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"It’s like you’re really seeing me,” she finally replies, keeping those beautiful eyes downcast. Is it fear or shame that makes her avoid my eyes? "When you look at me, I feel like you actually care." She whispers so low I almost miss it in the club music.
"I do care. You’re my new neighbor, after all."
That gains me a small smile.
“It’s been so long since anyone has.”
Tell me who hurt you. I want a name.
Fuck, I can’t say that. I wish I could. One day, when I know her better, I can.
I can’t wait for the dawn of that day.
I part my lips to speak, not knowing what will come out when a familiar face emerges behind Poppy.
“Mick,” I grunt.
What the hell is my Colonel doing here?
I drop Poppy’s hands and stand. His face tells me all I need to know. Something is wrong.
His eyes glance at Poppy, which has me stepping in their path to block her from his view.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. It comes off as harsh.
He grinds his teeth and steps closer, ensuring that only I can hear him. "Two and five o’clock," his eyes glance in that direction of the bar. "They are CIA. I’ve got half a dozen CID officers outside as well. I need you to come with me, and before you freak out, you did nothing wrong. Get rid of the girl and listen to my orders.”
I jerk and feel the weight of my arm in my sling. I’m a sitting duck. I didn’t even bring my gun with me. I’ve never been defenseless.
My eyes race over the bar like a ghost chasing the Pac-Man. “My brother is here,” I inform Mick.
I glance over my shoulder at Poppy; her eyes look worried and annoyed. She must think I’m embarrassed by her; why else would I not introduce Mick to her?
She just showed me a piece of her broken heart, and I didn't say anything back. Maybe she thinks I'm a clone of my brother, only chasing ass.
“I’m not leaving her either,” I whisper to Mick.
“I have a second team of CID covering your brother, but he’s not the target, neither is the girl. Let her blend away into the crowd and forget her.”
Target. That means I am one.
It takes all my training to nod and not start shouting.
“Go find Kent.” I tell Mick, “Tell him to take the girls back to their apartment before you bring him to me.”
Mick isn’t used to me ordering him, but he agrees. I run my hand through my hair, wishing it was my right hand. I'm confident in my skills with my left, but I'm lethal with my right hand.
“Is everything okay?” I hear Poppy ask.
I turn to face her. Three minutes ago, I was hard and imagined what I was going to do to her. Now I’m a fucking target! What the fuck!
“Yeah.” I plaster on a fake grin that she doesn’t buy it, “I’m sorry. That was my boss.”
Her forehead wrinkles, and she inches back from me. “I thought Kent said you're the CEO.”
She caught me.
“I am.” My eyes scan the location of two, then five o’clock, where the CIA informants are. Did my uncle send them? If so, why is my uncle, the Director of the CIA, involved?
