As much as Trees hated that voice, it was rational. He couldn’t keep recklessly falling into Laila without self-destructing, so if he had any intention of saving himself and figuring out what the hell was going on, he had to break away from her now.
Tearing his mouth free, he released her and stepped back, his panting breaths harsh. He swiped a hand down his face, pausing to palm her taste from his lips, trying not to give in to his need for Laila’s sweetness again. “I won’t be long.”
Terror crossed her face. “You will not leave me in the dark, will you?”
He softened. “No. I know you’re afraid. I would never intentionally scare you.”
She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Thank you. And I am sorry. For everything. Perhaps my plan does not make sense to you, but I only meant to spare you the danger…”
Because she supposedly loved him.
His heart urged him to believe her and take a leap of faith. His head told him she was a bad bet and to back off.
He couldn’t address her feelings—or his own—right now, but he could address her scheme. “Actually, your plan made a lot of sense. It was smart and well thought out…right up until you tried to tackle an entire cartel and a splinter faction on your own. You have knowledge of these people. I’ll give you that. But you’re not fucking trained for this.” And had she really needed to throw them under the bus to do it?
“I know.” She dropped her head.
Because she genuinely saw the error of her ways? Or because she was playing him?
Fuck, he was going to what-if himself into making a stupid mistake if he didn’t get the hell away from her and get a few minutes to think.
He merely nodded, then punched in the digits to open the door. “By the way, I’ve changed the code in and out of this room, so you won’t be leaving here until I say so.”