Oh God. Sienna’s stomach clenched and she bit her lip. Maybe she should’ve told Warrick everything she knew from the get-go. But she’d been so terrified. And now the agents knew almost everything. Except for the jump drive. That was the one secret that was just too risky to share. Besides, it wasn’t as if the agents would have any clue what to do with the information on the drive anyway. She was a damn biochemist, the daughter of one of the sharpest scientific minds in the world, and even she couldn’t figure out the solution to helping the feral shifters. But her dad could. And once he was out here things would turn around pretty quickly.
“Are the tranquilizers at least giving them some peace?” she asked.
“They’re keeping’m drugged. Can’t say whether that’s peace or not.”
The guilt increased and she couldn’t help murmuring a husky, “I’m so sorry.”
“Well, if you’ve got no part in it, then why you apologizing?” He glanced at her, his gaze shrewd. “Unless there’s something you wanna confess to me?”
“I had nothing to do with their imprisonment. I’d swear it on my mother’s grave.”
He gave a sage nod and sighed. “I believe you. Not sure everyone else does, but I’m pretty sure you’re not jerking our chain.”
To hear even just one of the agents believed in her innocence sent such a big rush of relief through her. Lifted a weight from her chest. Warrick believed her to an extent, but he knew she was hiding something still. And he kept pushing. Which made her respect him and resent him all at the same time.
“Are you mated, Agent Hilliard?”
His dark gaze jumped to hers again, only this time his eyes were wide with amusement. “Are you coming on to me, Miss Peters?”
“No!” Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “I’m just curious as to how it all works. I mean, Warrick explained how shifters need to mate with other shifters. I was just wondering if you’ve settled down with one.”
“I have not. No. Working for the P.I.A. kind of puts a kink in a guy’s dating life.” He gave a small grin, but she noticed it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “All you need is the right girl, I suppose.”
“Right girl? You mean right shifter?”
He sobered and cleared his throat. “Exactly. We…our kind can’t be serious with humans. Not for the long run anyway. Not sure if Warrick told you.”
“He did.”
Hilliard nodded and thrust his hands into his pockets. “But you guys still have a thing for each other.”
It wasn’t a question, and Sienna hated that everyone in the damn house seemed to know there was something between her and Warrick. But then again how could they not know it? Warrick nearly growled at any man who came near her, had risked his career to save her life, and she guessed they could all probably tell Warrick had slept with her.
Her cheeks burned red just thinking about it and she cringed. Agent Hilliard glanced over at her and she knew he could probably figure out every thought running through her head right now. Or at least could make a good guess.
Still, it didn’t mean she had to admit to anything. Especially now that the sex stuff was over. They’d done it. And that door was closed. Was definitely not going to open again, so why bring it into the mix?
“Warrick and I have known each other since we were kids. We’re just good friends.”
“Hmm. That’s some kind of friendship.” The trail narrowed, making it too narrow for them to walk side by side. He gestured for her to go first.
Not having to look at him, it was easier to mutter, “It’s really none of your business anyway.”
“No, don’t suppose it is. I’ve just never seen Warrick like this. On the edge all the time. Looking like he could tear down a tree with his bare hands. It’s gotten worse over the last couple of days.”
“Well, you guys are dealing with a high-stress situation with the feral shifters.” Sienna scowled and stepped over a tree root that protruded in the middle of the trail.
“Doesn’t matter. Warrick’s one of the best agents in the P.I.A. He’s cool as a cucumber on missions—doesn’t matter how tense things get. This is different.” Hilliard sighed. “You’re different. You’ve gotten into his head and big time.”
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with me.” Still, her heart quickened at the possibility that maybe Warrick wasn’t so immune. That maybe he’d been thinking about their moment at the river as much as she had been.
“You can open up to me, Sienna. I’m the guy everyone confides in. Like a big therapeutic teddy bear. Great for advice. Trust me.”