Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
He didn’t want to cause a rift between his da and Ian. “Don’t blame him. Uncle Ian’s been left out, from what I can tell.”
“But he can blame me,” Tristan said, bitterness in his tone.
“Yeah.” He wasn’t letting Tris off. “Da can absolutely blame you. Everyone can. Ian didn’t tell you to get involved in arms dealing.”
Ian’s brow rose. “Nor did Ian tell him he could announce it to the world. Aidan, you should understand that while I didn’t know exactly what Tris was doing until recently, and I think he’s a dumbass for getting involved in this without bringing anyone else in, I do understand why he wanted to protect you. The people who are after him are serious killers, and they proved it today. I don’t know why you think an attack at your wedding has nothing to do with you, but I’m here to tell you it fucking did, and while Tristan might piss you off, he’s right. Look, I can’t force you to do something, but I can assure you my brother will protect his daughter.”
“And I’ll protect my son.” His da’s tone had gone stubborn and dark, his Irish thick on the tongue. “He’ll go to the safe house, and he won’t have a choice about it.”
“Da,” he started.
His father shook his head. “No. Not after today. If you’re going to be ridiculous about this, I’ll take over, boy. I’m not about to let my son die.”
Okay, it was oddly soothing to hear his father say the words. He was always more concerned about Daisy, but something settled inside Aidan when his father declared he would be utterly unreasonable and assholish when it came to Aidan’s protection. “Da, we should talk about this.”
Ian stared a hole through him, and Aidan suddenly realized this wasn’t his funny, sarcastic Uncle Ian. This was the Agency operative. “Why Canada?”
Tristan seemed to realize something. “Ian, it doesn’t have anything to do with…you know who. I’m sure Carys thought it was pretty, and they probably found a good deal on a hotel there. Honestly, it’s more a fuck you to me than anything else. They knew I would pay for the honeymoon. They probably figured I would try to show up or something.”
It was infuriating. He heard the door behind him come open, but he was too angry to turn around and see who was there. “It has absolutely nothing to do with you, Tris. You want to know why we’re going to Montreal? I got invited to a symposium, and Carys understands my career is important.”
Tris had gone a pale white. “What? What fucking symposium, A? Tell me you didn’t accept an invitation from Emmanuel Huisman.”
“He finally gets to the point,” Ian said under his breath. “Fucking right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing. This—this is why I didn’t want to get back in the Agency bullshit.”
The last was said to someone behind him, but Aidan wasn’t concerned. “This has nothing to do with the Agency, but yes, I got invited to a very exclusive meeting of some of the best cutting-edge surgeons. As a resident. It’s going to make my career.”
“It’s not about you, Aidan,” Tristan said with a sneer. “It’s about me. Who the fuck do you think is after me? It’s Emmanuel Huisman. You’re nothing but a pawn in this game of ours, and the fact that you never bothered to tell me about it proves you have no idea how to play. You’ve been talking to me every week for years, but you decide to keep me out of this for petty reasons?”
A gasp came from behind him, and Aidan turned. Carys was there with her cousins and Louisa Ward. They stood in the doorway like a phalanx of beautifully dressed Valkyries. Except Carys, who looked like someone had gutted her. She’d changed into yoga pants and a tee, but she was so gorgeous his heart ached.
She knew he’d lied, had kept things from her.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
* * * *
Two hours later Tristan took his seat in the conference room. His fucking heart ached because he’d known the minute he’d realized Carys was in the room, Aidan would never forgive him for telling the truth he’d promised to hide.
But damn it, what the hell else was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to let the people he loved the most fall into the clutches of a man who wanted to burn the world down? They didn’t know it, but they had become pawns in a dangerous game, one Tris had worked so fucking hard to keep them out of.
“I need to understand how Huisman knew about Aidan.” Kala had changed into jeans and a tank top, showing off her toned arms.
“We don’t know he does.” Cooper sat beside her, making sure to get a seat that would keep him close to her. “Aidan’s top of his class. The Foundation is known for finding up-and-coming doctors.”