ME: Being drunk could have cost Jada her life today.
I wanted Jada sober. I wanted her to remember what was at stake, but I also understood why she went in the opposite direction, diving into a pool of forgetfulness. She wanted to erase not only what she knew about her dad and theKyodaina,but also the fact that she was betraying him.
VI: I think she knows. But she also seems to have given up. I’m worried because she agreed to the engagement party.
ME: I’m hoping we’ll have things wrapped up by then, and she won’t have to go through with it.
VI: By Sunday? That quickly?
ME: We’ve been actively working on this for years. It isn’t quick at all in the eyes of my bosses.
The little dots came and went before she finally replied.
VI: You’ve been working for them for years? And Truck doesn’t know?
ME: I’m an undercover agent, Vi. It’s not like you scream you’re working for the Bureau. If I was a normal rookie, I would have had to work up to a job like this. I’d have sat on a desk for years. When Malone recruited me as an informant, I said the only way I was in, was as an agent myself. It took a lot of finagling, but the big guys agreed. I went to Quantico and then got trained by some of the best UCAs in the business.
It felt good to finally tell someone about my FBI life.
VI: UCAs?
ME: Undercover agents.
VI: Okay, 007. You need to get over yourself already.
I chuckled.
VI: Get some sleep. I don’t want you to crash the boat when you take off tomorrow.
ME: I can drive it with my eyes closed just fine.
VI: Well, that’s what you’ll be doing if you don’t rest.
ME: Promise me you’ll call me if anything happens.
VI: I’ll call Nolan first because he’s here and can rescue us.
Damn, did that hit me in the gut. I’d pay money that she’d done it on purpose, with a smile on that beautiful face.
ME: Just promise you won’t thank him with a kiss, and I’ll try to be okay with it.
I truly was tired if I was talking kissing with her.
VI: I don’t know. He’s staying in The Lord Byron room. You know it’s the sexiest room in the house.
My body went tight.
ME: I’m calling you Viola the Cruel instead of Viola the Jewel from now on.
VI: Why? Would you really care if I snuck into his room tonight?
I growled even though she couldn’t hear it. I hit dial. She picked up with a breathless, “Hello.”
“You toss a science geek to go for a techy? What’s an aquatic guy like me got to do to get your attention?” I was flirting, carelessly and uninhibitedly flirting with Violet Banner.
“Do you want my attention?” she teased back.
“Yes,” I said, my voice deep and dark, claiming her with a simple word. The thought of her going intoMori-sama’shouse today and possibly getting hurt had made one thing painfully clear to me: I wasn’t ready to let Violet walk back out of my life.
