I meet his eyes. “No fight? No protests?”

“No. You are entirely right. I shouldn’t hold anything back, even if it doesn’t seem important to me at the time. It might prove to be. I’m sorry.” His body language is open. He seems sincere. I feel like I can’t trust my own judgment in anything, anymore. Tila’s fucked with my head.

“That’s twice you’ve not told me things I needed to know,” I say.

Nazarin stares at me, somber. “I wanted to sleep with you. Not your sister.”

My breath catches. He had cut to the heart of what was bothering me. I look away. I see the framed holophoto of me and Tila, arms around each other and smiling. We look so young, so happy. I feel like I’ve aged about twenty years in less than a week. I thought I knew her better than anyone. “Still probably not the best idea to sleep with your undercover partner,” I say. “Did you, uh, mention that to your superior?”

His face goes still. “No, I didn’t. If I did, they might throw me off the case, despite all the inroads I’ve made. Conflict of interest. They’d put someone else on, and starting all over again means they probably wouldn’t be able to help your sister.”

The careful way he chooses his words makes me tired. “Relax. I’m not going to tell the SFPD.” A horrible thought occurs to me. “Does the other safe house have cameras?”

“God, no. Don’t worry.”

I let out a breath.

“It might not have been the best idea, what we did,” he says gently. “I don’t regret a moment of it, though.” He hesitates, glancing up at me. “Do you?”

I can’t help it—the smallest smile hooks to my cheeks before it disappears. “No. I don’t. But I don’t think it should happen again. Not while we’re doing this.”

He nods. “That’s fair.”

I stand up, hold out my hand. “So. You’ll tell me everything. I may not be an actual member of the Ratel, but I’m not stupid. I’m your best chance of figuring out what’s really going on in the Ratel. Stop trying to protect me or cover your own ass, or you’ll get us both killed.”

He stands and takes my hand in a warm grasp. “I promise,” he says.

I look at him for a long time. He doesn’t look away. He wants to kiss me. I want to kiss him, but only our hands touch.

I’m still confused and a little jealous, but I push it away until I’m calm and steady.

It’s a new start. We’re partners.

*   *   *

I’m getting sick of the safe house. It’s not home.