“Because it’s good seeing you fight for yourself. Facing tests like this will make you better, sharper. Especially in the field.”

“But I don’t want to be in the field.” Why did they refuse to accept her wishes on that?

“You’re far too gifted to be stuck behind a desk. I read the reports from the Honduras op. You were a vital part of the team.”

“I think you’re exaggerating.” She’d just been following the lead of much more seasoned field agents.

He shook his head. “Not at all.” He took her hand. “Listen, Layla, I need to stay on the sidelines on this one. You’ll come out stronger for it. I have the utmost confidence in you, and the IG’s office will get to the truth. I know that’s not the answer you were looking for, but it’s the best I can do.”

“Just promise me one thing.”

“Okay.”

“If I wind up dead, you’ll help clear my good name.”

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

Watching that Nick guy fawn all over Layla had been sickening. And when Nick had taken her hand, it was all Hunter could do not to react. But he’d sat quietly at his table, brooding and trying to read lips the best he could without staring. It was the longest twenty minutes of his life.

Now they were in his car so they could speak freely without the prying ears of the Agency. He’d taken extra precautions to make sure there weren’t any surveillance devices in his home or car for that very reason. They already had enough eyes on them.

“You’re keeping me in suspense,” he said. He didn’t want to push her, but he also really wanted to know what had happened.

“Sorry. I’m just replaying the conversation in my head.”

“No need to apologize. I can try to be patient.” Try being the operative word. He glanced over and smiled at her.

She gave him a weak smile in return. “Nick says he wasn’t involved in this, and I believe him.”

“Isn’t that good news?” He knew there was more to the story.

She shifted in her seat. “Yes, but he also said that he can’t interfere in the investigation and then gave me this big pep talk about how this was just going to make me a better agent and I’d be stronger for it.”

“I saw him touching you.” It came out more accusatory than he had intended.

Layla sighed. “Yeah, but it wasn’t a romantic gesture. That is over, and he knows it.”

Hunter had been shocked that Layla had carried on this secret relationship with a top-ranking CIA official, but he certainly didn’t judge her for it, although it seemed like she was judging herself pretty harshly. “I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything except for my dislike for the guy.”