Page 70 of The Lies We Tell

“You know, I never once doubted what brought you to our door. You’re a rock-solid member of this club. Never once regretted the decision to nominate you. Go get some rest.”

His words hit me harder than any punch could.

I want him to mean it.

I want this to be real.

My calm and leadership help him, help my friends, and help this club.

I feel sober enough to drive home, plus no one is on the road at this time in the morning. Once home, I send Vex’s pictures of the guys to Jensen. Despite it being close to four in the morning, he responds.

Found the shipping container you asked me to go check out. Women released. Will track down the images for you.

There’s a link to a press release in the media from one of the victims’ families.

I send it to Spark and pretend like I found it while scrolling the news.

Tomorrow, I’ll share it with Briar.

I used to think everything could be measured, calculated, and planned. The walk to a bomb site, the length of a detonating cord, the delay of a timing fuse.

But love can’t be measured. It’s as wild as fire and just as reckless.

I’m falling in love with her, and I know I shouldn’t.

But I strip and climb into bed with her anyway.

26

SAINT

Aweek later, my breath comes thick and fast as Briar slides off me and falls to my side.

“Reverse cowgirl was never hotter.” I grunt. “Could see your tits swing.”

“Pervy old man,” Briar says. And I laugh.

“Maybe, but this pervy old man made you come twice and watched your ass bounce while he was doing it.”

“If that’s what you do when I draw a sketch of you, imagine what you’ll do to me if I draw a full-length portrait,” Briar says as she snuggles beneath my arm and places her palm on my chest.

I chuckle and place my hand over hers. “It was an impressive sketch.”

“You said your hair and beard are part of your cover. Do you have any pictures before you grew them out?”

“Not here. But when we go to Portland, I’ll show you.”

My phone rings, making Briar jump. I reach for it and see that it’s Vex. “One second,” I say to Briar, then put the phone to my ear. “Hey.”

“I got a lead. I found a financial link to a warehouse. King’s getting people together to check it out. Wanna ride?”

I look at Briar’s pretty face, remembering the scratches down it when I first met her. “On my way.”

I hang up and kiss Briar. It’s deep and slow. Her tongue meets mine lazily. One day, none of this will feel quite so rushed. “They got a lead on a warehouse belonging to the organization that took you. I have to go.”

She didn’t recognize the other faces on the image I showed her, and it’s been weighing on her. Her eyes follow me as I pull on my jeans and make sure I’m armed. “I’m proud of what you do,” she says. “But, I’ll admit, I’m scared for you. Infiltrating a trafficking ring alone would be frightening enough. But to do it with a group who would kill you if they knew who you really were ...” She shivers dramatically. “Make sure you come back to me. Or at least call me and let me know you’re okay if you don’t come back tonight.”

I sit down next to her and stroke her hair back from her face. “I’ll do my very best.”