Page 100 of Only the Wicked

“No.” She jumps up and grabs my hands. “No! Not true. If you remember, I said I had my period. It was never supposed to?—”

I throw her hands off mine. “You weren’t supposed to, but then you said what the hell?”

“It’s not like that.”

Her eyes go glassy and my restraint snaps. “Oh, hell no. You sleep with me for what…what exactly were you hoping to get?” One lone tear spills over. “And now you’re going to cry? And I’m supposed to say, ‘Oh, it’s all okay’? Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“No!” She stomps her right foot and folds her arms below her breasts. “It wasn’t… I’m not with the NSA. I work for a private group. Everything I told you is true. Everything. I’ve kept it as real with you as possible.”

“Except the real reason I met you on that trail. You weren’t on holiday. You were working. And I was your target.” I tilt my head. “Since you obviously know everything about me, you also know I’m familiar with intelligence agencies. I’m familiar with their tactics. Who’s behind this? Who sent you…” I pace the room, back and forth. I’m so fucking livid I can’t speak. I glare at the lamp, stifling the desire to rip it out of the socket and hurl it against the wall.

“Jesus, I’m such an idiot. I actually thought I lucked into meeting someone pretty amazing.” Every kiss was a lie. Every vulnerable moment, a calculated move in her wicked game. And I fell for it completely.

“Stop it!” A vein bulges in her forehead and her hands ball into fists at her sides. “I’ll tell you everything! Just listen, okay?”

There’s no way I can sit, so I pace.

“I work for a newly formed group called KOAN. The goal is to watch those with significant power and influence. Those who might be tempted to believe they’re above the law.”

“And because of the rumors, it was deemed I fit the bill?”

“You’re a billionaire?—”

“On paper, I’m a billionaire. Unless I cash out, it’s mostly paper, you get that right?”

She tilts her head, calling my bluff.

“Yes, I’m wealthy. I sold a business. But I’m not one of the big-time billionaires.” Even as I say it, the qualification sounds ridiculous, but that doesn’t matter at all. My wealth doesn’t give anyone the right to target me. What the actual living fuck?

“Will you listen?”

The plea in her tone does little to calm me down, but once again, I nod.

“All they wanted was to know is if the rumors were true. Because if they were, there would be a significant risk to national security.”

What she’s not saying is that someone out there fears the current administration and Congress is indebted to me thanks to sizable campaign contributions. And the fear is logical. I donate heavily to ensure legislation permits my business’s existence. Too many are desperate to control AI with legislation, and those writing said legislation understand technology about as well as Nana.

“I only took the job because for me, it’s personal.”

I side eye her, remembering what Daisy said about her career being blown. Someone leaked her identity. I place pressure on the bridge of my nose. She believes the worst possible version of me, the most evil version, which means she didn’t use her time with me to get to know me at all. Meanwhile, only someone truly wicked could have played such a perfect role.

“I’m not a bastard. I have a conscience. There’s no risk to national security.”

Of course, if we do as Russia wants…but that’s not her business. Or her employer’s.

The irony isn’t lost on me. She’s been investigating whether I’m a threat to national security while I’ve been falling for a woman who was never real. At least not with me. Every laugh, every touch, every moment I thought we were connecting—she was working. Gathering intelligence. Playing a role.

And I’m supposed to believe her ‘personal’ motivation makes this better somehow.

“Did you get the information you need? Are we done?”

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Sydney

He strides to the window and stares at the view of the Washington Monument like it has all the answers. I remain seated, acutely aware of the tactical disadvantage.