Page 93 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

I pat his shoulder, going in for the kill. "Well, pack your bags. You're heading out tomorrow morning."

His laugh cuts off abruptly like I've just spoken in tongues. "Wait, what?"

"I booked you a flight for the morning. You've been working hard, and I know you miss your family."

"Sean, you didn't… I can't just leave. We have a job."

"We have a job with zero developments. Navy Caps are in the wind. We've hit dead ends everywhere. Go be with your family. It's just a long weekend and you'll fly back Tuesday."

He shakes his head, but I can see the longing in his eyes. "You don't need to do this. I can't let you cover the cost of—"

"Already done." I take a sip of tea to hide my growing nervousness.Play it cool."You've been stuck in this shittyapartment for weeks now. Go home. See your kids. Make your wife happy. Seriously, I've got things covered."

He's wavering. I can see it in the way his eyes dart between me and his phone, like he's already imagining calling Mona with the news. But then his eyes narrow as the first shadow of suspicion settles over them. His instincts are kicking in.

Damnit. He's too good at his job.

"Wait," he says with a harder edge to his voice. "What's really going on?"

I scoff. "Nothing. Just trying to do something nice for—"

"Is this about Londyn?" The question lands like explosives between us. "Are you two—"

"No," I say, too quickly. My denial sounds unconvincing even to my ears.

Mike's eyes narrow more and he frowns with a harsh disappointment. "I've never known you to be a liar. You've always been the most honest guy I know."

He just had to say that. The guilt stabs me like a serrated knife in the kidneys because e's right. I've never been good at deception, never wanted to be.

"Fine," I say. "I won't lie."

That's enough for him and he doesn't push for more. His jaw just tightens as he shakes his head. "You know I don't approve of whatever the hell you're doing. I warned you to stop. And those Navy Caps are still out there. They vanished but that doesn't mean they're gone. And now you want me to leave? That's not like you. Not when there's an active threat."

It's not like me. But maybe I've never known myself as good as I thought. "They've been dark for days. She'll be with me. I'll keep her safe."

Mike shakes his head like he can't believe what I'm saying. "Or maybe they're waiting for us to let our guard down." He glances at Londyn on the feed. "You're risking our ability to do our jobs, which is to provide protection and keep that wonderful woman safe. Distraction leads to mistakes, and I'm not going to change my mind on that."

I wince internally, though my face remains impassive. "I won't let it."

Mike studies me—weighing, judging, deciding. Finally, his shoulders drop, the fight going out of him. "I hope you're right." He sighs, then takes another bite of his sugary pecan thing. As he speaks, his words are muffled from food. "You better be right. You better not be making a fucking mistake." Another sigh. "But thanks for the tickets. I'll go pack."

He grabs the second pecan thing and his coffee, then leaves the room.

I sink into my chair feeling exhausted. There's too much on my shoulders. Am I just being selfish? Is this what Londyn really needs, or am I telling myself that because I want her?

The sunlight has shifted, hitting one of the monitors and blinding me, so I change the angle. Time is moving forward, as it always does. This time on Saturday, what will Londyn and I be doing?

It'll be whatever she has planned. Whatever she needs.

"Maybe they're waiting for us to let our guard down."

Maybe, but they don't know about Mike. They only spotted me. Besides, I'll be with Londyn the entire weekend; I won't leave her side for a second.

She'll be safe.

I close my eyes, trying to quiet the voice in my head that whispers of failure and mistakes. Of Wunmi's blood on my hands and all the ways this could go wrong.

But there's a louder voice that speaks of possibilities.

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