Page 6 of Burn for Me

“Is there a reason I'm being pulled?” I ask, glancing at the water.

“Tide said you have a briefing in the morning. He needs you and Sam fully focused.”

I scoff; I know the real reason is because of what happened last time I was out here. I don’t blame Tide for not trusting me–I’ve made mistakes.

“Just a little longer,” I murmur, my voice barely audible over the breeze brushing dry grass against the stone bottom.

“Have a little hope, doll. It won't be too bad out there, and at least you’ll have Sam with you for your first mission,” Laura chirps. She's right; it won't be too bad.

It’ll beawful—especially with him breathing down my neck. Sam is terrifying and intriguing, striking fear in everyone while drawing them in.

I nod despite my turmoil as she steps aside. I've done everything to avoid him—skipping meals and ducking intocorners when I hear his footsteps. I want to check on him and ensure he’s okay, but he’s made itveryclear that I’m not needed. I’m at a loss no matter what, so the only thing left that I know to do is obey his orders. It’s not easy, especially since he’s the only one who makes me feel... normal.

I don’t have to pretend around him.

Well, at least I don't have to pretendallthe time. Some days, he tries to dig into my deepest, darkest thoughts, completely unaware that I was raised by a man who gathers information for a living. I know how to deflect questions with just one interaction. A simple flutter of my lashes or a subtle pout captures his attention, diverting him from what'sreallyon his mind.

I may feel guilty about my manipulative behavior, but I don’t regret it. I thrive on the ghost of a smirk I catch when I say something bold and how his bottom lip pulls between his teeth when torn between indulging me or turning away. On other days, I don’t mind my tactics as much, especially when his face is hard as steel, and his words are sharp enough to get under my skin.

Despite what people think, Sam and I aren’t a couple. We tease each other, and he keeps me grounded, but it always ends the same: he pushes me away. He has good reasons—one chance, and I’d end up burning us both.

After his outburst earlier, it was probably wise for me to follow his orders. It was like he was there physically, but mentally, he was gone. I don’t know how long I stood there calling his name after Tide yelled at me not to touch him. I couldn't help it, though; it was mesmerizing.

I have seen Sam get violent plenty of times before. You call him when an intense interrogation is needed, but he is typically restrained and composed during those moments. Today, however, he was unhinged, with bared teeth and bulgingveins under the tattoos on his arms as he fought to maintain some semblance of control.

I never intended to pursue Jeremy; he's open about his history. When he joined our team, I knew of his crimes and the victims, but I needed more information, and the best sources are those released from prison—they have nothing to lose.

I train like a killer and act like a seasoned criminal, but I’ve never done anything that could harm anyone—physically, at least. I’m not good, but I'm not bad either. Taking a deep breath, I cough at the smoke coming from the tower where Laura is leaning with a cigarette perched between her lips. I hate that smell.

I pull out my pen and pad, ready to jot down my thoughts, when a staticky voice from a camera interrupts.

“You received your orders.”

I roll my eyes and slump my shoulders. For a moment, I consider continuing my cold shoulder, but the insufferable voice at the back of my head tells me that if I keep ignoring him, he’ll discard me as everyone else in my life has.

Thisis my problem. I give and give until I feel like a walking corpse—hollow and empty, with nothing to show for it.

“I’m pretty sure you received the same ones, didn’t you?” I purr, and the camera crackles, but no words come out.Of course, he didn’t.

“It’s sweet you’re concerned about my beauty rest, but I don’t have anyone to tuck me in, so I’ll just enjoy the view.” I tease while focusing on my paper. Laura tries to muffle her laughter with a cough as I poke my hips out and lean over my writing with a little wiggle.

“I'm not tucking you in, but you can sit with me.”His rough words make my shoulders tense. I’d love to watch him lose himself in schedules, but I don’t need to. If I were there, I’d memorize every detail on those screens, noting how one browpulls in when he sees something off. Instead, I shut my pad and gaze at the stars shimmering on the waves.

“It’s getting dark, Sam,” I say lightly, stepping towards the exit as jagged stones fill my boots. My fingers trail the cold stone walls until I reach the bottom, revealing the outdoor training area, sprawling with sparring mats and equipment.

“The stars are getting their chance to shine.”Sam’s voice carries from the competition course, enough for me to hear but muffled for anyone else.

Sam isn’t good or bad; maybe that’s why I’m drawn to him. I don’t want to know his past; the less I know, the better—if only he felt the same.

“Oh, come on! I was right; I just worded it wrong!” An aggravated, raspy voice yells, catching me off guard.

Moe thrashes under Tide's hold on the sparring mat, reminding me of my sister. I shake the thought away.

“First thing in the morning! Don’t be late!” Tide calls as I head through the thick door of our base. I respect him despite our past. I messed up when I took advantage of an opportunity after his mission against the enemy team.

He never outright called me out for my ill-timed questions, but I can tell he doesn’t trust me. I’ve only made things worse over the years, yet he hasn’t kicked me out.

Thank God because I'd never survive in a cell.

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