Page 83 of Tactically Acquired

“Yo!” Alec called out, coming into the room. “Let’s hit the road. Cap has been asking for the last hour about our flight details.”

“So, why didn’t you tell him?”

“Because I wasn’t entirely sure you weren’t going to change your mind.”

“You could,” I said hopefully.

“Not if I want to have any more kids,” he grinned. He pulled me in for a hug, wincing when I hugged him a little too tight. “Careful with the ribs.”

“Sorry,” I cringed, stepping back. “I really am sorry about the accident. And the bruising. And the broken ribs. And the?—”

“Let me stop you right there before you have to write a list.”

“Well, thank you for coming for me.”

“Anytime.” He turned around, but then stopped, looking back at me. “You know, forget I said that. I’m not sure we should meet again like this.”

“With me jumping out of the back of a van onto the hood of your vehicle?”

“No, that part was fun,” he grinned. “We should definitely do that again.”

“I’ll pencil you in.”

He winked at me, and then he was gone. I walked over to the window, watching as he got in his vehicle and pulled out of the drive. I hated to see him go—not because I was attached to Craig or anything, but because I knew I couldn’t have anything with him, so the boundaries were clear.

And then there was Slider.

He wouldn’t fuck me last night when I was spread out on the bed for him. When I did exactly as he asked and shoved my fingers in my pussy and came all from him looking at me. God, I have such morning-after regret. I never should have let him get to me.

“Need anything?”

I spun around, wincing when I stubbed my toe on the foot of the chair. “Nope,” I smiled at Thumper. “I just said goodbye to Craig.”

He nodded. “That wasn’t the smartest idea.”

“Saying goodbye?” I said cheekily.

“You know what I mean. Your director is breathing down my boss’s neck. He wants to know your whereabouts.”

“And?” I asked curiously.

He walked further into the room, shoving his hands in his pockets. I was all too aware of all the weapons attached to every part of his body. These guys made it look like every day they were entering a war zone. It was a little hot.

“Nobody knows where you are. We follow protocols until we figure out who’s behind the attacks. That’s the way it has to be.”

“That’s actually a relief. He can’t send me a new script if he can’t find me,” I joked. “So…what do we do in the meantime? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“We need permission to go into your place and dig through everything.”

“Do you really think you’ll find something?” I didn’t really like the idea of someone tearing my place apart, but if it helped to end this, I wouldn’t say no.

“It’s the first place to start. We could miss something major by skipping that step.”

“Then I guess you’d better do it,” I sighed.

“We also need you to write out a list of anyone who might try to use you for money.”

“That would be a very short list. I mean, I’m sure there are people out there, but it’s not like anyone has ever come up to me and asked me for money.”

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