"Of course not. Don't be stupid. Interpol never would've approved had they known the truth," Jax says, rolling his eyes. “As far as they know, she was twenty when I recruited her and twenty-one when the team became active.”
Dresden gets in Jax's face, and they stand nose-to-nose. "You should be in jail. What kind of man does that to a fucking kid?"
"The kind who's trying to make a difference. Lily understands this world better than any of you ever will."
"I'm calling Hyde." Dresden spins around and moves toward Sammi's desk.
I grab his arm, fear taking over. "Dresden, please, don't."
"Are you kidding me right now?"
"You won't just ruin his career. You'll ruin mine. Please."
"Lily, this isn't right."
I sigh, squeezing his arm. "Please. I'm begging you. Let this go. What's done is done."
He growls low in his throat, clenching his fists at his sides. "Fine."
My team stares at me, each face showing confusion and horror at the admission of part of my past. I'm not ready for them to know, not yet. Reaching up, I pull Blake's hand from my shoulder, but entwine my fingers with his, my hand shaking slightly.
"Do you want to go finish this event, or would you prefer to go home?" I ask as nicely as I can manage.
"I think my apartment would be the safer bet at this point," he says tightening his grip on my hand.
I nod. Walking toward the exit, I stop next to Jax. He glances down at my hand, still firmly in Blake's grip. "Ten years . . . I've done everything you've ever asked. This is what I get for it? You're unbelievable and you lied to me."
Jax's mouth drops open, taking a sharp breath. I shake my head, and glide from the room, Blake right on my heels. Halfway across the lawn, Blake pulls on my hand and I spin around to face him. I stare down at the grass, trying to still my anger.
"Look at me." His voice melts all my tension.
I glance up through my eyelashes and he steps forward, putting his body flush against mine. My heart pounds in my ears.
"Twenty-seven, huh?"
"It’s only a 4 year difference than what you originally thought."
He reaches up and cups the side of my face and leans down to press his lips to mine. My body ignites, and tremors shoot through me. He leans back, his lips barely touching mine.
"It doesn't change anything," he whispers with a voice full of need.
My age doesn't, but the rest of the truth might.
14
~Lily~
After changing out of my gown, I come down to the training room. Training with Rhett for the last hour helps relieve some of the anger, but not all of it. He stands in front of me, pads attached to his hands as I bounce between punching each one . I hit harder than I should, but he doesn’t complain.
“Lily,” he finally says as I land a jab into his right pad. “Stop for a second.”
I’m out of breath, and stand straight, hands on my hips while he undoes the Velcro and takes the pads off, throwing them across the room.
“Rhett, don’t.” My tone is harsher than I want, but the look in his eyes confirms he knows it’s not personal.
“I’m not going to ask you any questions. I just want you to listen.”
I nod, and he takes a deep breath, shoving his hands into his back pockets. It’s a nervous gesture he only does when he’s trying hard to find the right words to say. Rhett was Army Special Forces, so his tells are minimum. Ten years with him and this is the only one I’ve picked up on in that time.