It was more proof, if Enzo had needed it, that normal people would always be in danger as long as Empowereds roamed around. So he’d made the logical choice to concentrate on Milo and ignore Charity. Charity wasn’t an Empowered. She didn’t have their reckless confidence or disregard for life.
But when Enzo had seen her dancing, lithe and beautiful as a mythical fairy, his plan had pivoted. He’d decided to dance with her in order to gain her trust. If he established that she could touch him without fear, she’d be more likely to do it again when he actually had truth serum with him. She might not be an Empowered, but she knew whether her family members were.
He’d made mistakes right off. When she first refused to take his hand, he said, “Why would I be wandering around an empty cornfield with truth serum on my hands?” Classic avoidance. The type of statement guilty people made. Most people would’ve said, “Of course, I don’t have truth serum. Where would I get that?”
Enzo hadn’t asked that question because he hadn’t wanted her to consider why he might have serum or where he’d get it from. Too implicating.
She hadn’t noticed anything amiss with his answer, and he’d thought his secrets were safe. Then, like some sort of fortune teller from the old stories, she’d rattled off a list of qualities about him. All of them were correct except the one about him not holding grudges. He held them to a fault. Enzo wouldn’t mind taking Milo in at all.
The night had darkened to the point that Enzo needed to increase his flashlight beam. He couldn’t afford to do something foolish like tripping on the uneven ground and injuring himself. He’d already done enough foolish things for the night.
He hadn’t meant to kiss Charity, but once her lips had been on his, for some unfathomable reason, he hadn’t been able to stop kissing her. Well, perhaps his actions weren’t exactly unfathomable. Charity had many qualities that made her kissable. A face like an angel, soft inviting lips, and those long legs which curved into a perfect waist.
She’d been so eager and so obviously inexperienced. Kissing her had awakened some long-dead part of him. He’d wanted to show her with every caress how it was done. He’d wanted to do things that would’ve definitely made her brothers hurt him. He’d only pulled away because he knew his emotions were getting too involved. He cared too much about her. That could only lead to trouble.
Ending the kiss like he’d done was also a mistake. If he’d been thinking of his mission, he would still be back there kissing her. Once he had that sort of relationship with her, using truth serum on her would be easy. Instead, he’d abruptly broken things off and warned her away.
That had probably been his sense of integrity rearing up when it shouldn’t. A part of him had been compelled to give her fair warning. Well, now he had.
The wind rustled through the corn making the stalks lean and sway. Shadows flicked ominously in the row.
Regardless of anything else, Enzo had to put his country first, which meant he ought to try and repair things with Charity. Under other circumstances, he wouldn’t be averse to kissing her again. But he’d never been the sort who took advantage of women, and that’s what this felt like.
Whatever he did, he’d have to be more vigilant around her. She’d been looking at him with stars in her eyes tonight, but she was more observant than he’d realized and might notice something was off.
A sort of weariness that felt too much like regret washed over him. The sooner he finished this mission and got away from her the better. He didn’t want to get any more entangled than he already was. He stopped, checked to make sure no bobbing flashlight indicated that Charity was nearby, and sent a message to headquarters.
I’m still waiting for supplies and instructions. You might want to give them to me sooner rather than later.
14
The next day at breakfast, Charity sat with Zia and didn’t so much as glance at Enzo. He sat at the far end of the common room off the kitchen in a cluster of workers. Which was fine. She wouldn’t waste more time thinking about him. She’d done enough of that last night.
Her father didn’t show up until breakfast was ending. He grabbed the plate of eggs and potatoes her mother had saved for him and joined her on the bench. “Enzo, Callum,” he called, drawing their attention, “I need you two to stay behind instead of going to the fields.”
Good. Less chance she’d run into Enzo while she picked corn. She stood up to take her plate to the kitchen.
“You stay as well, Charity,” her father said.
“Me? Why?” Her voice sounded too alarmed.
He didn’t seem to notice. He was beaming at Callum. “The Slavery Recovery Department called. They’ve located your parents, and they’ll be in Kansas City this afternoon. They’re in contact with a clinic there that can remove your collar.”
He wasn’t able to say more because Callum lifted his hands above his head. “Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m going home!”
His joy was so touching. He’d get the happy ending they’d all hoped for.
Callum bounded over to Charity’s father. “Can I talk to them? Do you have their new numbers?”
Her father handed him a slip of paper and his phone. “You can take my phone with you on the drive. Just remember to give it back to Charity at the clinic. Get your things and wait by the maroon truck. She and Enzo will drive you.”
Oh,thatwas why her father had asked them both to stay behind. Apparently he’d noticed that Enzo hadn’t paid much attention to Charity for the last six days, and decided to play matchmaker. She had no way to tell him that spending time with Enzo was the last thing she wanted right now.
Callum took off like a shot, leaving a trail of “Yeses” in his wake.
Her father bit into his eggs, eating as quickly as possible.
Charity leaned toward him and whispered, “Don’t send me with Enzo. Pick someone else.”