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Jesus, what now? “What is it?”
“I’m thinking of moving on. It’s getting too hot here.”
Fuck!“Huh? You’re gonna leave me?”
A long pause, then, “Well, I was actually hoping you’d come with me.”
“Where would we go?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Ethan, you can’t ask me to leave my home and family without giving me some idea where we’d be going.”
“I get that. I can’t tell you because I haven’t sorted it out yet. But when I do, will you come?”
“I’ll think about it.”
He huffed out a breath of relief. “That’s all I’m asking.”
Fucking idiot. How could he think I’d leave my whole life behind for his sorry ass? “Will you promise me something?”
“Name it.”
“That you’ll let me know before you leave. Even if you decide you don’t have room for me. Just let me know.”
“I promise.”
“Great.”
“I have to go.”
“Okay.”
“I love you.” The one saving grace in this whole disgusting mess was that he hung up before I could formulate a reply.
I threw the phone down on the couch so hard that it bounced and almost hit Patti. “I’m out.” I took savage satisfaction in the look of alarm that spread over Daniel’s face.
“What? No! You can’t. We’re so close, Stef. We’ve almost got him.”
“Then why is he still free? Why is he still fucking calling me? Why thefuckis he declaring his love for me?” I was practically shouting, and I felt hot tears clog my throat. “I’m not a spy! I’m not trained for this. You’re asking too much!”
“I get that, and I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. But just remember why you agreed to it.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, but he didn’t seem to notice my brimming rage.
“Grayson needs this from you, Stef. Without you, he won’t be?—”
A primal, feral scream rose in my throat and it took every ounce of strength in me not to let it go. “Don’t you dare say his name to me. Don’t you fuckingdare.” Grabbing Patti, I shoved to my feet. “You’ve got three more days. If you haven’t finished this by then, I’m phoning Grayson and telling him I’m done. He can whisk me away to anywhere in the world I want to go. And believe me, it’ll be some place where you can’t use me anymore. You get me?”
I reveled in the panicked look in his eyes. “I get you.”
“Good.” Feeling better than I had in days, I turned on my heel and left the room, giving the spare bedroom door a good hard slam.
CHAPTER 46
Grayson
The polite laugher. The gentle tinkling of crystal glasses. The elegant, meaningless music. Fuck, I was going crazy. I attended these sorts of black-tie events regularly. They were an annoying but necessary part of doing business. I was normally very good at them. But not tonight. I just could not get my head in the game. Why? Because my head was full of Stef. I couldn’t stand not talking to her. Not touching her. Not holding her.