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was a fool for that.
    Rage burned its way through my veins. I would exact revenge for what Jorin and his men did to her. They could not hurt what was mine and not expect retaliation.
    I studied her. The water pulled her long hair straight; it did not allow her to hide. Shadows danced in her gaze, a gaze that never faltered from me. There was a frailty to her. She was a big woman with many curves, but they did not make her stronger. They only added to her beauty. She assumed she had a body of flaws, but she would always be perfect to me. Seeing her smile was like seeing a bit of her radiant soul; I could never look away when she was happy.
    She was not smiling now. She looked small and broken, because of me. She was hurt because of me, and I would never forgive myself for that.
    “For seven years I though t I was working for the Turkish government. Jorin Asker was the man who recruited me, and he was the man who you met today, the one who hurt you.” I could not keep the scowl from my face as I looked at her neck again. “I killed for him, Ari. ” I met her stare, waiting for my sin to register.
    She tensed. She frowned, confusion crinkling her brows as she dropped her gape to the floor.
    A new anger rushed me. I was going to kill Jorin. Death would be kindness for the bastard, but salvation and assurance for Ari and me.
    When she lifted her head, a mask hid her thoughts from me. I knew I did not deserve them, but I still mourned the loss of them. She had always been open and welcoming. It hurt to lose that part of her.
    “Jorin sent me to kill an American man named Samuel Baker. He told me Sam was behind the bomb that murdered my parents and brothers. That same bomb killed more than fifty people in my country.”
    Her eyes softened. “You never told me. I’m sorry, Ram.” Her voice was a knife to my wounded heart. Even in her fear she reached out and gave me comfort and love, things I did not deserve.
    “Jorin lied. Usually I did not ask questions. Usually I did as I was told, thinking that was how the government worked. I did not know I had a choice, but that does not excuse my actions.” I stuffed my hands into my pant pockets. “Sam was different than my other targets. He approached me, and it was he who exposed Jorin’s lies.
    “ Jorin is part of a large terrorist network. He never worked for the Turkish government. I had been stupid and blind to the truth for years.” Fury had my hands curling into fists. Still today I kick myself for my idiocy, for my ignorant faith. “Some of the men I had killed for Jorin were bad, but most had been good. I stole good fathers and brothers from innocent people, the way mine were taken from me. I was a horrible person, Ari. ” I could not speak nicely; my anger was raw, heightening the growl in my voice.
    She said nothing. She remained focused on me, on my words, but said nothing.
    What was she thinking? I craved her truth, whether good or bad. I needed to know what she thought of me.
    Taking a breath that did nothing to calm me, I continued. “Sam works for the American C.I.A. He brought me in. I obtained a work visa and became a C.I.A. agent on the same day a few weeks later. They had me lie to Jorin and tell him I had killed Sam. For two more years I worked for Jorin, telling the C.I.A. everything he wanted me to do. Together we protected the good targets, but one of Jorin’s men saw a man I was supposed to have killed months ago. The truth came out and Jorin put a price on my head. The C.I.A. put me on a deep cover mission in South America to hide me and keep me working at the same time. For nearly three years I followed one of the leaders of a drug cartel. He was who brought me to Miami that weekend, and to you.”
    I shifted, checking her expression, seeking any sort of reaction. Alas, I got nothing from her. It seemed the student had become the master.
    “Jorin had stopped looking for me, but he is not my only enemy and I did not want to risk you getting hurt.