Page 72 of Ozzie

“Hey, where’s Durango?” I ask.

“We just got in this morning. He said he was heading home to shower.”

They both walk out as Lightning warns Thunder. “You better not do whatever you did to Axel.”

I chuckle as I grab my phone and text Axel to say no when he sees Lightning.

“What the hell?” Lightning yells from down the hall. “I wasn’t even in your office yet.”

Axel sends back a smiley face. I can’t help but laugh. Lightning tries to cause trouble and pranks. For a while, he was successful when he messed with our coffee and food. But Reed put a stop to that.

Lightning must be out of ideas if he’s trying to recruit any of us in his games. Thunder doesn’t even participate. He walks with him to watch the show.

The front door opens, and I’m immediately up and down the hall. Anyone who enters must punch in a code, but with Piper near the front door, I can’t take any risks.

I walk to Piper’s desk to find Durango hugging her. “Hey, you’re back,” I say.

He releases her and turns to me. I hold out my hand, and he shakes it. He’s not typically a hugger.

“Yeah, the assignment ended a day earlier than expected. How did things go? Any issues?”

“No, Ozzie was well-behaved,” Piper says.

Durango frowns. “I was referring to issues with John.” He turns to me. “What the hell does she mean you were well-behaved?”

Piper grabs onto Durango’s arm. “Calm down, cousin. I mean, he was a gentleman. That’s all.”

Durango growls, and I’ve had enough. I’m a grown-ass man, and Piper is an adult. This is ridiculous.

“Durango, we need to talk. Now.” I storm out the front door. This isn’t a conversation for my office because I’m not sure I can speak calmly at this point.

He follows me into the parking lot. I walk far enough from the door that, hopefully, Piper won’t hear me.

Then I turn around. “I can’t keep going like this.”

Durango’s hands go to his hips. “Like what?”

I take a deep breath. “I care for Piper, and she cares for me. We’re both adults, and the only reason we aren’t dating is because of you.”

“Good.”

I shake my head. “Good? Are you serious? No, Durango, not good. We’re miserable apart, and frankly, I’m tired of tiptoeing around you, waiting for you to come around.”

His hands fall from his hips and ball into fists. “I won’tcome around. We’ve already talked about this. You know how I feel.”

I half-turn away, speechless that he’s still stuck on how I used to be. Or how he thought I used to be. Hell, I was never that bad. This doesn’t make any sense.

I turn back with a different approach. “Durango, I’m falling for her. This isn’t some one-night stand I’m after. Everything inside me tells me she’s the one. I’d never hurt her.”

I’m practically begging this man at this point. Movement catches my eye, and I spot Lightning and Piper inside the door, watching us.

“She’s the one for now. You’ll get bored and move on. You always do.”

He’s still harping on this? “No, I won’t. I haven’t been with anyone since before I met her. Do you know why? No one else interests me at all. I told you before, she’s all I think about.”

A vein in his forehead pulses.

“You brought this up in the car that time too. Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

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