her chest. Her neck felt sore, looking up at him. “You mean, except for yourself?”

“I couldn’t tell you secrets that weren’t my own to share,” Noah said.

“You lied through your teeth to me!”

He waited for a moment. “Last night you asked me what happened to us after my mother disappeared,” he said finally. “Do you still want to hear that story?”

“Sure. Why not. Like I have a choice.”

Noah made a frustrated sound. “Are you going to bust my balls indefinitely?”

“That is the least of what I am going to do to you, Noah Gallagher.”