Page 98 of Over the Edge

“Hey, princess,” he said, his voice rough around the edges. “Miss me?”

I looked back over my shoulder to see Kate, Leo, and Nolan grinning. Nolan gave me a thumbs up. and maybe I was imagining it, but even Rafe looked like he was smiling—as much as he ever smiled. Ethan and Trent stood behind them, arms crossed, trying to look stern but failing miserably.

“You all knew,” I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. “Every single one of you.”

“Guilty,” Nolan called cheerfully. “Though technically, I won the pool. He came back yesterday.”

My gaze returned to Flynn, who hadn’t moved from his perch on Ethan’s desk. His expression was carefully neutral, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers gripped the edge of the desk just a little too tightly.

“Can we have the room?” I asked, not taking my eyes off Flynn.

“Take all the time you need,” Ethan said, motioning for the others to clear out. “We’ll be in the conference room when you’re ready.”

The team filed out, Nolan making kissy faces until Kate elbowed him sharply in the ribs. The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving Flynn and me alone in sudden, weighted silence.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I drank in the sight of him—alive, whole, here—while trying to sort through the tangle of emotions churning inside me. Relief warred with anger, joy with hurt. I wanted to throw my arms around him and also punch him in the face.

“Two weeks,” I finally said, my voice low. “Two fucking weeks since you were released from the hospital and not a word.”

Flynn pushed off the desk, wincing slightly as he put weight on his leg. “I know.”

I took a step forward, then another, my anger growing with each. “You tell me you love me, nearly die in my arms, then disappear without so much as a text!”

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture so achingly familiar it made my chest hurt. “I needed time.”

“And I needed to know you were okay!” My voice cracked on the last word, betraying more emotion than I’d intended. “I thought we were partners.”

“We are.” He moved toward me, closing half the distance between us. “I’m so sorry, Lyric, but I had to go handle some things.”

“Some things?” I echoed bitterly.

“Yes. I wasn’t in a place with a cell signal and told Ethan to let you know I’d be back as soon as I could.”

“Well, the bastard didn’t say a word.”

“Of course he didn’t. Probably thought he was protecting you.” Flynn sighed and rubbed at the space between his eyes like he had a headache. “Did Alistair at least tell you I’m healing and healthy?”

“He did,” I admitted grudgingly. “But I still don’t understand why you left. Whatthings?”

“I had to go take care of final jobs after I got out of the hospital. Stuff I couldn’t leave hanging if I plan to move here and join Edge.”

I froze, the anger that had been building inside me suddenly stalling. “You’re joining Edge Ops?”

Flynn’s eyes never left mine. “If you’ll have me.”

The double meaning wasn’t lost on me. My heart hammered against my ribs as I processed what he was saying. He hadn’t abandoned me—he’d been tying up loose ends, preparing to commit to something permanent.

“Ethan offered me a position after Monaco,” he continued when I didn’t immediately respond. “Said the team needed someone with my particular skill set. Though I suspect it was just his way of keeping me where he could keep an eye on me.”

I took another step closer, close enough now to catch the familiar scent of him—sandalwood and gunmetal and something uniquely Flynn. “And you accepted?”

“Not then.” His voice softened. “I needed to be sure it was what I wanted. That I could actually be part of a team again.”

“And is it? What you want?”

Flynn closed the remaining distance between us, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from my face. The touch was gentle, almost reverent. “I want you, and you want this team. So, yes, it’s exactly what I want.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he silenced me with a soft kiss. “Don’t deny it, princess. You’re starting to love them.”

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