Page 78 of Storm Warning

“I’m so glad to see you.” Angie stepped back. “Please come inside. I’d love to visit with you and your friends.”

Andre escorted Riley inside and followed Angie to a sitting room with furniture that invited guests to sit and stay a while.

Angie sat at the end of a large sofa and gestured for Riley to join her.

He squeezed Riley’s fingers and followed her lead, allowing her to choose if she wanted to sit near Angie or somewhere else. His girlfriend sat near the other woman but kept almost the width of a cushion between them.

Andre sat next to her, his gaze locked on Angie.

“Tell me about yourself. The last time I saw you, you were leaving to attend MTSU.”

“I graduated, and the CIA recruited me as an analyst.”

Blood drained from Angie’s face. “Tell me you didn’t take the job.”

A small smile curved Riley’s mouth. “Sorry. I can’t do that.”

Angie closed her eyes briefly. “How long were you with The Company?”

“Eight years.”

“At least tell me you stayed behind a desk where you were safe.”

Riley lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

“Oh, Riley. They promised me they would leave you alone. I should have known not to trust them.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RILEY STARED ATher mentor. Who promised Angie to leave her alone? Her words made Riley question everything she thought she knew about Angie. How well did she really know her friend? “What does that mean, Angie?”

Angie surged to her feet and paced the length of the living room, agitation rolling off her in waves. “Nate Berkley. He recruited you, didn’t he?”

“How did you know?”

“Because he did the same thing to me.”

Riley froze. Angie knew Nate? That could mean only one thing. “You were CIA.”

Angie stopped pacing to look at her. “Yes.”

Andre threaded his fingers through Riley’s and squeezed in silent support. “What did you mean when you said Berkley promised to leave Riley alone? He talked to you about her when she was still in high school?”

She returned to the couch. “She was amazing with computers even back then. I knew MTSU would hone her skills, and I didn’t want Nate and The Company to get their hands on her.”

“Nice of you to be concerned about her.” Elias’ tone was wry. “You could have taken it a step further and actually warned her that the CIA was interested in her.”

“If you were so worried about the CIA getting their hands on Riley, you should have stayed involved in her life.” Iona scowledat Angie. “Instead, you disappeared, abandoning her like her family did.”

“Don’t you understand?” Angie’s eyes burned with fury. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Sorry, sister. I’m not buying it.”

Andre frowned. “Were you still in the CIA when you were in Homestead with Riley?”

“You can never truly leave.”

“That’s not an answer, Angie. Were you working for the CIA or not when you were helping Riley?”