I opened one bedroom door and knew instantly that it was Faith’s.
Her scent hit me first — enveloped me like a cloud. She smelled like spring.
Pure.
When my eyes caught up to my other senses, I saw that one accent wall had been painted a bright, cheery yellow. The duvet was dyed a matching canary color, and the throw pillows were overstuffed with fluffy white down. Frankly, I was surprised there were no teddy bears strewn about the bedspread.
The walls were covered with taped-up charcoal sketches — some complete, others barely started. All were good enough to make me question why she was studying history rather than art. She’d captured Budapest with her pencils. Not only monuments and statues. She’d sketched moments, emotions. The harried faces of vendors. The frantic families, rushing from one shop to the next. The Danube at dusk.
There were clothes scattered everywhere. On the floor, on the bed, on the desk chair. I closed my eyes and pictured her here, waiting for me to arrive. Trying on every outfit in her wardrobe, wanting to pick something perfect. She’d been nervous. I made her nervous.
For all the wrong reasons.
This room screamed innocence, goodness, and light. It screamed Faith.
Those bright yellow walls seemed to dim a bit as soon as I stepped over the threshold, as though my very presence saturated the happy space with darkness. The big bad wolf in little Red’s bedroom.
It only took me about thirty seconds to locate her messenger bag, tucked away by her dresser. Thirty more, and I’d slipped the knife from my boot and sliced off one of the front buttons with a swift stroke of my blade. I used my knife tip to make a small incision in the material by the seam. Pulling the small black case from the pocket of my leather jacket, I slid the bag into the middle of the floor and got to work.
I’d done this so often over the last five years, I could probably do it blindfolded. But this time, I found my fingers hesitating as they sewed a tracker into the lining of Faith’s bag. The minuscule device was deceptively powerful, emitting a geolocating ping every few seconds, which would allow me to follow her movements. My chest felt uncomfortably tight as I sewed the seam closed and replaced the round button I’d cut off with a near-identical black sphere so smooth and simple looking, you’d never know it was a camera. The lens was undetectable, unless you had professional training and knew exactly where to look.
I pulled the last stitch and stared at the bag. She’d never notice. But something stopped me from putting it back in place by the dresser. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I closed my eyes and cursed under my breath.
Once I did this, there was no turning back. No more pretending that I was only watching her for her own good. No lying to myself that she wasn’t a mark, that I wasn’t using her.
Nothing I was doing right now had to do with Faith’s safety. If anything, I was putting her life in even more jeopardy. If she got caught with this… if they found this tech on her bag…
She’d be dead.
Because of me.
I tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter.
She’s just another mark.
After this mission, I’ll move on, like I have a million times before.
She’ll be alive or she’ll be dead — it doesn’t mean jack shit to me.
Either way, she’ll never be a part of my life again.
I was a fucking idiot, for letting this girl get to me. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I drew blood. I wasn’t sure what upset me more — the thought that I’d have to walk away and leave this little fantasy I’d built around Faith behind, or the fact that even the thought of leaving her made my chest ache worse than the time I’d had a lung collapse when a mission had, ironically, gone south in North Korea.
She’ll never be a part of my life again.
It didn’t matter what I told myself — nothing I said would take away the sting of truth in that realization. After the mission was over, I’d have to walk away. Alive or dead, loving or hating me — either way, I’d lose her.
She barely stirred as I carried her into her bedroom and slid her body beneath the yellow comforter. She looked like a little girl, lying there with the covers pulled up to her chin. I wished, for a moment, that she’d never crossed my path. That she’d never have to learn that the world was a fucked up place, full of fucked up people who were experts at hurting one another. I wished that she could stay innocent, unchanged by me or any other bastard who stumbled into her life. And, finally, I wished I was strong enough to walk away before she got even more tangled up in this mess.
Coward.
Mercenary.
Bastard.
Monster.
I turned quickly and headed for the door, not sparing another glance at the bag I’d arranged perfectly in place against her dresser or the girl I was incapable of removing from my life and my thoughts.
For Faith, I was a fatal cancer — I was selfish enough not to care. The little slice of her I stole during this mission would be the only bit I ever got. So I’d be greedy. I’d take it, without question. It would have to tide me over for the rest of my life, when I was alone with only the memory of her to keep the shadows at bay.
I needed to hit something.
Hard.
Chapter Twenty-One: FAITH
FLICKER OF DOUBT
I woke up alone.
Sill wearing my clothing from last night, I could feel the grungy, day-old makeup caked beneath my eyes. My head was pounding from all the wine I’d consumed and I instantly felt my cheeks flame. Great — I’d barely cracked my eyes open and I was already blushing. That did not bode well for the day to come.
Wiping the residual eye-liner from my bleary eyes, I pushed my comforter down to the foot of my bed and groaned as I realized Wes had not only seen me in a fine state — drunken stupor was such a sexy look on me — he’d also seen my bedroom in all its post-Margot glory. Eyeing the multitude of clothes, bras, and accessories strewn about the space, I fell back against the pillows and pulled one firmly over my face. He probably thought I was a total slob.
