“Anyone’s picture? Any names?”
“Con’s. His name, but not a picture. There was a picture of a woman with blond hair and green eyes. It said she worked for PureGems both in the US and UK.”
Kellan’s chin dropped to his chest. “That would be Elena. She’s now married to Guy and living here. What else did they say about her?”
“They had a question mark by her name.”
His head lifted, and the grim set of his features said that her words weren’t what he wanted to hear. “A question mark? Why?”
“It could mean anything. For instance, it could be that they don’t know if she’s alive or dead, or if she’s still in the country or not.”
“Or if she’s a part of whatever is going on at Dreagan, aye?”
Denae clasped her hands in front of her. “That is another possibility.”
“Any other names or pictures in the file?”
“No, which is what really struck me as odd and very unlike MI5. When I questioned it, I was quickly put in my place and told my job was to complete the mission I was given.”
Kellan rose to face the window, putting his back to her. The tan pullover he wore was just as fitted as the shirt from the previous day, and just as before, he looked uncomfortable in it. Though he didn’t shift his shoulders as much.
Denae scooted back in the chair. “I wasn’t given long to look at the file, but from what I could see, it was mostly pictures of Dreagan taken from a satellite.”
“What did the pictures show?” he asked as he turned his head in profile to her.
“All of Dreagan. In every season. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me, but I did notice some of the mountains were marked as well as certain spots. Your cave was one of those.”
When he didn’t reply, she pushed her braid from her shoulder. Kellan stood as still as a statue. He was troubled by what she had divulged, the emotion evident in his gaze and rugged features.
“I can tell you some ways they’ll come at y’all,” she said. “Come at you,” she corrected. “But I need something in return.”
“You’re alive,” he bit out, turning his head slightly to the side. “We’re keeping you alive. That should be enough.”
It was more than anyone else would give her, but it still wasn’t enough. “Will you give me proof that I’ll leave here alive and with a new identity?”
“I could, but it might be a lie.”
“I know.”
He slowly turned to face her, his brow furrowed in a frown. “You would trust me?”
“As much as anyone in my position can. I don’t fully trust you, just as you don’t really trust me. You hold my life in your hands. I’m at your mercy.”
“Con has given his word. That is all the proof you need.”
Denae knew by the set of Kellan’s jaw that she wouldn’t get any more from him. It was a gamble she was taking in telling them everything she knew. They could easily kill her and dump her body, claiming neither she nor Matt ever made it to the cave.
Or they could get her a new identity and help her get out of the country to live as normal a life as anyone could on the run.
“I shouldn’t tell you,” she said. “I took an oath that I take very seriously.”
Kellan leaned one shoulder against the wall. “They used you.”
“Just as you’re doing.”
“Aye, lass, but we willna be trying to kill you when it’s all finished.”
Denae couldn’t believe how far she had tumbled from her path. “I know I shouldn’t tell you, but for some reason I can’t even begin to explain, I want to.”
And she did. Was it Dreagan? Was it Kellan?
Either way, she wanted to help them because she liked Dreagan, with its beauty and mysterious secrets. And because of Kellan.
Despite trying, she was fascinated by his chilly green gaze, enticed by his wide lips, and lured in by his hard body.
It was a hell of a position to be in, but somehow she knew that it wasn’t just chance that Kellan had found her in his cave or that he was the one questioning her.
Their paths would continue into the future. Denae just didn’t know for how long.
CHAPTER NINE
Kellan was about ready to rip off Denae’s oversized shirt with its wide collar that kept hanging off one shoulder, giving him a tantalizing view of her supple skin.
He remained against the wall while he kept a tight leash on the desire raging out of control, its burn singeing him from the inside out. Damn, but why did Denae have to be so tempting?
“If you would rather I get Con so you can tell him, I will.” Kellan prayed she took him up on his offer so he could have a few minutes alone to get ahold of himself.
Her head cocked to the side, and the long braid fell over her bare shoulder. It was almost too much. Kellan bit back a groan before it passed his lips.