I chewed my lip. There was so much to the story Max didn’t have to know. My gaze met its guilty twin in the rearview mirror. I wouldn’t be able to keep silent forever about the girl in the church, or the horrible jealousy she’d inspired in me. Today was not forever, though. I’d just give him the bare minimum he needed to keep his end of this operation afloat.

“Carrie, are you still there?” He didn’t seem worried, but annoyed.

Impatient much, Maximilian? “Sorry. Keeping my eyes on traffic.”

He sighed loudly into the phone. “So, what’s the story?”

I filled him in on what I had learned about the Soul Eater’s ritual.

When I finished, Max said, “Well, I can tell you for sure we’re being watched.”

“By who?” His Movement connections really came in handy.

“The Soul Eater. I found a nest of his goons last night when I was tailing Nathan.” He yelped, then muttered under his breath, “Sorry. I pinched myself.”

“Max, is someone there with you?” Maybe he thought I would be angry with him for, er, entertaining while Nathan was in danger. I was a little irked, but I wasn’t going to rip his head off. It was Max, after all. I wasn’t entirely sure he could exist on blood alone, he was so dependant on sex.

“No, not at all.” The tone of his response was a little too bright. It wasn’t in sync with the question I’d asked.

An evil smile twisted my lips. “Then you won’t have a problem admitting that you’re gay.”

“What?” He laughed. “Why would I say something like that?”

“If you don’t say it, I know you’re with a woman right now.” Max Harrison admitting he was gay? Never going to happen, especially if an attractive female could hear.

“You’re being childish.”

Yes, I was. “Say it. Say ‘I, Max Harrison, like dick.’ Say it.”

“Fine!” He let out an annoyed breath. “I found the other assassin. She’s here right now.”

“What?” The wheel slipped from my hand for a second and I scrambled to regain my hold before I drove us off the shoulder. “What’s she doing there?”

“Calm down, she’s cool. She’s on our side, at least for now.” He cleared his throat. “The Movement didn’t fill her in entirely on her assignment, and she’s reassessed her priorities.”

“You should, too,” I snapped. “I can’t believe you’re letting the enemy waltz around my house!”

“She’s not the enemy. Christ, Carrie, haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said? Now that she knows what’s really going on, she’s going to help us!” Max shouted, and the phone crackled with feedback.