I go motionless when I feel the cold barrel of a handgun pressed firmly beneath my chin, my head extended upward, painfully so. “What are you doing?”
“After the first betrayal, there is no other.”
I have no idea what he means. “What are you talking about? I haven’t betrayed you.”
“Who. The. Fuck. Are. You?” he yells.
Oh, shit! What does he know?
“Hands behind your head. Now!” I slowly do as he orders.
“Breck, whatever you’ve uncovered, it doesn’t matter. You know the real me.” He shoves the barrel into my jawline so hard, it’s digging into my skin.
“I thought I did.” He bites his lower lip and shakes his head. “Tell me, Bleu. If you play the role well enough, does it become real?” His voice cracks on the last word. He’s hurting but I don’t forget who is holding the gun to my head. This is Sinclair Breckenridge. He’ll kill me if he believes I’ve compromised him or the brotherhood. I have zero doubt about that.
Say what you have to say to sell it. “Ask me again who I am.”
He does as I tell him. “Who are you?”
“I’m your Bonny Bleu, the one in love with you.”
“Says the woman with a gun to her head,” he sneers. “You’ll say any-fucking-thing to keep me from blowing your brains out right now.”
“Fuck! Why can’t I do this?” He squeezes his eyes shut and I move my hand to his, the one holding the gun. I slowly push it away from my face.
“Because you’re not a monster.”
He rises and sits back, resting the gun against his thigh. He uses his free hand to fist his hair. “You’re a fucking FBI agent.”
“I was. Past tense. I quit.” I need that gun out of his hand. “I’m not sure I can talk about all of this while you’re still holding that. It’s more than a little distracting, considering you were holding it to my head threatening to kill me only a minute ago.” I gesture toward the nightstand. “Do you think you could maybe put it over there while we talk about this?”
“No sudden moves, Bleu. I mean it. You know what I’m capable of.” He hesitates for a moment and then places it on the nightstand. “Who are you working for?”
“No one.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. I’m here for me.” It’s finally out there. “I came to avenge a murder. Your father shot and killed my mother.”
“Abram was right again. You are Amanda Lawrence’s daughter.”
“The world thinks I died that night. That isn’t the case, as you can see.”
“My father didn’t kill your mother. He loved her.”
“You’re wrong. I was there. I saw him. And when he was finished, he held a pillow over my face until I stopped fighting. He thought I was dead.”
“If you’ll stop and think about it, you’ll realize you’re confused.”
He’s relaxed so I make a move for the gun. I’m surprised when he doesn’t try to stop me. “Both hands on top of your head. Slowly move to your back on the other side of the bed.”
He smiles while doing as I ordered.
I reach under the mattress and retrieve the handcuffs I’d hidden for a time such as this. I toss them onto his chest. “Handcuff yourself to the headboard.”
He shakes his head while doing as I’ve told him. “I as good as placed that gun in your hand myself.”
I know. Sinclair Breckenridge would never be so careless.
“Why haven’t you killed my father since that’s what you came to do? You’ve had countless opportunities, yet you haven’t.”
I don’t answer as I go through the clothes on the floor. I find what belongs to me and I begin dressing.
“Because you fell in love with me,” he says.
I’m in my panties and bra with my dress in my hands. “I did. And it ruined everything.” I pull my dress over my head and step into my shoes, careful to not take the gun off Sin.
“I fell in love with you too.”
“Says the man handcuffed to a bed.”
“You aren’t going to kill me, so I have no reason to lie.”
I go over to sit on the edge of the bed, the gun pointing at Sin. “You’re right. I’m not going to kill you, but I am going to leave you handcuffed here so I can get a head start before the brotherhood comes after me.”
“I have things to say to you.”
I‘m not sure I should listen to this. Even with his hands bound over his head, Sin holds the power to hurt me in so many ways. “I don’t have time. The brotherhood will be after me. I need to get out of here.”
“Please, don’t go yet. No one is on his or her way. Give me a few minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
It isn’t safe to do so, but I’m dying to know the things he wants to tell me. “Be quick.”
“I love you like a fucking lunatic. It’s going to kill me to watch you walk out the door but I understand why you must do it. It isn’t safe for you to stay. I want you to go until I have time to figure out how to handle this with the brotherhood. I’m going to make it okay with them and after I do, I’ll come for you.”
He has no idea who he’s dealing with. I can’t be found if I don’t want to be. “You don’t know me. I’m a trained chameleon. I’ll change my colors when I walk out that door.”
“Because you’re an agent?”
Yes. “You’ll never see me again. I’ll disappear without a trace.”
“Is that a challenge?” he asks.
“Sure. We can call it that if you like.”
I grab my purse from the chair and retrieve the keys to the handcuffs, leaving them on the dresser. “I’ll text Jamie to come over and release you when my plane pulls away from the jet bridge.” I pull the bed sheet up so he won’t be naked and exposed.
“Thanks.” He laughs.
I shouldn’t but I sit next to him on the bed and lean down for one last kiss. I’m not stupid so I’m holding the gun to his chest, pointing right at his heart. “I’m going to kiss you but one hinky move and you’ll literally be the heartless bastard everyone believes you really are.”
I lower my mouth to his and press a featherlight kiss against his lips. “I love you, Sinclair Breckenridge. It’s going to hurt like hell to never see you again.”