Page 37 of Justified Lies

She seemed to float for a moment or two, then she felt his hands on her again. He was turning her over and using a wet rag between her legs. She should protest, but she felt too good to even contemplate words. Then, he was moving her up to the pillows.

“Are you leaving?” she asked.

“No. Be right back.”

He returned from the bathroom and slipped into bed beside her. And just like all those times before, she rolled over into his arms.

“Get some rest. We’ll worry about the rest later.”

And because she agreed, she slipped into sleep.

Seven

Ian watched El pace the living room floor. His partner was going to owe him for this one. Her brother was a live wire, ready to explode.

“I don’t know why I’m here. I should be with Ed.”

“Yeah, well, she asked me to look after you.”

“I’m not a toddler.”

“Could have fooled me,” he murmured.

El stopped and looked at him. “She trusts you, so you get some trust from me, but not blind trust.”

“Back at ya.”

The former spy frowned at him. “Did you ever work in the Middle East?”

He shook his head. “I was more Europe and Russia, so we didn’t cross paths. I still would have pegged you for CIA, though.”

“What’s that mean?”

“You know. The way you handle yourself. The constant looking for exits, always wanting to have a way out of the room. The hyper vigilance.”

“That could mean we were just military.”

“Ah, but…you never had time in the military. You both spent time in the Middle East with a wealthy Texas family that often resided there. I would have known you were like me.”

El studied Ian for a long moment. “Yeah. We are alike. Your dad was MI-6.”

“And my mother. We go a long way back as spies for the crown.”

“But you moved to Hawai’i.”

“My sister was here doing things that could have gotten her killed. Almost got her killed. So, even in that, we are alike.”

He rolled his shoulders. “I’m the reason she’s at risk.”

“She’s at risk because of her birth. You were born into the situation you’re in.”

He nodded.

“How do you feel about Kap?”

“Hanson?” El asked.

“Yeah. I have a feeling that guy is going to want to be in her life again.”