Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(29)
Author: Cynthia Eden

A flight she wasn’t taking.

“You got close to me because that made you close to Jack. You wanted his attention.” Judging by that bomb blast… “You got it.”

Dylan stalked toward the door. “I’ll get Thomas to take you back to your place. He’s going to have guard duty until your flight leaves tomorrow—”

“Do you still love her?” She hadn’t meant to ask, but the question whispered from her.

She saw his shoulders stiffen.

“This isn’t just about Shannon,” Dylan told her.

“No,” she agreed, sad now. Because she grieved for what could have been. “Because she’s gone, and I’m right here. Only you can’t even look at me.” That was fine. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to look at him right then. “Don’t worry about calling Thomas. I can find my own way out of here.”

He turned toward her. Rachel tried to shove past him.

He caught her and held her in a tight grip. She twisted her wrist. She’d break free easily enough. He wasn’t dealing with some—

“Don’t.” The word broke from him. Pain. Fury. Grief.

So much emotion, but Rachel didn’t think it was for her. It was for a woman long dead.

She’d read the file on Shannon Morgan. Shannon had been working at the Pentagon when she was killed. A woman with a bright future, plenty of friends…

The report never mentioned Dylan. Why? Because he’d been EOD? Had Mercer made sure that Dylan’s name stayed out of that nice, neat report?

“You know I wanted you.” His hold tightened on her. “You know I still want you.”

But he’d managed to keep that desire in check easily enough. Until he’d needed them to be lovers.

Now she knew why he’d reacted so strongly when she’d told him that she and Jack hadn’t been lovers.

Jack and Shannon had been.

“I thought I was so careful.” She wouldn’t let him see how much she hurt then. “But I guess we all make mistakes.” She just kept putting her trust in the wrong men.

“You didn’t make a mistake with me.”

He should try explaining that to the heart that felt as if it were breaking.

“When this is over,” Dylan said, giving a hard nod, “we’ll move forward. We can see where this relationship goes—”

She laughed then. The sound was bitter. Hollow.

Then she pulled her hand from his. “It’s not going anywhere. We are over, Dylan. No more being on a team. No more being lovers.”

He swallowed. “You’re angry. I get that—”

“No, you don’t. I thought you actually knew me, but I was so wrong about that. If you really knew me, you’d realize that angry doesn’t come close to how I feel.” There was too much pain for her to even touch the anger yet. “You’re looking for justice for a woman who’s dead. I wanted justice for myself.” Justice, not revenge. “And you took that away from me.” All of her training. All of her work. “You took it all from me.”

Then, because she would not break in front of him, Rachel headed for the door. With one foot in front of the other, she walked down the hallway. She went straight to Mercer’s office.

Mercer’s assistant, Judith, rose when Rachel approached. Judith’s pretty features slackened with worry. “Rachel, what’s wrong?”

Rachel just shook her head. “I have to see him.”

Judith was normally Mercer’s guard dog. If you didn’t have an appointment, she didn’t let you pass into his sanctum.

But Judith was also Rachel’s friend. She opened Mercer’s door.

Rachel slipped inside. Mercer glanced up, his face reflecting a flash of surprise. “Agent Mancini, what—”

“I’m done, Mercer.” She’d put three years of blood and sweat into the EOD. In return, she’d been shoved aside.

His eyelids flickered. “No, surely, you—”

“I’m out.” There wasn’t more for her to say. She wasn’t going to Atlanta. Wasn’t going to wait quietly down there and then get transferred back up to D.C. when Dylan thought it was safe enough for her to return.

She’d faced danger day-in and day-out. She’d risked her life time and time again.

No more.

“I deserve a life.” Not a lover who’d turn his back on her.

Then she gave one final nod to Mercer—and left.

* * *

DYLAN STARED DOWN at his clenched hands.

He’d hurt Rachel.

He’d wanted to protect her. To get her away from Jack.

She looked at me as if she didn’t know who I was. As if I was some kind of damn stranger…and not her lover.

Being with her…she’d overwhelmed him, driven him to the brink of sanity. The pleasure had been unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

He wanted her. Again and again and again.

And he’d almost gotten her killed.

He was the senior agent. He should have forced Rachel to stay in her apartment. But because it was her, because he couldn’t say no to her, he’d let her come with him. He’d been weak.

She’d almost been dead.

The phone on his desk rang, and he picked it up, his movements jerky. “Agent Foxx.”

“My office. Now.” He heard Mercer’s familiar snarl, then the call ended.

Dylan didn’t want to go into Mercer’s office. He wanted to find Rachel. To try and explain to her—

I want to stop Jack so that you’ll be safe. So that he won’t ever come near you again.

That explanation wasn’t good enough. She’d learned about his secrets. He knew that he should have told her before, but Jack was still an open wound for her. He just hadn’t wanted to hurt her any more.

But I did.

He’d never seen quite that look in Rachel’s eyes before.

He put down the phone and returned to Mercer’s office. Rachel was still in the building. He’d talk with Mercer and then he’d find her. There was plenty more to say between them.

He passed Judith’s desk. The woman’s glare seemed to burn his skin. Dylan paused. “Judith?”

“I always knew you weren’t good enough for her.”

His eyes widened. You’re right. I’m not. Not even close.

Judith pointed to Mercer’s door. “He’s waiting.”

He fumbled and opened the door. Mercer wasn’t at his desk. He was staring out the window. His hands were behind his back. His shoulders bowed.