The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(157)

I gaped at him. “You can’t be serious.”

He winked at me. “Dead serious.”

I glared at him. “What the hell, Noah. I’m not entrusting this story to a grocery store tabloid. This isn’t some guess about who’s cheating or in rehab scandal. This is serious.”

He laughed softly as he stepped out of the elevator and into the parking garage. “I realize that, but a tabloid will take chances a mainstream news agency won’t. Think of the John Edwards love child scandal.”

“Yes, that’s my point exactly. That was a cheating scandal, involving an illegitimate love child. It belonged on the front page of a tabloid.”

He opened the passenger door of Ryker’s car and I slipped inside. It felt strange using all of Ryker’s things while he was still in Mexico doing God only knows what. I broke down and called him yesterday to listen to his voicemail. Even though it was irrational, I had hoped he’d answer the phone.

He slipped into the driver’s seat and drove out of the parking garage. “Look, I know it’s not ideal, but at least the story will be out in the open. Once they let the cat out of the bag, some independent websites will cover it too, and the networks won’t be able to ignore it. The story will have too much traction, especially with the mountain of evidence Ryker gave you.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” I said, staring at the flickering lights of D.C. illuminating the dark sky. “I just wish we could’ve got it on the front pages of the major D.C. newspapers.”

His jaw clenched as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. “Don’t worry. It will get there. Senator Deveron won’t be doing his backroom deals for much longer.”

I stared at his profile, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Why did you get involved with pay-for-hire mercenary work?”

Jarringly silent, Noah’s eyes narrowed and his eyebrows slanted low over his light brown eyes. He seemed to be trying to figure out how to answer my question, but then it hit me. He had no intention of telling me anything about him. I’d spent the last week living in his pocket, and he knew everything about me, and I didn’t know more than a few inconsequential facts about him. I was so tired of all the secrets, lies, and half-truths.

“It pays well, and it’s never boring. Not many people can say the same thing about their jobs,” he finally answered.

“Do you have a family?” I asked.

He white-knuckled the steering wheel. “Nope.”

I chewed my lip, taking in the sharp angles of his profile and his heavily lashed eyes. “Everybody has a family.”

“I don’t,” he snapped, his eyes darkening.

I rolled my eyes. “So you were born in a test tube and raised in an orphanage?”

“Drop it, Hattie,” he growled, his lips thinning. “You know all you need to know about me. We aren’t friends. I’m doing a job.”

My shoulders tensed, and I folded my arms across my body. “Fine. I don’t mind being strangers. We’ll only communicate when absolutely necessary. How does that sound?”

His frown deepened. “Perfect,” he answered without glancing at me.

“Great.” I leaned forward and turned up the volume of the radio.

I stared out the window. Trees lined the street. The yellow glow of lights from the inside the buildings dotted the sidewalk. Couples strolled hand and hand. Laughter floated through the air from the restaurants. Everything looked normal. Simple even. Jealousy ate at my insides. I missed my uncomplicated life where I didn’t have to second-guess everyone and everything.

Noah turned down the volume and pulled the car over to the side of the road. “My job requires anonymity and you’re safer the less you know about me.” He threaded his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t have taken this job. I just…” His voice faded, and I didn’t think he’d say anything else. “I don’t know. I wanted to help you. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Okay,” I rasped, forcing a weak smile. From the look on his face, it resembled more of a grimace than a smile.

He gestured to the valet stand on the sidewalk, looking pained. “We’re here. You go ahead. I’ll see you inside in a few minutes. I have to make a call.”

I cracked open the door and slipped one leg out the door. “Wait.” I glanced over my shoulder. “Are you calling Ryker?”

His shoulders hiked up. “Yes.”

I pulled my leg back into the car and closed the door. “I want to talk to him.”

“No.” He leaned over me and opened the door again. “Get out.”

“He’ll want to talk to me too.”

“You can call him after the meeting tomorrow if he gives me the green light.” He shoved me lightly on my shoulder. “Now leave. You’re already five minutes late. Your parents are going to start calling.”

I frowned. “I just want to say hi. That’s it.”

He pointed at the door. “Tomorrow. That’s as good as I can do.”

I rolled my eyes and then my phone rang, as if my parents knew I wanted to back out of dinner. I glanced at the screen. It was my mom. “Fine. See you in a few minutes.”

“Text me if you need anything,” he said as I climbed out of the car. “And don’t leave without me.”