Page 31 of The Deceptions

Carter was smart back then. Like‘owns hisown company in his senior year of high school’smart. And now? The man is a damn genius. Grumpy as fuck, but smarter than anyone I know. That’s why my uncle is so damn interested in bringing him into Veritas and making him an agent. Carter can track anyone. Hack into anything he sets his sights on. Although, I keep that tidbit to myself, because of legalities and all that jazz. So far, Carter has only agreed to help me on the side without Jonathan's knowledge.

“You're such a peach so early in the morning,” I quip, shaking my head. “I'll send it today.”

“You on another case?” He narrows his eyes at me through the video call.

“Until you have full clearance, you know I can't tell you.” I stick my tongue out at him, earning a huff.

“Yeah fucking right,” he grunts. “That'll never happen. I've got too much shit on my plate.”

Right. He's running his company from a small home office while the rest of his brother-husbands or boyfriend-in-laws or whatever he calls them attend college. His main focus is his girlfriend, Kaycee. I don't understand how she or any of them put up with his grumpy ass. But somehow they do. It’s a mystery to me. But whatever. Who am I to judge?

One day, I know he'll join the dark side with me. He's already done so much for me since he agreed to take my calls and help.

After hanging up, I lie back on my bed and close my eyes. There's so much about this town that has my heart in my throat.

But for now, I need to rest before Jonathan confronts me with the rest of my mission.

I groan, covering my face with my hands as the sun peeks through the curtains. Without opening my eyes, I can tell it’s high in the sky. But damn. Everything hurts. And I might be dying.

It’s been hours since I took my last sip at the bar, and I neglected to drink any water before calling Carter and lying down.

I’m never drinking again.

Okay, that's a lie. A big, fat lie.

Alcohol is my vice of choice. The crutch that guides me through the darkness I'm stumbling through every day. Along with my job, it keeps my mind off my past.

Well, until now.

I flinch when something wet drips on my forehead again and again. I swipe at whatever is touching my head.

“You need to wakey wakey, Livy Poo!”

My eyes fly open at the sound of my Veritas’ partner, Jordy’s voice. He grins above me with disheveled blond hair and sparkling light eyes. Then I see the water slowly dripping from the water bottle clutched in his hand.

“What the fuck?” I hiss, shoving his face away and sitting up. “Water, Jordan? Really mature,” I huff, shaking my head.

“No one said I was mature,” he giggles hysterically.

“Never said you were, you overgrown child.” I pout, wiping the water from my face.

“Aw, Livy. You love me so much.”

“That's a lie, and you know it. More like barely tolerate you because I have to!”

Once upon a time, when I joined Veritas, Agent Six, aka Jordan Van Horn, was assigned as my partner. We roomed together in a bunker deep in the ground. Where we lived, ate, and breathed training day in and day out. Living there was like being in college for spying. Going to class. Whether it was combat training, marksmanship, or psychology courses to better learn the human mind.

We did it all. Together.

Jordy was my accountability person. My roommate. My goddamn pest. But also, my best friend. My brother. Someone I could trust with my life. I love him with all my heart, but that’s the extent of our lives together.

“Barely tolerate? You wound me. Deeply,” he quips, holding a hand over his heart.

“Wait. What are you doing here?” I ask, looking around the barren hotel room.

When I snuck back in last night after the bar, using the access key, everything seemed normal. The light from Jonathan’s room seeped from beneath his door, and the sound of his fingers clicking away at his keyboard rang through the hotel room. I was glad he wasn’t out and waiting for me when I came back.

But now, I know why.