Sins, Lies & Spies (Black Brothers #2)(46)

“I heard that,” a voice called from inside.

Knox placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside. “If I cared if you heard, I would’ve whispered.”

The studio apartment had one large room with a wall of windows on one side and a small kitchen tucked in the corner on the adjacent wall. A large rectangular table took center stage in the middle of the room. Computers and other tech equipment covered half of the surface.

A man with medium brown hair and similarly colored eyes sat in front of a computer monitor, his legs spread wide. His hair stuck up in every direction, and a least a week’s worth of stubble covered the lower half of his face.

Knox gestured to me. “Jack, this is Trinity Jones.”

Jack pushed away from the desk and stood. He had a bulky muscular build with broad shoulders. “Nice to meet you.” He stuck out his hand and I shook it.

“Likewise,” I said.

Jack turned his attention to Knox. “I didn’t realize you planned to come into the office today.”

Knox tossed a white bag of pastries on the table. “I didn’t, but I wanted to check on those reports from Trinity’s apartment.”

Jack slid a blue file folder across the table. “There’s nothing to see. Everything came back clean. The only fingerprints in the entire apartment were yours and Trinity’s.

Knox flipped open the folder and trailed his finger down a piece of paper. “They must’ve wiped down her entire townhome.”

Jack nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

Knox tossed the folder on the table. “What about the encrypted files from Lang’s computer? Have you had any luck with those?”

Jack’s gaze swept down my body. Anger vibrated from his pores. “I’ll fill you in later.” He cocked his head in my direction and breathed a sigh of irritation. “When she’s not around.”

Knox bent at the waist, his palms flat on the top of the table. “You can talk in front of Trinity.”

My throat tightened, I backpedaled a few steps. “It’s not a big deal. I can wait in the hall.”

Knox straightened and folded his arms across his chest. “It is a big deal. You’re assisting me on the case. Jack knows that.”

“No. I don’t know that.” Jack popped out of his chair, the wheels scraping across the floor. “I don’t know what sort of game you’re playing right now, Knox, but this shit has to stop. You may be the majority owner, but my life is on the line here, too.”

Knox’s eyes glittered. “What are you trying to say?”

“That I don’t trust her, and the last time we talked, you didn’t trust her either. Dammit, Knox.” He banged his hand on the table and released a sharp breath. “Just because you’re f*cking her doesn’t mean she’s not going to shove a knife in your back the second you’re not looking.”

Wow. This guy was a jackass. “Look.” I held up my hands and took a few steps back. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.”

“No.” Knox clamped his hand around my wrist, but he didn’t break eye contact with Jack. “You’re not going anywhere. Jack, apologize to Trinity.”

“I’m not going to apologize. I’m your partner. She’s just some chick you’re using to get information to crack this case. The exact same case that I didn’t want anything to do with six months ago, but no.” Jack waved his arms wildly in the air. “You overruled me, and now we have Miles Knightly crawling up our asses, and you’re defending some woman with a murky as hell background. What next?”

Anger pulsed through my veins and I yanked my wrist out of his hold. I didn’t know who I wanted to hit first—Knox or Jack. “What the hell, Knox? You’re using me? That’s what you told him? Is that what this is about?”

Shaking his head, he reached for me again, but I swatted his hand away.

“Listen, Trinity.” He shoved his hands through his hair. “There’s nothing nefarious going on. I never misled you. I told you exactly—”

I couldn’t do this right now, especially not with Jack in the peanut gallery. I needed space. I needed air. I needed to think. I felt like I was on a never-ending merry-go-round ride.

“You know what?” I swallowed, but my throat was too dry to complete the motion. “I don’t want to hear your fumbling explanations and I don’t want his apology. He’s entitled to his opinion, but just for the record,” I said, pointing my finger at Jack, and then Knox. “I have a lot more at stake than either one of you. I’m the one with the dead cat and the trashed townhome. In fact, since I met Knox, my life has imploded. I should be questioning whether I should trust both of you, not the other way around.” I inhaled through my nose as I shook my head. Instead of calming me, it was like throwing gasoline on a campfire. “So screw you. Screw both of you. I don’t need this, and I sure as hell don’t need either of you to figure this out. You two can sit in here and play footsie and whisper secrets. I’m done.”

Pivoting on my heel, I stormed out, so mad I thought flames had to be shooting out of my eyes. I rushed past the elevator to the fire exit door. I flung open the heavy gray-hued door and it crashed into the concrete wall with a satisfying thud. The slapping of my sneakers against the metal stairs competed for attention with the loud drumming of my heart.