Mine To Protect (Mine #6)(25)

His whole body went still. “What do you mean?”

“Elizabeth Ward. I heard my father raging about her before. Well, not her, but her mother. Her mother’s name definitely came up in conversation.”

“What did your dad say about her?”

“Oh, the usual. That she was a lying bitch who’d betrayed him. That she’d pay. That the whole family would pay.” Her smile was sad. “You know Luther Bates. Betray him once, and every member of your family will be tortured and killed as payback.”

Yeah, that was his MO. “So you…you knew that Luther ordered the hit on Elizabeth Ward and her family?” What else do you know about Elizabeth?

Like…do you know that Elizabeth is actually your half-sister? He was betting Zoe didn’t know. Because even Luther Bates hadn’t known that news, not until Victor had told the bastard.

“I found out after the fact…and by after, I mean when I was held prisoner and I was counting down the moments until the bomb exploded and I died.” Her sad smile faded. “My captor was the one to tell me. I guess he thought I didn’t fully understand just how much of a monster my dad was but…I knew.”

Victor was afraid that if he spoke right then, he would slip up. Give away too much. He’d—

“My father destroyed that woman’s family. I’m so sorry for what he did to her. And I…I hope Elizabeth is happy now. She was so in love with Saxon. I mean, that was obvious, just in the way she looked at him.”

And he remembered Jasmine’s words…

It’s in her eyes. In the way she watches you. Touches you.

“Zoe…”

“Did she get a happy ending?” Zoe turned back toward the windows—and the city. “Even if she didn’t, will you lie to me and say that she did? It would be nice to think that my father didn’t destroy her completely. Good to imagine her out in the world, smiling and having some kind of amazing life.”

He took a step toward her. Then another. He could see Zoe’s reflection in the glass. “She got a happy ending. She and Saxon are damn deliriously happy.” Saxon was like a new man.

“That’s good.” Her hand rose and pressed to the glass. “Nice to believe that some people can have that, you know?”

The woman was ripping out his heart. She didn’t know Elizabeth was her half-sister, Victor was certain of that now. Zoe stood there, looking alone, too fragile, and so sad. She had no idea that she wasn’t alone. She had family left in the world. Good family, not that twisted prick Luther Bates.

But I promised Luther I wouldn’t tell anyone about Elizabeth. I f*cking swore to keep her secret so she could stay safe.

Zoe had a giant bull’s eye on her because the criminal world knew who she was to Luther. If anyone else found out about Elizabeth…

She’d be hunted, too.

The thick carpet swallowed his footsteps as he closed the last of the distance between them. His reflection joined hers in the glass. He wanted to reach out, wrap his arms around her, and pull her close.

He also wanted to tell her the truth.

Don’t trust me, baby. I am not worthy of you. You should kick my ass. You should—

“I envy you.” Her words were so soft that he had to strain to hear them.

“Why?”

“Because you have people who care about you.” She glanced back at him. “Michelle. Michelle Lane. She’s been my only friend for so long. The only one who cared about me. You want to know why I’m risking so much to find her? That’s why. Because she opened her heart to me. She helped me. She made me feel like a normal person for a while, and not just some pariah. Because being Luther’s daughter, I’ve been a pariah pretty much all my life.”

“We will find her.”

Her eyes closed. “I understand.” Her voice had gone even huskier.

“What? What do you understand?”

“How it all works.” She exhaled softly and her eyes opened as she turned to fully face him. “I know that you want information from me. And when I promised you anything in return for finding Michelle, I meant that. You want more details about Luther? You want me to turn on him?” Her lower lip trembled. “I’ll do it. I will. Just help me to find my only friend. Help me to bring her back alive.”

“She’s not your only friend,” he said.

A furrow appeared between her brows.

“I’m your f*cking friend, too.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Zoe—”

“You’re my guard. You’re the Special Agent in charge of my case. You’re—”

He caught her hands. Pushed her back against the window and held her there, with her hands trapped on either side of her head. “This isn’t just about the case. We’re not just the case.” First Jasmine had said that shit—and hearing it from her had been bad enough. But for Zoe to say it…No. We are more. His head lowered over hers. “We’re lovers. That’s what we are.” His fingers had wrapped around her wrists. He held her captive right there, and as his mouth pressed to hers, Victor realized…

I never want to let her go.

He was so screwed.

***

Lauren McDaniel had only met FBI Assistant Director Percy Chase a few times—and each time, the guy had intimidated the hell out of her.