what he would say. “Way I see it, you’ve got two options,
sweetheart. Stay or go.”
Huh? Was Phil trying to flip her? Did he
miss the ‘somebody’s gotta do it’ portion of the show?
“Staying’s tricky,” he said somberly,
darting a glance over his shoulder, then back at her. “Staying
means leaving’s not an option, probably ever. You sever all ties to
your team, and you’re one of his.”
What kind of ridiculous…? She had one option. This was one job, a fair trade. Not to mention she had a
career to get back to. A career involving sanctioned missions and
not working with criminals. A career she’d already been
foolish enough to put in jeopardy twice now.
“Going is even trickier,” Phil continued.
“Xander’s a charming sonuvabitch. He’s not above using every trick
in the book to…uh… distract you from your goal.”
Kizzie’s mouth went wide with surprise. “Did
you just violate a man law? That was a legit cockblock, Phil.”
He chuckled. “And now an angel won’t get his
wings. See the sacrifices I make for you?” He relaxed into the seat
and sighed. “You’re good people, Kizzie. Just don’t want to see you
get hurt. He’s single-minded, calculating, and there’s no competing
with a force like Xander. Once he gets in your head…” Phil tapped
his finger to his temple.
Kizzie mimicked his action. “Steel
vault.”
“Fort Knox has a front door. You’ve got
cracks, scars in the surface…or deeper…. Things you want to keep
hidden.” The pause went long enough to make Kizzie uncomfortable.
Then he shrugged, and the intense moment passed. “Hell, we all do.
You’ll open up, tell him things without meaning to, without saying
anything at all, ‘cause Xander’s carbon monoxide; seeps in
undetected. One day you look up and he’s there, really rooted in, and you can’t get him out.”
Her brows squished together, gaze shifting
from one dark lens to the other. Whatever Phil’s angle, Kizzie
didn’t like being back on her heels.
“That what happened to you, Phil? X got
rooted in?” Now his brows drew together over the top of his
shades. “Convince you to waste your life playing robbers?”
A broad smile spread on Phil’s face. “You’re
trying to flip me.”
“I’m trying to help you, same way
you’re trying to help me. Do you want to do this the rest of your
life, play beta to his alpha? Or maybe you want to find a nice
girl,” she bucked her chin toward the café, “settle down…?
“I can help you get out. X is a mystery to
us, but I’m sure you know that. Give me specs on his operations,
I’ll make it so you don’t have to live always looking over your
shoulder.”
He scratched the stubble on his chin
thoughtfully. “Why wouldn’t I tell X about this offer?”
“For the same reason I won’t tell him about
yours. You need a friend on the outside, I need one in.”
Phil’s face remained impassive, but the
wheels were up there whirring. Kizzie smiled. “I guess you looking
out for me means I have to forgive you for ogling the hot chick.
So,” a dismissive wave, “slate’s wiped clean and we’re back on for
the Maldives. Chocolate?” Phil opened his mouth and she popped a
truffle in. “For the record, Duquesne won’t get anywhere near me.
I’m kinda good at what I do.”
“No doubt about it. But trust me, he’s
better,” Phil assured around the mouthful of gooeyness. He
swallowed and checked his watch. Looked out the window again and
then leaned forward, hand on the key in the ignition. “I need to
know, Kizzie. You staying or going?”
“Why’d you bring this up?”
“I told you. I believe in a level playing
field and I don’t want you to get hurt. Your answer?”
“Going…obviously.” The bottom dropped out of
her stomach and landed somewhere near her toes.
“You’re sure?” When she said nothing more,
Phil pulled his hand from the key. He paused a moment, reached
forward again and then, as though coming to some sort
sweetheart. Stay or go.”
Huh? Was Phil trying to flip her? Did he
miss the ‘somebody’s gotta do it’ portion of the show?
“Staying’s tricky,” he said somberly,
darting a glance over his shoulder, then back at her. “Staying
means leaving’s not an option, probably ever. You sever all ties to
your team, and you’re one of his.”
What kind of ridiculous…? She had one option. This was one job, a fair trade. Not to mention she had a
career to get back to. A career involving sanctioned missions and
not working with criminals. A career she’d already been
foolish enough to put in jeopardy twice now.
“Going is even trickier,” Phil continued.
“Xander’s a charming sonuvabitch. He’s not above using every trick
in the book to…uh… distract you from your goal.”
Kizzie’s mouth went wide with surprise. “Did
you just violate a man law? That was a legit cockblock, Phil.”
He chuckled. “And now an angel won’t get his
wings. See the sacrifices I make for you?” He relaxed into the seat
and sighed. “You’re good people, Kizzie. Just don’t want to see you
get hurt. He’s single-minded, calculating, and there’s no competing
with a force like Xander. Once he gets in your head…” Phil tapped
his finger to his temple.
Kizzie mimicked his action. “Steel
vault.”
“Fort Knox has a front door. You’ve got
cracks, scars in the surface…or deeper…. Things you want to keep
hidden.” The pause went long enough to make Kizzie uncomfortable.
Then he shrugged, and the intense moment passed. “Hell, we all do.
You’ll open up, tell him things without meaning to, without saying
anything at all, ‘cause Xander’s carbon monoxide; seeps in
undetected. One day you look up and he’s there, really rooted in, and you can’t get him out.”
Her brows squished together, gaze shifting
from one dark lens to the other. Whatever Phil’s angle, Kizzie
didn’t like being back on her heels.
“That what happened to you, Phil? X got
rooted in?” Now his brows drew together over the top of his
shades. “Convince you to waste your life playing robbers?”
A broad smile spread on Phil’s face. “You’re
trying to flip me.”
“I’m trying to help you, same way
you’re trying to help me. Do you want to do this the rest of your
life, play beta to his alpha? Or maybe you want to find a nice
girl,” she bucked her chin toward the café, “settle down…?
“I can help you get out. X is a mystery to
us, but I’m sure you know that. Give me specs on his operations,
I’ll make it so you don’t have to live always looking over your
shoulder.”
He scratched the stubble on his chin
thoughtfully. “Why wouldn’t I tell X about this offer?”
“For the same reason I won’t tell him about
yours. You need a friend on the outside, I need one in.”
Phil’s face remained impassive, but the
wheels were up there whirring. Kizzie smiled. “I guess you looking
out for me means I have to forgive you for ogling the hot chick.
So,” a dismissive wave, “slate’s wiped clean and we’re back on for
the Maldives. Chocolate?” Phil opened his mouth and she popped a
truffle in. “For the record, Duquesne won’t get anywhere near me.
I’m kinda good at what I do.”
“No doubt about it. But trust me, he’s
better,” Phil assured around the mouthful of gooeyness. He
swallowed and checked his watch. Looked out the window again and
then leaned forward, hand on the key in the ignition. “I need to
know, Kizzie. You staying or going?”
“Why’d you bring this up?”
“I told you. I believe in a level playing
field and I don’t want you to get hurt. Your answer?”
“Going…obviously.” The bottom dropped out of
her stomach and landed somewhere near her toes.
“You’re sure?” When she said nothing more,
Phil pulled his hand from the key. He paused a moment, reached
forward again and then, as though coming to some sort
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