Page 31 of Under Pressure

Her own vulnerability crushed her, and she came to regret everything. Looking at her face, her hair…disheveled, unkempt. Was it her? What was she doing? Kendra took in a heavy breath, shaking her head as tears welled in her eyes. How could anything be so important that he’d needed to run? How could he ghost her again?

Blinking into her reflection, seeing her blue eyes, only bluer from the tears pouring out, she realized something. Little had she known that when he’d apologized, it was for the past and for the future.

Because he wasn’t going to stop being an asshole.

He was an asshole.

And she was, once again, in too deep.

Chapter Twelve

“So, who is she?”

Sky flicked back her long brown ponytail as she pulled at the collar of her tight-fitting leather jacket. Her face dead serious, she had obviously been waiting patiently for an explanation, ever since she’d helped track Kendra all the way to Bakersfield.

But he wasn’t planning on explaining himself. Sky didn’t need to know, so he just let out a low breath, trying to focus on the task at hand. He cocked his pistol, checking it for readiness, ignoring her questions. The cool steel in the night reminded him of a tour he wanted to forget. A chill ran up his back, flushing a shiver over his limbs as he gazed into the darkness on the wrong side of LA.

“Are you into her?” Sky pressed again for details as he tried to ignore her.

Delta shook his head, unwilling to give his trainee what she sought. And he damn well knew that she was seeking more than what she let on.

She continued, “Cough it up.”

“Fuck off,” he dismissed, and holstered his pistol.

Pushing off his Harley, he adjusted his dark jacket. He had shit to do and didn’t have time for her whining. Walking down the alley behind the building, heading toward their destination, his irritation rose as he heard her trailing behind him.

“You know, I looked into her after you had me track her car, and I’ve gotta tell you that she wasn’t what I expected.”

“How’s that?” Delta sneered, focused on his mission.

Sky jumped forward, thumping her hand into his chest, pushing him back. Her eyes were fixated on him.

“She’s stunning. She’s on the right side of the law. If I wanted to bet, she looks like someone you have history with.”

“Like hell…” Delta pushed the spry brunette aside, moving forward without her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This whole time we’ve worked together,” Sky called after him, “I’ve never seen you get in deep with a woman. I always wondered why.”

Delta didn’t reply, ignoring his half-trained apprentice who was lingering behind him. He didn’t mistake the jealous huff that she let out and felt the proverbial daggers hitting his back. Things had been changing between him and Sky the past few weeks, since Kendra had come back into his life, but he was just ignoring it.

“I’ve got a job to do.”

“Delta”—she moved in front of him again, stopping his body—“don’t ignore me.”

“I need to focus,” he grunted, reminding her why they were there. “Just go home.”

“You know I don’t have one.”

“They set you up pretty nice, last time I checked.”

Visibly taken aback, she crossed her lean, strong arms, watching him closely. “It’s base housing, Delta. Hardly a home.”

“Didn’t expect a soldier like you to want the warm and fuzzies,” Delta said.

“Everyone needs—”

He shot a warning look down at her. “Enough. I have shit to do.”

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