“Levi, Director Palmer asked me to call you,” a woman said.

Levi took a moment to replay the words in his mind and recognize the voice. He tensed. “Belinda. I didn’t realize the director had brought you in on this case.”

“Only in a limited fashion. I have the latest information on Raymond Escobar.”

“What do you have?”

“We tracked him as far as Italy. We’ll look through various transportation methods to figure out where he went from there.”

“I appreciate it.” Levi only had to close his eyes to visualize the woman Belinda had been before the accident, to remember her before she had tripped a booby trap that had resulted in an explosion that left burn marks on her neck and arms. “Was there anything else?”

“Actually, yes.” Silence hummed over the phone. “I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” Levi repeated, dumbfounded. “If you hadn’t come with me to Kiev, you never would have gotten hurt.”

“If I hadn’t gone inside the warehouse before it was clear, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt,” Belinda corrected. “I know I blamed you, but it wasn’t your fault.”

“Why the sudden change?” Levi asked. “The last time we spoke, you didn’t want to talk about anything having to do with the accident.”

“I know, but I finally forced myself to look at the files,” Belinda said. “You tried to tell me the truth, and I didn’t want to hear it.”

Suspicion bloomed. “Have you been talking to Janessa?”

“Actually, I have. I asked her to be one of my bridesmaids.”

“You’re getting married?”

“I am.”

A weight lifted off Levi’s shoulders. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. I’d better get going, but if we find anything else on Escobar, I’ll pass it along to the director. He seems pretty invested in your current assignment.”

“He has been. It’s kind of odd, actually, after having so little contact with him the last year.”

“He didn’t tell me what he has planned for you, but I got the impression it was something that would help both of your careers,” Belinda said. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” Levi said his goodbyes, Belinda’s words lingering in his mind. What did the director have in mind for him that would affect both of their careers? Was it something that would pull him away from Cassie? Or was the director hoping to exploit the friendship he and Cassie shared?

Levi’s heart sank. It didn’t matter what the director had in store for him. Either way, the lies that existed between him and Cassie would prevent him from ever being able to build the future that had firmly invaded his dreams.

* * *

Cassie’s heart lifted at the mere sight of Levi. What was wrong with her?

Levi’s earlier words about the future scrambled inside her like a hundred puzzle pieces looking for a home. She wanted time to find out what he would be like when he wasn’t on protection duty, for him to see her in her natural environment. She wanted him to meet her father and sisters, but mostly, she wanted to know what she and Levi could become.