Page 42 of Fixed Asset

“Is he leaving now so he’s not tempted to yank me out of the van and cuff me to him?” I asked Pete.

“More than likely.” Pete’s smile died. “Give the man a minute to adjust. He’s fighting against his instincts. He knows he can’t hold you back, but everything in him is screaming not to let you face danger. But he’s not stupid and doesn’t want to lose you, so he’ll figure it out.”

Suddenly I wasn’t so sure I wanted him to figure it out. That sounded like a whole lot of sacrifice on his part—fighting his nature without any compromise on my part.

“That doesn’t sound like the makings of a strong relationship,” I whispered.

Pete’s lips pressed tight, his eyes went to the dirt, and when he sniffed, I didn’t think he was going to comment. But then his gaze came back to mine, and a different Pete was standing before me. Not the commando, not the badass man, but a kind, brotherly type who was at the ready to impart wisdom and guidance.

“Sometimes it takes losing something important before you wake up and see what’s actually important.” He paused, so I nodded my understanding. “And if you’re lucky enough to get it back, you work your ass off to keep it. But if you’re smart, you understand what’s really important, what you really want. What love really means is doing everything in your power to make sure the other person is happy and fulfilled and free to be who they are. Jack’s lucky and smart. He’s fighting now, but he’ll win the battle because it’s the only way to keep you, and for him to give you what you need.”

I didn’t need to think about what Pete said. He was right; my grandmother had taught me that love was putting others before yourself. Which brought me back to my original thought—how much sacrifice was too much?

“Yeah, but what is it that Jack needs?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“For you to make it worth it.” Pete stepped closer, clapped me on the shoulder, and added, “And before you ask, you giving him whatever it was when the two of you were out back, that’s all he needs. Just that, Catarina. You be you, and he’ll have everything he needs.”

God, I hoped he was right. But I still wasn’t entirely comfortable with Jack going against who he was just so I could be me.

Something to think about later.

“One more thing before we roll out.” I blinked at Big Kind Brother Pete’s abrupt change back to Work Pete. “Shep’s looking into Tom and why the CIA sent you to deliver bogus intel. We haven’t had time to talk about it, but tomorrow after the delivery’s done, we need to find time. It’s not sitting well with me.”

It wasn’t sitting well with me either. But with everything going on, I hadn’t had time to give it much thought other than I was still pissed I’d been played.

“My phone’s been off since the warehouse. Do you think I should call Tom?”

“Not until after the delivery’s done.”

Part of me wondered if Tom had sent out a recovery team to find me after my tracker went offline. The bigger part of me didn’t think he did. I was probably expendable; the device was to find Berta, not to keep me safe.

“I think this is about the president’s wife,” I blurted out.

She was the only high-value target in the group of women. Unless they’d changed teams completely and wanted to stop Berta’s efforts.

Pete nodded. “That’s my thought too.” Another clap on my shoulder. “Be safe. We’ll see you in a few hours.”

Pete sauntered away toward the van. My gaze followed him. I couldn’t see Mason, but I could see Jack standing at the open door of the passenger’s side.

The man of my dreams.

Tall and strong and perfectly made for me.

I drank him in, stopping at his clenched fist.

Yeah, I had to be me, but I also had to compromise.

There had to be something I could give him to even the scales.

My eyes went back to his. From this distance, they looked obsidian.

He jerked his head toward the other vehicles.

Bossy.

“I love you,” I mouthed.

His hands unclenched, and he smiled.