My door creaked open. “Suffocating yourself, huh?” Margot called, bounding into the room and onto my bed with a heavy thud that made my entire body bounce. I held the pillow firmly over my face as she settled in.
“Ungh,” I grunted, a ghoulish sound.
“I take it the date went really well, then?” she teased. “That, or you’ve become some kind of moaning, flesh-eating zombie overnight. In which case, I’m turning your bedroom into a yoga studio.”
I pulled the pillow off my face. “You don’t even do yoga.”
“Obviously,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But this way, if I bring a man home, I can say, Oh, yes, that’s my yoga studio in a super seductive voice. Boys always want to do bad, bad things to yogis. They’re so bendy…” She trailed off, her eyes distant.
“It’s way too early to be having this conversation,” I grumbled.
A tinkling laugh escaped Margot’s lips. “Fine, fine. Tell me about the date.”
I sighed. “It was great. Good meal, good conversation. I invited him back here for a post-dinner drink, as you suggested...”
“And?” she prompted impatiently. “Tell me I didn’t sleep at Justine’s place for nothing. She wanted to play Scrabble before bed last night. Scrabble, Faith.” Speaking in a melodramatic voice, she threw one hand over her heart and widened her eyes. “Tell me I did not suffer thus in vain!”
I giggled. “Sorry, no earth-shattering orgasms to report. In my grand plans to seduce him, I chugged one too many glasses of wine and fell asleep on the couch. I don’t remember putting myself to bed — he must’ve carried me.”
“A true gentleman,” Margot muttered forlornly. “I bet he didn’t even try to wake you up.”
My eyebrows rose.
“I mean, he could’ve tried. Instead, nobody gets any orgasms. And, now that he’s seen the way you live...” She grimaced as her eyes swept the disheveled space, conveniently
forgetting she was the one responsible for the mess. “I bet he’ll never come back. We’ll have to start fresh with someone new!”
“Margot,” I said gently, trying to control my bubbling laughter. “I’m going to say this in the nicest way possible…”
She looked at me expectantly.
“You have officially become more invested in my sex life than I am. Girl, listen to me.” I took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes, making sure to annunciate each word as I spoke. “You. Need. To. Get. Laid.” I shook her lightly. “Well, that, or get a new hobby — one that does not include a daily tally of my nonexistent orgasms.”
Margot dissolved into giggles.
“Oh, come on, you lunatic. We have to get ready for work.” I released her, hopped out of bed, and headed for the kitchen, hoping my unintentionally-abstinent, nymphomaniac roommate had, at the very least, brewed a pot of strong coffee before coming into my room to torture me.
***
I didn’t find the note at first.
He’d picked a clever hiding spot — rolled into a scroll, tied to the shoelace of my tennis shoes. I grinned as I unrolled it and read the message, scrawled in masculine, narrow-lettered chicken scratch.
Meet me in the middle of the Chain Bridge at sunset.
I huffed, trying to work up a sense of indignation that he hadn’t bothered to ask me, but it was no use. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
Was it pushy and demanding and totally presumptuous of him to assume I was not only free at that time, but also willing and wanting to meet him?
Hell yes.
Was it also incredibly romantic and heart-flutter inducing, in spite of the alpha-male assumptions behind it?
Hell freaking yes.
Was I going to be standing in the middle of that damn bridge at sunset, waiting for him?
Come hell or high water.
***
It was the first time I’d walked the bridge alone, but I made it. Yes, I kept a white-knuckled grip on the railing the entire time and yes, I hyperventilated practically the whole way across, but that wasn’t the point. I’d counted to five — okay, ten — and forced myself to walk.
The first twenty steps were hard. Small, measured, hesitant — baby steps.
The last twenty were so easy, I practically sprinted them. Once I spotted Wes waiting for me at the center of the bridge, my feet flew over the stones so fast I completely forgot to be scared.
He was leaning against the railing, looking out over the river. His profile was lit by the setting sun, his jeans hung just right on his athletic frame, and his shoulders perfectly filled out the fitted black henley he was wearing. One glimpse of him, and I felt the breath catch in my throat. I still had difficulty believing a man that gorgeous could ever be interested in me.
I swallowed hard as I drew to a stop several feet from him.
“Hey, stranger,” I called softly.
He turned to look at me, that crooked smile already on his lips. “You’re late.”
“Excuse me?” I took a few steps closer. “Your note said sunset. The sun, if you’ll notice, is still setting.”
“But it’s been setting for almost an hour.”
“Well, next time you decide to write me a note demanding my presence, be more specific about the time, will ya?” I teased.
He stepped forward and grabbed my hand. “No promises. Now, let’s go.”
“Where?”
He glanced at me dismissively. “You do understand the concept of a surprise, right?”
“Sorry, I’m sort of killing the whole mystery-man vibe you’ve got going, aren’t I?”
“Completely,” he agreed, grinning. “So shut up and follow me or we’re going to miss it.”
I bit my tongue to keep from asking miss what? and followed Wes across to the Buda side. He pulled me along after him with one hand firmly gripping mine, hurrying us through the crowded avenues and around the many street vendors who’d set up their carts on the promenade. After about five minutes of walking, Wes came to a stop and I felt my eyes go wide.
