Page 238 of Innocent

He releases my face so he can hold my hands. “You don’t need to know the hows or whys, baby. Just keep doing what you’re doing, focusing on him. I know he’s safe with you, and that’s the best I can ask unless or until he lets me marry him. But never forgetI. Am. Expendable.” I hate the quiet firmness behind those last three words.

It’s difficult to shove back the rumbling disquiet in my gut. “How does that work?”

He knows what I mean. “If something came up, you’dknow. Because I would take any actions required to protect him and you, both. If I ever need to do that, youwillstand by Elliot and say whatever’s necessary to insulate the two of you from me. Period. That’s an order.”

“I’m not asking you to sacrifice yourself for me, Leo. We stand or fall together.”

He sadly smiles. “That’s not how the political world spins, and you damn well know it. You once told me that you weren’t cut out for DC, but you’re wrong. I watch you, I watch the people watching you, and you are more suited for what you’re doing than anyone I know, except maybe Chris, Kev, and Shae, and myself.”

“Why?”

“Because you know how to be ruthless, and you look and act fucking innocent. You’re tougher than most of the people in this city, but no one realizes it, and that’s yet another strength. Peoplealwaysunderestimate you. You seamlessly blend in. You play to that, sometimes consciously. You’re also dedicated to someone besides yourself, which is something no one outside our small trust circle understands.

“I have access to resources you cannotbe tied to. All anyone really has proof of is we were roommates and we’re friends and coworkers. If they ever FOIA our security clearance paperwork, which is currently protected by executive privilege, they’ll see there’s a past relationship there. That’s all that can be tied to us on paper. Nothing illegal aboutanyof that.

“Because no one knows you own Elliot,thatlack of proof is a natural firewall. Do some of the guys on The Shift think Elliot and I are or were an item? Maybe. That’ll never get out, though, because it’s not on paper anywhere that we’re anything other than really good friends. People leak anonymous shit all the time, but none of them are stupid enough to ever cross me. I can burn too many of them in return, and they know I’d tie the leak back to them. That’s why nothing’s ever leaked about Chris, Kev, and Shae. That’s another reason why Chris wanted me next to them. Not just to protect them, but because he knows I’m a fail-safe. Mutually assured destruction.”

He looks down, his gaze settling on my new jewelry. While still holding my hands, he reaches up and gives the rings a gentle flick, making me hiss with a velvety dark mix of pleasure-filled pain that fills his face with an evil smile.

“That’swhat I wanted to hear,” he whispers.

“Stop distracting me.”

His smile fades. “Keep doing what you’re doing. The way you’re doing it. Tell me if anyone gets too pushy outside of Grace and Stella, so I can look into it. That’sallyou need to know, baby, and it’s all I’ll ever tell you unless or until you need to know more.” He gives my hands a final squeeze before releasing them and handing me my shirt. “Let’s get moving. Mom and Dad are expecting us.”

I carefully don my shirt, now highly aware of my nipples. It’s almost enough to distract me from Leo’s words, and I’m left wondering if the timing of his statement was deliberate to help prevent me from pushing back harder.

Not that he’d probably admit it. He’s had his say and drawn a line.

He also knows I’ll toe it.

Because, unfortunately, I know he’s absolutely right.