AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It means I’m letting my people down.
Her eyes narrow, zeroing in on the bulk of the bandage under my shirt. “Was it West Point?”
“No,” I bite out, my jaw clenching tight. But I force it to relax when I see Payton gearing up to press me for more details and give her a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s been handled.”
“So this ‘minor injury’ needed to behandled?” she asks, not letting it go. She reaches for me again. “If there’s anything I can do…”
I catch her hand before she touches me, using it to steer her toward the door. I appreciate her loyalty, and she’s got the kind of skills the Reapers have really benefited from, but I can’t let her think there’s an opening for anything more here. There’s not, but give Payton an inch and she’ll take a mile. It’s a quality that makes her a fucking badass when we need one, but not anything I have the time or interest for on a personal level.
I keep my tone brisk. “The best thing you can do for the organization right now is get back out there and keep searching for Chloe.”
She stalls as I try to usher her out. “It’s not just the organization I’m worried about, Maddoc. Ifyouneed anything, anything at all, I’d be happy to—”
“Dante,” I interrupt, talking over her to greet him as he walks up behind her.
Payton presses her lips together in what might pass for a smile as she turns to him, but the effect is spoiled by the irritated look she gives him. If I was in a better mood, it would almost make me laugh.
I’m not.
“Hey, Payton,” Dante says with a smirk before turning to me. “Any news, Madd?”
“Not yet, but Payton’s about to go out and get me some. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course,” she says, accidentally-on-purpose rubbing her tits against me as she moves through the doorway, out into the hallway. “Like I said, anything you need.”
“Finding Chloe is important, and I appreciate what you’re doing out there. It’s good to know I can count on you.”
She brightens up a little too much at the praise, but with a nod, she finally leaves.
Dante watches her go. “She’s getting less subtle every day.”
I brush that off. “It’s fine. I’ve got it handled.”
He grins. “If you really had it ‘handled,’ I’m pretty sure she’d have been a lot less irritated about me interrupting.”
I snort. Payton’s attractive, but I don’t want her and Dante knows it. Besides…
“I learned my lesson with Sienna.”
“I know,” Dante says with a flash of sympathy on his face that’s thankfully gone as quickly as it appears. Fast enough that I don’t have time to get pissed off about it.
I don’t need fucking sympathy. Sienna may have screwed me over, but all valuable lessons come at a price, and I’ve never shied away from paying my dues. That’s what it takes to get stronger. Better. To come out on top.
I change the subject, giving Dante a quick rundown on the areas of Halston we’ve already searched… and letting some of my frustration with the big fat nothing that we’ve found bleed through into my voice now that it’s just the two of us.
“How the fuck has the girl managed to go to ground?”
Dante frowns. “I don’t know, Madd, but she won’t be able to stay hidden forever.”
“I’m not worried about forever. I’m worried about finding her first,” I growl.
Dante nods. “You’re right, it’s time sensitive, but have you slept at all, bro? Showered at any point in the last twenty-four hours? Because she’s not gonna get found any faster by you killing yourself here.”
I glower at him. “You’re right, this shitistime sensitive,” I say, ignoring the rest… but it’s fucking Dante, so of course he doesn’t back down.
“It’s not gonna do any of us any good if you snap. But hey, if you don’t want to take the time to actually get some sleep, I could always call Payton back here so you can relax another way. Take her up on—”
“Hellno,” I cut him off. Then I scrub a hand over my face with a sigh when he laughs.
