The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold (The Blonde Identity, #2)

by Ally Carter

She raised her head slightly, eyes hidden from the world behind the brim of that ridiculous hat, but he could see her. He could always see her. There wasn’t an ounce of teasing in the voice that said, “I don’t say mercy, remember?”

“Oh, dear boy. The thing you need to know about old spies . . .” She inched closer and dropped her voice, but it was the look in her eyes that stopped him. “We have absolutely nothing to lose.”

“The Agency has divers. Submarines. Probably a mermaid or two.”

“I don’t like this,” Alex whispered under her breath, and for once, King couldn’t argue.

“Hot and cold come together in this place.” For the first time, King thought that Todd might have a point.

“Three things,” he said, and Alex went silent. “I thought three things the first time I laid eyes on her. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I thought she’d be the death of me. And . . .” It was like the whole world leaned forward, listening. Waiting. Even the birds stopped singing as he said, “And I thought . . . there are worse ways to go.”

“Just so you know,” he whispered, “the chivalry isn’t an act.” The worst part was, she already knew it.

“Of course it will.” The bed shifted as he rose. She wanted to wheel on him and shout, but he was already walking away, tossing over his shoulder, “Because, like it or not, you feel safe with me, Sterling. You are safe. And, like it or not, I’m safe with you, too.” He was right about one thing. Alex didn’t like it one bit.

It was ten years later, but she was still the girl who didn’t know when to stop fighting. Which was probably why it hurt so much that she had eventually stopped fighting for him.

“I remember, Alex. Every bullet. Every knife. Every scab and scar and scratch. I remember all of them. The memories are just right here”—King tapped his temple lightly—“but you’re not. And that’s okay. As long as I know you’re okay. But, someday, Alex . . . Someday you won’t be. And then it will kill me.” He got to his feet. “Someday it will kill me too.”

“It’s yours now. If you ever need me . . . I don’t care where . . . I don’t care when . . . If you need me, press the stone, and I’ll find you.” That time, when he kissed her, his lips lingered on her skin. “I’ll always find you.”

It was the scariest moment of either of their bullet-ridden lives, and Alex almost forgot how to breathe. She forgot her name. Her covers. Her lies. She forgot all the things she’d been trained to remember. She forgot. And she wanted to stay right there—right then—forever. Because, in the next moment, she was on her feet again, and he was turning and opening the door.

“You’re safe with me. You will always be safe with me.” He pulled her close, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning against him. “Let me keep you safe.”

“Why?” It took him a moment to admit, “An operative I used to work with told me that’s what it would take.” “To do what?” “To be safe from her.” Oh. “But the thing is . . . I don’t want to be.”

It was the bravest thing that either one of them had ever said, and Alex didn’t want to let him win. But even more than that, she didn’t want to let it pass.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is just stop fighting, so Alex brought her mouth to his. It wasn’t even a kiss, just a brushing of lip...

“You can put it down, sweetheart.” “What?” she whispered while he kissed the corner of her mouth. “The world.” He looked at her like Isn’t it obvious? “I’m going to carry you for a while. You don’t have to do anything but hold on.”

They kissed and they touched and they spent their nights skin to skin, and for the first time in her life Alex was happy. And she tried every day to forget it wouldn’t last.

“I needed you on that bus,” he said between heartbeats. “I needed you then. And I’ve needed you every moment since then. I will need you until the day I die.” He held her face in his hands and searched her eyes. “Listen to me. You’re the best spy I’ve ever known, and you’re the only thing I’ve ever wanted.” She cinched her eyes tight, but more tears spilled over, sliding warm and wet down her cheek. “I’m grateful every day for your good heart, sweetheart.” She gave a silent sob. “You deserved it, and you didn’t waste it, and every single person on this planet is better off because of you. Especially me. Do you hear me? Do you—”

“Sometimes you have to forget who you are to figure out who you want to be, you know?”

“I woke up handcuffed to you, and that’s what set me free.”