There was a beat of raw silence. And then Isaac came around the island toward her.

He kept his voice low as he approached. “When you were in the police station today, did they ask you about me?”

She seemed momentarily nonplussed. “Of course they did.”

“And what did you tell them?”

“Nothing—because short of your name, I don’t know a goddamn thing.”

He nodded, bringing his body even closer to hers. “That man at my apartment. Did he ask about me?”

She threw her hands up. “Everyone wants to know about you—”

“And what did you tell him?”

“Nothing,” she hissed.

“If someone from the CIA or the NSA comes to your door and asks about me—”

“I can’t tell them anything!”

He stopped so close, he could see each individual lash around her stunning blue eyes. “That’s right. And that’s what is going to keep you alive.” As she cursed and went to turn away, he grabbed her arm and snapped her back around. “That man at my apartment is a cold-blooded killer and he let you go only because he wants to send a message to me. The reason I’m not telling you anything—”

“I can lie! Damn it—why do you assume I’m naive?” She glared up at him. “You have no idea what it’s been like my whole life, seeing all these shadows and never having them explained. I can lie—”

“They’ll torture you. To make you talk.”

That shut her up.

And he kept going. “Your father knows this. So do I—and believe me, during training I got put through an interrogation session, so I know precisely what they’ll do to you. The only way I can be sure you don’t get that is if you really don’t have anything to say. Frankly, you’re too close to this anyway—through no fault of your own.”

“God . . . I hate this.” The trembling in her body wasn’t about fear. It was rage, pure and simple. “I just want to hit something.”

“Okay.” He tightened her fist and drew her arm back over her shoulder. “Take it out on me.”

“What—”

“Hit me. Tear my eyes out. Do anything you have to.”

“Are you mad?”

“Yes. Insane.” He dropped his hold on her and braced his weight, staying close . . . close enough so she could cork him a good one if she wanted to. “I’ll be your punching bag, your Kevlar vest, your bodyguard . . . I’ll do anything to help you get through this.”

“You’re crazy,” she breathed.

As she stared up at him all flushed and alive, the heat in his blood surged—and took them into even more dangerous territory. For fuck’s sake, like he needed to get sexed up? Now, yet again, was not the time or the place.