Page 39 of Sweet Deception

The wind roars when I’m doing over a hundred.

If not for the sensation of my phone buzzing against my thigh, I would’ve had no idea it was even ringing.

Rolling the windows back up, I slip the phone into my palm, expecting Shane or Finn. Instead, I find myself staring at my father’s name.What the hell does he want?

He only calls this late at night when he wants to drag me out to a club.

Up ahead on the left, a lonely two-pump gas station comes into view. Right on time. I filled up the tank this morning, but for obvious reasons, I’m about on E.

I tuck the phone against my ear. “Yes?”

“So…” he drawls when I answer, as though he’s been drinking. “Exterior cameras caught you sneaking a very attractive woman into the safe house. The same blond from the wedding? Tell me you’re finally having some fun, son.”

Annoyance cracks through me.

“I wasn’t sneaking. And it’s not like that.” I take the curve into the gas station too fast, scaring the shit out of the all-night attendant inside the glass box. “Got a situation I need to handle.”

“A situation.” My father’s amusement fades into something more serious. “The kind that needs cleaning up?”

“No. Maybe. Fuck.” I scrub my face, then cut the engine with the same hand. “I don’t know yet.”

A pause. “If you need me to cover your ass for a while, just say the word.”

The simple support eases something in my chest. “It’s fine. Thanks, Dad.”

I don’t call him that very often. Something about that term of endearment seems incompatible with the man I’ve become.

An agent of irrepressible chaos.

Remembering that I’m also somebody’s son humanizes me in an uncomfortable way. As if any part of me is still human.

I end the call and climb out to fill up on premium gas. Shane will receive the same report that I’m using the safe house. It’s only a matter of time before he calls me demanding answers.

The real question is…will I have the truth extracted from her by then?

Can’t exactly say I’m optimistic about that.

Back on the road, I press down on the accelerator as I cruise toward the house.

My mind returns to Veronika…not that it ever really left. What has she been doing on her own all this time?

When I’m forty-five minutes from the safe house, my phone shrills again. This time, I expect my father and see Finn’s number instead. I answer my cousin’s call and immediately learn that Shane’s on the line too.

Goody.

“Safe House Fourteen.” Finn’s voice is even gruffer than usual tonight. “Report out.”

My jaw tightens. I anticipated this call, but do we really have to do this right now?

I do everything within my power to remain calm. If there’s a single question I can’t answer, Finn could order me to bring Veronika back to the estate for questioning. And that would be the end.

All the time I get to spend with her would be over.

Why isthatthe biggest concern on my mind?

“An unknown operative infiltrated your wedding reception, targeted me, and cloned my phone.” Fucking hell, I hatethe way this story comes across. “I tracked her down, found her address. But when I got to her apartment, Troy and his crew were on the ground.”

“She one of theirs?” The deep rumble of Shane’s voice shakes the line.