Page 10 of Tight Spaces

"I use my brain for more than studying."

"I think maybe you’re the scary one."

She shook her head. "I’m just a little sister that wants to know more about her siblings than they’re willing to tell her."

There was a pain in Danusia’s voice he understood all too well. He’d heard it often enough in his mother’s tone when his daddy had refused to talk about his weeks on the road, saying when he was home he didn’t want to think about his time in the truck.

"They all love you." He knew that much from things Roman had said.

"They keep secrets. They share with each other, but think I’m too young to know, or something."

"They’re just protecting you."

"They think I’m a security risk."

"You are telling me stuff I doubt they want others to know." Not that he considered her a risk, but she needed to be more circumspect, especially when it came to Roman.

Who was in Africa right now on a black-ops mission commissioned by the Army. But Danusia was right, neither Roman nor Max worked for the military anymore. They were agents for the Atrati, a paramilitary organization that did a lot of work for the government but was not under the government’s official aegis.

"You’re one of them, if not a spook, something super-secret." He opened his mouth, but she put up her hand. "Don’t. Don’t lie to me. Just don’t say anything if all you’re going to do is deny it."

He had an insane urge to tell her the truth, which was absolutely not going to happen. "You sure this isn’t your superhero obsession playing tricks with your brain?" he asked instead.

She stood up, grabbing her plate and his. "Never mind. I shouldn’t have said anything."

"But you did."

"Right. So, I guess I am a security risk."

Well, shit.