Colin frowned. “It may be too dangerous for you. We shall have to see.”

A surge of hot anger flashed through me, and I bit my tongue hard before responding. “We’ll discuss the details later. I find myself in great sympathy with Benjamin and his sudden desire for privacy.”

“I won’t have you turning overprotective,” I said to Colin after a sullen and silent trip back to our yalı.

“Suggesting that you stay away from a location riddled with bullets is hardly overprotective.” Colin poured himself a glass of whiskey and drained it quickly. “Forgive me if I’m less than my usually enlightened self. I must confess I’m beginning to tire of nefarious distractions from what was supposed to be a honeymoon trip.”

“We’re not wholly distracted,” I said, pushing away my anger and crossing the room to kiss him. He kissed me back, but the effort felt halfhearted.

“I’m trying very hard, Emily, to give you the freedom you need. But you know that when it comes to preserving your safety—”

“I know. No unnecessary risks. I’ve not the slightest problem with that. In this case, however, if it’s safe for you to go—”

“I don’t know that it is safe for me to go. There are circumstances in this line of work that are inherently dangerous. This time I ask that you let me act on my own.”

“Will you ever let me do the same?” I asked.

“The time may come when it’s required, and if it is, I shall of course support what you must do.”

“It’s not so simple for me either, you know,” I said. “I don’t like watching you walk—sprint—to danger.”

“I’m well trained by experience to handle this particular situation.”

“Can we compromise?” I asked. “We can both travel to whatever is the nearest town. You can go on to the site alone. If the person firing the shots is fixated on Benjamin, there’s no reason to think anyone else is in danger. I trust you to determine if that’s the case, and if it is, you can send for me.”