Page 74 of Agent Zero

“Don’t worry.The angle was wrong to hit you.”His gloved fingers tensed, massaging the back of her neck.

Oh, that’s so comforting.The little movement did comfort her, though.“Great.Reese?”

“Hmm?”

“Cal.How did he even get here?”

“By asking himself what he’d do if he was me.”Reese paused.“If he had to keep someone safe.”

“And just like that, he found you?”

“He had files detailing my domestic jobs.”Tension now, invading his larger frame bit by bit.Would she have noticed it before?

Domestic jobs?“I don’t even want to know.”But she did, Holly realized.She wanted to know who this man was.The hoarse, gentle voice while she writhed with fever, or a killer?

Oh, sure, he had all sorts of euphemisms for it, and Cal probably did, too.It hadn’t hit her before, but getting shot at was probably a good way to concentrate your mind.She was in the dark, being hugged by a man who had probably committed murder.

Not probably, Holly.Definitely.The vision of two shapeless lumps on her apartment floor, mercifully darkened like everything before she woke up this morning seemed to be, hit her again.It had been so much easier when nothing mattered.

“Sooner or later, you will.”Reese actually sounded a little sad.“I’m a monster, Holly.But at least I’m on your side.”

Well.That’s one way to put it.“I don’t think you’re a monster.”Even if he’s killed people, Holl?Really?“But why are we down here?”

“Because this is another way out.We’ll surface a couple klicks from the cabin.”

“In the middle of the woods.”

“Have some faith in me, baby.”His breath was warm in her hair.

I’m not screaming and running away.“Have you...Reese, have you killed people?”Well, duh, obviously.

“I served my country.”Harsher, now, and he let go of her.Not all the way—he reached down, and his fingers became a loose bracelet on her wrist.“That was part of the deal.”

“Do you—did youlikedoing it?”

“What?”Baffled now.He stepped back, and she wondered if he could see in the dark.“No.Sometimes I had to.But I don’t kill children.”

Oh, that doesn’t sound good.“You didn’t?—”

“Let’s go.”He set off into the darkness, and she had to stumble after him.

“Children?”Hardly the optimal time to ask, but then again, there probably wasnevera good time for this kind of conversation.

“They sit in offices and make decisions, and the agents do the dirty work.Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to stay a little clean.You can hate me all you want.”

“I don’t?—”

“Can you be quiet?I’ve got to hear what’s going on topside.”

She strained her own ears, but heard nothing but heartbeats and her own ragged breathing, Reese’s inhales smooth and deep, his exhales long and shallow.

If she made him angry, would he just abandon her?Then what would she do?

You’re smart, Holly.You’d figure it out.After all, there was no cancer now.It was like living in a prison, then waking up suddenly to find yourself free in a sunny green field.

God, what I wouldn’t give for some sunlight now.

Life wasn’t about what you wished for, though.At least she’d learnedthatlesson on her own.