City of Spies Read Free

ago.”
    â€œShooting Daughter of Silence in London.” His voice flattened into a flawless American accent, as if answering an unspoken challenge. “Becoming an emancipated minor, and turning seventeen. Happy belated birthday.”
    â€œThanks,” she said, dropping the accent. “I got the flowers you didn’t send.”
    He winced. “I’m sorry. I was rather busy. I promise.”
    It sounded like the truth, but with Devin you could never tell. “Oh, that whole ‘I was away serving my country doing unspeakable things’ excuse. Very handy.” She smiled.
    â€œI hear that the director is so happy with the movie, and with your performance, that he’s submitting it to the Cannes Film Festival.”
    â€œSo you’re still pretending to be in the movie business?” she asked.
    â€œI’ve stepped back in actually. That’s why I’m here.”
    â€œAnd you’re keeping tabs on me,” she said. “Should I be scared?”
    â€œ Could you be scared?” His smile was knowing.
    â€œDon’t ask me to drive a red convertible.” The only way to deal with the paralyzing anxiety brought on by memories of the accident was to puncture it with jokes. “Or wear something off the rack.”
    â€œHow’s your Spanish?” he asked.
    It sounded like a non sequitur, but all at once she knew why he was here. It felt so good that it scared her. She took a moment before replying to steady her voice. “Why don’t you ask the real question you came all this way to ask me?”
    Admiration shone in his eyes. “No more facade between us, is that it?”
    Of course he’d understood her immediately. But she hadn’t been prepared for him to look at her like that. She clasped her hands to stop them from trembling. “We’ve pretended with each other enough for one lifetime.”
    He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I’ve come to ask you to help us out, one more time.”
    â€œUs?” she asked. “Are you an American now? The last time I saw you...”
    â€œI work for MI6, the British secret service,” he said. “The CIA has asked to borrow me for this particular mission. I’m on loan.”
    â€œBecause they think you have some kind of power over me.” It was half question, half assertion.
    â€œTo be fair,” he said with a smirk, “that’s only one of my many valuable skills.”
    Her eyes fell to his lips. “I remember.”
    It was hard to tell in the dark, but she could’ve sworn he flushed. “It would be better if you didn’t.”
    Her throat tightened. He was pushing her away, all right. But she’d gotten a reaction, however much he might try to deny it. “Who is she?”
    He glanced away from her briefly. His expression didn’t change, but it was enough to make her feel like someone had stabbed her in the gut.
    Carefully, he said, “What matters is that I never should have...done what I did the last time we met. I truly thought I’d never see you again. I thought...” He broke off and tilted his head back, eyes heavenward, inhaling a deep breath. “I’m not here to renew our acquaintance.”
    So after all they’d been through together in Berlin, after they’d shared a kiss that nearly burned down a hospital, he wasn’t here to be with her. It shouldn’t have surprised her, or hurt her. She should’ve been over him by now, on to some new sweetheart who didn’t come and go like a thief. But it hurt so bad she had to shore up her face with a sarcastic look she’d overused in Beach Bound Beverly .
    â€œYou mean the CIA didn’t send you all the way to Los Angeles to make out with me?” She raised her eyebrows. “But what better way to spend our tax dollars?”
    He exhaled a small laugh. “If you’re interested in helping us out, then you should