Page 98 of Once a Killer

Diego jumped off the elliptical. Slung one arm over Bree’s shoulders. “What are you doing in Montana, anyway?” he asked in a soft voice. “When I saw you with Ford, you two looked… right together. Like you fit perfectly. Why’d he walk away from you?”

“He didn’t,” she said, kicking at a weight on the floor and stubbing her toe. Hopping on one foot, she said, “I walked away from him.”

“He didn’t want you to stay?” Diego asked, his voice incredulous.

“Yeah, he wanted me to stay. But I… but I…”

“But you what, Gordon?”

She drew in another shuddery breath. “I’m not good enough for him,” she said, the words all blurred together.

“He say that?” Diego raised one eyebrow as he stared at her.

She shook her head slowly. “No, he wanted me to stay.”

“Then what the hell’s wrong with you, Bree? You were as into him as he was into you.”

“It’s complicated,” she said, knowing that Diego would make fun of that statement. And rightly so. The only thing complicated was her life. Her problems.

Tightening his arm around her, Diego led her to the edge of the gym. Guided her onto a wrestling mat against the wall, then pushed her down so she was sitting on it. He sat next to her and draped his arm over her shoulders. “Tell Uncle Diego all about it.”

Bree rested her head against the wall and stared at the opposite wall, all the nightmares she’d imagined scrolling through her head. “I’ve got two guys after me,” she said, swallowing hard. “From my sniper days. I’m afraid they’ll take out Jameson just to get to me. Better if I’m far away from him.”

“Oh, I call bullshit on that,” Diego said immediately. “You’re a bodyguard, for God’s sake. You know how to protect people. Don’t you think you’d be able to protect him?”

“Not the issue,” she sighed.

“Then you’re just being a coward.” Diego’s words were brutal, but true. Walking away from Jameson had been a mistake, but she wasn’t sure how to fix it.

As if he’d read her mind, he squeezed her shoulders, then let her go. “It’s simple, Bree. Pack up your stuff and haul ass back to Chicago. Beg Ford for another chance. Live happily ever after with him, raising little gamer babies.”

In spite of her misery, Bree snorted out a laugh. “Not that simple, pal.”

He swiveled so he was facing her. “Yeah, Bree, it is. All you have to do is get over yourself.” He stood up and held out a hand to help her up. When she jumped up beside him, he said, “Go talk to Mel. You know Cody Parker’s based in Chicago. The two of you would make a good team. Ask her to assign you to Chicago permanently.”

A flicker of hope tightened Bree’s chest. “You think she’d do that?”

“Why wouldn’t she? You’re amazing at close protection. She won’t want to lose you.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “Go talk to Mel.”

Bree drew a trembling breath. She missed Jameson so much that it was a constant ache in her chest. She knew she’d made a mistake on the plane back to Montana. She just hadn’t had the guts to admit it and do something about it.

Squaring her shoulders, she nodded at Diego. “You’re right, Diego. I’m miserable here. I’m going to talk to Mel right now.”

“You might want to shower first,” he said. “You’ve been working out for hours today.”

“Yeah, good idea.” She threw her arms around him and hugged. “Thanks,” she whispered. “You’re the kind of friend who tells me what I need to hear instead of what I want to hear.”

His arms encircled her. “You got this, Bree. Now go talk to Mel and get the hell back to Chicago.”

Bree hurried back to her apartment, took a shower, and packed her belongings. Then she squared her shoulders and headed for Mel’s office.

She knocked softly, afraid to disturb her boss if she was busy. But Mel called out, “Come on in.”

When Bree opened the door, she saw Mel sitting at her desk, with Dev on the other side. Mel shot him a look and Dev stood up. “Come on in, Bree. I was just leaving.”

As Dev closed the door behind him, Mel motioned her to the chairs on the other side of her desk. “What can I do for you, Bree?”

Bree rubbed her sweaty hands down her denim-clad thighs. “I, ah, have something I’d like to ask you.”

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