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Pierce headed for the desk as if sensing my walls were coming down. Not a chance. “I negotiated for most of us to continue working here, despite transfer of ownership. Many were hired by Rebecca herself.” He pointed to a folder on the desk in front of me. “So, in a way, her legacy continues. We can keep the research going that she wanted because?—”
“Her father wanted it,” I finished for him, a bad taste still in my mouth at all of this, hating that maybe this was a sign it was time I finally let go of her.
I snatched the folder and flipped it open, then stopped on one name. William Wallace? Now I was thinking about Scotland and that kilt I had to wear, but that day brought Dallas into my life, at least.
I kept reading, and my heart stopped when I saw—“Diana Mackenzie?”
“Rebecca had been trying to recruit her for years. Not just because Diana’s mom was close with Rebecca, but Diana’s one of the brightest minds out there. It took a lot of convincing, but I brought her on board six months ago. Not an easy sell, that one. It didn’t help her ex, William Wallace, already worked here.”
Of course he’s her ex. I closed the folder as he hiked a thumb over his shoulder.
“Diana’s here now. I brought everyone in to meet with the new owners this week. You want a word with her? I, uh, assume you know her since?—”
“Bring her here,” I said without hesitating, wishing there was a bar in there. I needed something strong. I never thought I’d see Diana again, and now I was seconds away from it happening.
Pierce swung open the door but didn’t leave. “I am sorry.”
“Are you saying that because you know my reputation and you’re worried I’ll kill you for losing her company?” No need to sugarcoat the truth.
“I don’t know much about your reputation.” He gave me his profile. “Just rumors. Including your kill count being higher now than it was when your enemies in the Army nicknamed you the devil.”
“Did Rebecca tell you that’s what I was called?”
“Like I said, we were friends.”
Yeah, I was once her friend. Should’ve stayed that way. She’d be alive now, and maybe I wouldn’t be so cold. So dead. So fucked up.
“She wouldn’t want you hurting me, now would she?”
“Contrary to what you may have heard about me, I only kill dangerous criminals. I’m not actually one myself. So, unless you give me a reason—you’re safe.”
“Last I checked, murder, unless it’s self-defense, is still illegal.”
I ignored that last jab, and he left. I’d need to make the meeting with Diana quick. I doubted Pierce would call the Feds to let them know I was there, but I wasn’t in the mood to test his loyalty and wind up going head-to-head with law enforcement. That would necessitate calling in a favor to Gray, and I hated playing the phone-a-friend card.
Although my co-team leader and I were getting better at trusting each other, it was still Griffin or Camila I’d prefer turning to for help if needed. Griffin also worked at Falcon Falls, and Camila assisted here and there as well. I never would’ve survived teaming up with Gray if Griffin hadn’t had my six.
It was still hard for me to believe I’d said yes to partnering with Gray in the first place, and it’d happened at a wedding with the President in attendance, no less.
My path first crossed with Gray courtesy of the group of Navy SEALs I’d worked with to take down Andrew Cutter. Gray’s sister—CIA, of-fucking-course—was married to one of the Teamguys who ran off-the-books ops for President Bennett.
Rebecca would’ve loved me “playing nice” with Gray and his SEAL friends. One of them was President Bennett’s son. That was as close to the White House as I’d ever get. Not that I wanted that. Fuck, I’d rather continue being a wanted man than get into politics.
At least I was putting the Barclay family money to good use in funding our security company, which ultimately helped a lot of people.
Steepling my fingers together, I tapped them against my lips as I waited for Diana to show up, unsure what I planned to say to her. Tell her about the tattoo on my back a random comment of hers over a decade ago had inspired? Or about how far I’d truly fallen since that day I’d first met her?
“Dominick?”
My attention swiveled to the door the second she said my name. She was staring at me as if seeing a ghost—appearing even paler than Pierce had when I’d stormed in without warning. “Come in.” My hands dropped to my lap. “Close the door.”
Instead of doing that, she remained stuck in place, peering at me from behind round gold-framed glasses.
“Are you in shock?” I reclined the chair a bit as I studied her. Her jeans were paired with a black tee that had a beaker on it with the words: I have many chemistry jokes—I’m just afraid they won’t get a good reaction offered an impression of someone much younger than I pictured when I thought of her. She had to be in her thirties now. Thirty-three? Not a kid anymore. Then again, had she ever really been one when we’d run into each other before?
“I’m not sure what I am,” she whispered, finally entering the office. I was relieved Pierce wasn’t her shadow, and she was alone. “I didn’t expect to see anyone today.” She smoothed a hand down her shirt, then flicked at her ponytail as if embarrassed by her appearance.
Me, though? I fucking loved how she looked. Sweet and a little nerdy weren’t qualities I’d ever sought out before. Not that I’d ever hit on Diana. She was off-limits for obvious reasons. But there seemed to be a strange magnetic pull between us whenever we were close. And, for reasons I didn’t quite understand, she’d popped into my head more than a time or two over the years.
