His choices? Bullshit. “You had to deal with my family—with me—for too long. I am the one who pulled you into my world.” When they’d first met, Constantinehadactually been an FBI agent. Green as hell and in way, way over his head, but he’d been on the right side of the law. “I’m the one who got you involved in my nightmare. If you hadn’t met me, then you would have been fine. You could’ve had an entirely different life. I screwed that up for you.” Might as well clear the air now. “You want to know why I cut out and took those CIA gigs on my own? First, because I didn’t have a choice. When the CIA gives you the option to play ball or pay for your crimes, you learn to be the best pitcher in the world.”
Constantine didn’t speak.
So Remy kept going. Maybe this shit was long overdue. “Second, I thought you’d been killed a while back. When we were trying to help my sister, I thoughtyou’dbeen taken out. Taken out because you were helping me, just like you always do. When I realized you were alive, I knew right then that you had to get away from me. You deserved more than the trouble that I will always bring with me.” There. Done. “So be pissed if you want, but at least you’re alive and pissed, and not cold and rotting in the ground.” He spun and marched for the broken door.
A slow clap stopped him. A slow clap. Seriously? He flipped off Constantine and kept going.
“If you’re such trouble, why are you playing hero for her? Oh, wait, that goes back to the twenty million, doesn’t it?”
Remy stopped. “It has nothing to do with the money.”
“No? Then what is it? You gonna tell me that you’ve fallen for her?”
He looked through the doorway. No sign of Jacqueline.
“A woman you just met. A woman who conveniently comes with twenty million—a twenty million that is supposed to be in untraceable bills, if the stories are true.”
“Can’t believe everything you hear.”
“She’s not like us.” Flat. “Be careful.”
Now Remy did look back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Constantine pushed away from the post. Sauntered closer. “I couldn’t help but notice you’ve picked up your paintbrushes again.”
“You mean you noticed when you went poking around my place.” Something he’d expected Constantine to do.
“I might have lifted a tarp or two. At first, I thought you were up to your old tricks. That was a very nice rendition ofThe Storm on the Sea of Galilee,by the way.”
“Fuck off. It was better than nice, and you know it.” The oil-on-canvas had been created by Rembrandt back in 1633, but Remy knew his version was freaking spot on. “Perfection,” he snapped.
Constantine paused at his side. “Wasn’t as impressed by that one. I’ve seen you do better.”
“Oh, so now you’re just being a dick and insulting me. Thanks.”
“In fact,” he mused, “I saw better on your easel. That work that you’ve started of Jacqueline is quite phenomenal. When I looked into her eyes, I swear I got lost.”
Hell.
“Wondering if you did, too.” Even softer. “Wondering if for the first time in your life, you’re lost, and you don’t know what to do. Being good isn’t your thing, but maybe you’re trying. Andmaybe you’re lying to Jacqueline about who you are because you know she’ll run if she learns the truth.”
That was the thing about a best friend. The bastard knew you too well. “Not thinking about any kind of forever. Not my deal. Just the here and now—that’s my focus. Not like she can stay with me. It’d be too dangerous for her in my world. Jacqueline likes things that are safe.” Hadn’t she told him that over and over?
“Um. Too dangerous—that’s the same line you’re trying to sell about why I should stay away from you, too. Bet it’s what you tell your sister—who is expecting a baby, by the way.”
Yes, he knew she was. And he wanted to see Iris. To see that baby come into the world but…
I am as bad as my father was.
“Want to know what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you?” Constantine suddenly asked.
He had an idea. It didn’t involve international art theft rings and deals with government agencies to stay out of jail and—
“I got the shit kicked out of me every day at school by the other kids because my clothes were trash. Because I was lucky if I had a piece of bread in my lunch. Then I went home, and my dad would take swings at me, too. My lifewashell. Then one day, my dad vanished, and I got sent to foster care. New life, that’s what they told me. New school. New start.” No emotion entered Constantine’s voice. “But it was the same crap. No friends, taunts all the freaking time. No one who ever had my damn back. No place that ever made me belong.”
Remy knew about Constantine’s past. He’d done some digging years ago and learned the truth. “You deserved better than that.”And I’m trying to give you better. Just get the hell away from me.
Constantine needed to get away, and, when it was safe, Jacqueline would need to get away, too.