Kieran's grip tightens on the steering wheel the moment they get back in the car. "No? What do you mean no, Ace? We just dug into her past, everything, step by step. There's nothing, not even a hint, that connects her to anything suspicious."
Ace shakes his head, jaw clenched. "Kieran, why do I feel like this isn't you at all? Since when do you stand up and protect a stranger you've barely known for a few days? Why are you so desperate to speak up for her?" His voice sharpens with disbelief. "Not everyone is what they seem to be."
"Oh yeah?" Kieran's voice rises, his patience unraveling. "Are we going there again? You still think I have feelings for that woman? Don't you?" His irritation crackles in the tense space between them, and before he can think twice, he pulls the car to a rough stop on the side of the road.
