Page 45 of When He Defends

“She likes controlling Emerson’s life. She’s also a major donor at the university where you work.”

“It’s…her alma mater.”

“She picked you out for Emerson, didn’t she? Probably thought you would fit her. Only you didn’t. You just disappointed Emerson.”

“How dare?—”

“Ease up, stud. Not talking about sexually, though, clearly, you disappointed her that way, too.”

Nathaniel huffed out a breath.

“You stole her work.” He remembered Emerson’s anger. “Broke her trust. You can’t do that with her. She’s not big on forgiveness.” Was that why he had been so careful to put all of his cards on the table with Emerson? Because he’d realized that about her from the beginning?Trust is important. And too damn fragile.

Gray decided to share a few details, just to see what reaction he could get from Nathaniel. “The senator wanted me to be a puppet on her string. Reporting every action Emerson took at the FBI.” Gray shrugged. “I told her to fuck off. Doesn’t mean others at the Bureau aren’t still reporting to the woman, though.And I can’t help but connect the dots right here, right now. Yesterday, I tell my superiors that I’m taking a new case…” A case that hadn’t been on the FBI’s radar at all, something personal because of Cassius. “And then you walk in my doortoday. Spouting about how you should be working with me, and it shouldn’t be Emerson. So I’m guessing something changed in the senator’s world. She wants Emerson out of the FBI. She thinks playtime is over. The senator sent you to take Emerson’s place.”

Nathaniel didn’t deny the charge.

“I wasn’t wild about Emerson being my partner, not on day one.” Truth. “Butno onewill take her place. She wants to run this mission, then she’ll run the fucking mission.”

“I canhelp.”

“No, you can get in my way.” He considered the matter. “You can also piss me off. Piss off Emerson, too. We don’t have time to waste on that BS. So get in your Benz and get the hell out of here. Your services are not needed.”

But Nathaniel lingered. “You don’t understand.You can’t count on Emerson.Her mother—look, the senator isworried.It’s Emerson’s life on the line, all right? The senator is worried that Emerson is?—”

He broke off.

Gray stared him down. “Don’t leave me in suspense. Just what is it that the senator fears? Because one day, she’s demanding that I work with Emerson, and then I turn around and have you shoved in my face. A man can get whiplash for that type of exchange.”

“I’m not here to watch you. I’m here…here to watch over Emerson.” Nathaniel smoothed back his hair. “The senator is worried that Emerson may be…fracturing. There is a family history that you do not know about.”

Actually, he did.

“And the senator is concerned that Emerson may be following in her father’s footsteps. Starting to suffer from paranoia. Having delusions. The senator is worried that Emerson is slipping into the darkness.” Sympathy deepened his voice. “Someone has to help Emerson. Someone has to watch over her. With my qualifications, I’m the perfect man to assist her.” His hand fell back to his side.

So Gray stared him dead in the eyes—dead in the prick’s lying eyes—and called, “Bullshit.”

Nathaniel’s mouth opened, then closed. “Excuse me?”

“Bullshit.” He thought that was pretty clear, but just in case, “Bullshit.” The third time he said it, he did it just for fun. “Emerson isn’t slipping into any darkness. You’re also the last man who can handle anything about her. And here’s a pro tip for you.”

“What? I-I’m telling you the truth!”

“No, you’re not. And about that pro tip…” He pointed toward the guy’s hair. “When you lie, you smooth your hair. Dead giveaway.”

“I—” Nathaniel’s hand began to rise, but he caught himself.

“It’s been fun. Nope, it hasn’t been. It’s just been annoying. Don’t let me see your ass again.” Gray turned away. He’d gotten too many lies from that conversation, but he was pretty sure that hehaddiscovered one truth.

The senator was screwing around with FBI business. That would be stopping.

And the only person who would behandlingEmerson?

It’s gonna be me.

Two minutes, his ass.

Chapter Nine