Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 419(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 419(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” Deke said.
Ian sighed, a long-suffering sound. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Kyle made his decisions, and we have to live with them. You did what you needed to do, and Madeline made sure The Consortium didn’t get the intel they needed. You should know the Agency is working to clean everything up. There shouldn’t be any blowback. They’re saying it was a gas leak. Kyle had recently applied to work security for the company, but Byrne hired him as a private bodyguard. Both he and Byrne were killed in the accident.”
The CIA guy had worked very quickly. “And they’re saying Byrne sabotaged his own satellite?”
“It didn’t work, and he couldn’t make it work. The story is he lied to his employees and his board members,” Ian said with a shake of his head. “Yeah, the conspiracy theories are already swirling, but the Agency is going to keep a lid on this because they believe Madeline. It looks like that weapon was going to be used on high-value targets while in the air. Some things are more important to the Agency than investments, and that’s power.”
“Well, my investment portfolio is currently taking a major hit.” She didn’t want to think about how much money she’d lost. “But the good news is my boyfriend has an excellent job, and I hear Texas is cheaper than California.”
“Maddie, no,” Deke said, bringing her hand to his chest. “I go where you go. Ian, I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have to…”
She wasn’t going to let that happen. “He’s going to go home and go back to work because like Boomer said, his family needs him. Though we would like a little time off. We need to go to see his parents or they will swoop in on us, and his condo isn’t big enough for that.”
Deke stared up at her. “Maddie, I will not…”
She stared right back at him, hoping that the look she gave him had her full will in it. “What? You will not what, Deke?”
“Uh, he will not make the same mistake again?” Ian offered. “He will not prove he learned nothing.”
“Fuck.” Deke brought her hand up to his lips. “I need you to know, I will be there for you. I will sacrifice anything but you. I love you, Maddie. You’re my life now, and I won’t make a decision for you. If you want to come with me, I’m happy, but if your career takes you somewhere else, I’ll go with you.”
Ian nodded. “Then something good came from this. The doctors said you could go home in a couple of days. Head to your parents and heal a little more. Let me know when you’re ready to come back to Dallas and I’ll send the plane for you. I’ll be taking MaeBe and Boomer home with me. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to have a bodyguard twenty-four seven. MaeBe has a point about Julia still wanting to hurt her. If MaeBe doesn’t believe Kyle is truly dead, who knows if Julia will. My nephew played some deep games, and Drake has a lot to answer for.”
“You didn’t know he worked for Drake?” Deke asked.
“I’ve known for a while, but Kyle asked me to stay out of it. I only know what Kyle’s been willing to tell me so far. I know he was involved with a woman named Julia Ennis since her mother actually hired Adam’s company to look for her last year. She’s officially missing, and from what I can tell the mom knows nothing about her involvement with the CIA. I’m glad I can tell Adam why he couldn’t use his software to ID her. She has a new face.” Ian had his hand on the door. “Now I have to go and talk to my brother and… Well, it’s a conversation I never dreamed I’d have to have with him. Get better soon, Deke. We need you at home. And Madeline, I think you’ll find you can choose again.”
He walked out, the door closing behind him.
“What does that mean?” Maddie had many choices she would make again, starting with being way more stubborn back in her teen years.
“No idea, but Ian works in mysterious ways.” Deke squeezed her hand. “I meant what I said. Anywhere you go, I go, too. From now on we make those decisions together. And that means I should tell you something.”
She shook her head because she thought she knew what he was about to confess, and she didn’t need it. “Unless it directly affects you and me, you keep your secrets. Things you promised to your friends, it’s okay to keep those. I trust you.”
He tugged on her hand, bringing her close. “Thank you.”
“Always.” She kissed him and rested her forehead against his.
They were together, and they would get through anything.