Page 151 of Covert Mission

“Easy. Sweetheart, if you think Justice will let anything happen to her, you don’t know the kind of man he is.”

She fumes at me, turns around, and stalks off. “You’re supposed to be helping me. Not taking over.”

“Were you going to tell Belle that you’re a covert operative?”

Her brows drop, she crosses and uncrosses her arms. “No.”

“Then you have to let me be the front.”

She tugs at her shirt, tightens her ponytail. Glares at the floor. And finally looks at me. “I’m not okay with how you handled that.”

“You’re not okay with a lot of things right now. Me included.”

That halts her breath and hardens her expression.

I step toward her. “What’s really going on this morning?”

She steps back. “Nothing.”

That lie stings far more than it should.

I know she’s just protecting herself. It’s her defense mechanism. Her way of pulling back.

I should have expected she’d have second thoughts.

I wish I did. It would make this a lot easier.

My palm scrubs across my days’ old scruff. “I’m going to get a shower and shave while we wait.”

Camile silently watches me go.

ChapterFifty-One

Lucas is coming out of the bathroom when Belle knocks on the door. “Guys,” she calls. “I’m back.”

My eyes widen when I realize Lucas is in nothing more than a white towel lashed around his waist.

“Clothes!” I wave my hands and hiss.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal for him to be nearly naked.

He opens the door, Belle breezes in, skidding to a halt and blinking at his bare chest.

Justice steps in behind her. He chuckles, “For the love of god, put some clothes on, you’re scaring the woman.”

Lucas casually walks over to his duffel bag and fishes out a shirt and some briefs.

As much as I love his muscular butt,pleasetell me he’s not going to drop his towel. Belle might keel over.

She’s staring at me as is with an expression that only another woman could understand.

I frown at her and clear my throat, trying to ignore the fact that Lucas is pulling on his boxer briefs under his towel.

My voice comes out squeaky. “What did you find out?”

Belle’s staring. This time, at Lucas.

Justice nudges her shoulder. “Your tongue is going to get dirty on this floor.”