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Pressing my lips to his once more, I give him a gentle peck, lingering there for a few seconds before I retreat.
Inhaling sharply, he shakes his head a few times, probably clearing the lust.
Before we leave my office, he hits me with a ruminative stare. It’s like he’s weighing the moment, considering his words earnestly. “My mom is… important to me. Going on risky ops,” he pauses, his eyes sweeping over the ceiling, “isn’t as easy as it used to be. So thanks for watching out for her.”
“Of course,” I respond with a solemn nod as my airway tightens, making it hard to say anything else.
Part of me wants to swear I’ll always look out for her when he can’t. To tell him I’ll do everything I can to help him. Ease his burden and become his rock.
Because that’s what Iwantto be for him.
But that’s crazy. We’re just starting down… whatever this path is together. It’s far too soon for promises I probably won’t be able to keep. It’s just my guilt, confusing me and muddling my feelings.
When we enter Tomer’s office a few minutes later, everything is tense. Fists are clenched. Hardened stares are being cast around the room. And unease jitters around the team.
Then I come face to face with the reason for the vibe shift.
Well, overbake my cake. We’re fucked.
Cal enters a few steps behind me. I’m blocking his view of problems one and two in the center of the room.
“What’s with the long faces? Once again, Redleg saved the day.” He’s cheery and effervescent like he was the night we met. The poor dolt.
His feet stutter to a stop beside me. “Ohshiiit,” he drawls, his posture sagging.
Big Al stands in the corner of the room, arms folded across his chest and steam billowing from his ears.
And I’m not sure it’s metaphorical steam. It seems so real.
His thick beard doesn’t cover the flush of his skin or the hard cast of his jaw.
Lionheart stands beside him, imposing as a redwood.
“Hi, Boss. Working late tonight?” Cal offers once the silence becomes smothering.
“I didn’t want to be. I was having a fantastic fucking evening until I checked to ensure all was well atmycompany. Only to find that the armory had multiple badge swipes. That seemed odd, considering none of our cases were above a yellow threat level. So I poked around to see what couldpossiblywarrant full tactical gear for this many people.” He steps forward, meeting eyes with the men, one by one. “And boy oh boy, was I surprised to see what was being broadcast here to this room.”
Tomer shifts Lettie behind him, one arm protectively guarding her.
That’s crazy. Big Al would never harm her.
Noticing the way Tomer guards her, Boss’s tone and face soften. “Get the girl out of here, T. Put her in a spare office and get your ass back. I don’t want to scare her. She’s obviously had it rough.”
He has no idea.
Lettie grips Tomer tighter.Poor girl.
Meanwhile, I’m kicking myself for not wiping the record of the armory badge swipes, let alone realizing that Boss could have a bird’s-eye view of everything happening in the control room.
Tomer levels a perturbed glare at me.
I promptly toss it right back because that would have been useful information for him to share with me.
Plus, we began the op together. He could have just as easily wiped the records or disabled Boss’s view.
But he didn’t.
And seeing him and Lettie together with my own eyes, the reason why is perfectly clear.