“No way,” I said instantly.
“Red, don’t be unreasonable.”
“I’m unreasonable?” I blew out a puff of righteous outrage. “You’re the unreasonable one, if you think you’re going to get me on that thing.”
“Red…”
“Don’t Red me in that soft voice, Wes!” I glared at him. “No way. Nope. Not happening.”
“Red…” He was grinning again, the bastard.
“What did I just say?!”
He laughed outright. “I’ll hold your hand the whole time.”
I eyed the Sikló like it was a venomous snake, rather than an old-fashioned brown and yellow train car on a vertical track. The Castle Hill Funicular was famous in Budapest, whisking tourists up the steep hill from the riverbank to Buda Castle every few minutes and boasting some of the best views the city had to offer. But I sure as shit wasn’t about to get onboard, even with Wes holding my hand. Bridges were one thing — riding a centuries-old cliff car at a 75-degree angle up a sheer rock-face was another altogether.
“I can’t,” I whispered.
Wes pulled me close, so he could stare into my eyes. His hands came up to cradle my face, and my heart began to have palpitations.
“You can,” he whispered. “Faith Morrissey, you can do anything. Anything. Don’t let the world convince you otherwise.” He leaned down so his forehead was resting directly against mine and I felt my windpipe convulse spastically. “Five seconds of fear, or a lifetime of regret that you missed out on something amazing. Your choice, Red.”
Well, when he put it that way…
“I really, really don’t like you,” I grumbled, clearing my throat.
Wes laughed again and bumped his nose against mine. I thought I might faint when our mouths almost brushed, but managed to pass off my near-swoon as latent fear rather than sheer lust.
As he led me to the boarding station, his hand laced warmly in mine, I wondered if he’d ever stop pushing my buttons or testing my boundaries.
Almost instantly, I realized I didn’t want him to stop.
Wes challenged me in the best way possible. He made me press my own limits, forced me to try things I hadn’t had the courage to do in the past. He never questioned my abilities. He stared at me without a flicker of doubt in that steady brown gaze… looked at me like I could do anything, be anyone.
He believed in me.
With him, for the first time ever, I felt like I was starting to figure out who I was — and who I wanted to be.
More than any star I’d ever wished on or any blown-out birthday candle plea I’d ever dreamed might come true, I hoped that one day, I’d live up to the version of Faith that he saw when he looked at me like that. More than anything…
I wanted to be the woman Wes Adams thought I was.
Chapter Twenty-Two: WESTON
I’M WITH YOU
“Oh, wow. Wow, wow, wow,” Faith breathed, her eyes wider than I’d ever seen them.
We were about halfway up the embankment, slowly ascending toward the castle with all of Budapest laid out before us like a rug. The Chain Bridge and river promenade, now far below, were children’s toys left lying on the vast carpet, growing ever smaller as we rose up the hill. The setting sun painted all the world gold, like a sepia camera lens had been slipped over my eyes.
“This is amazing.” Her tone was hushed, full of wonderment as she took in the view. I’m sure it was spectacular, but I didn’t see any of it. I was distracted by a far more beautiful sight.
My eyes were locked on her face.
Tracing the curve of her lips. Memorizing their supple softness. Imagining how they’d feel against my own.
As I watched her, I felt it rise within me like a tidal wave — unfamiliar, irrepressible, undeniable.
Fear.
I hadn’t been frightened when I was bleeding out in a med-evac helicopter in a Bosnian war zone. I hadn’t
felt fear coursing through my veins when I’d been stranded in the deserts of Afghanistan without a satellite phone or water source for miles. I hadn’t experienced terror when I’d been captured by enemy insurgents during an entirely off-the-books surveillance mission.
But I was scared as hell at just the thought of kissing Faith Morrissey.
“Look, Wes! You can see the steeples of St. Stephen’s Basilica from here!” She let out an appreciative sigh. “God, isn’t it beautiful? Have you ever seen anything so gorgeous in your entire life?”
My eyes moved over her face as hers swept the city. “No.” I cleared my throat roughly. “I haven’t.”
She was totally enthralled by the panorama of old-world elegance that seemed to stretch on for miles in every direction — my detachment didn’t even register on her radar. My knee bounced up and down, keyed-up with adrenaline. She was supposed to be the one reeling out of control. And yet, somehow, the world had been flipped on its head because I was the only mess of nerves inside this goddamned floating glass box.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and pressed my eyes closed. For the first time in more than a decade, I found myself falling back on old habits. I started to count.
One.
She leaned slightly forward in her seat to stare through the glass, her fear of heights completely forgotten. “This is amazing. You can see all the way to City Park from here!”
Two.
Her hand tightened on mine, squeezing in excitement and anticipation. We were almost to the top. “Seriously, Wes. I’m sorry I gave you a hard time. I love this.”
Three.
I opened my eyes when I heard her gasp. The setting sun had just peeked out from behind a cloud, illuminating the river’s surface with shafts of buttery light. It gleamed like a gold-plated mirror.
Faith’s voice was awed. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Four.
She glanced in my direction. “Wes?” she asked, staring into my eyes with a question swimming in her own. “You still with me?”
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