Page 19 of Shades of Mercy
“Calling Mateo and telling him he can either come back and get me, or I’m walking home.”
“You can’t use your phone. I’m sure Mateo warned you not to turn it on.”
“You and my brother are not my bosses,” she said. Before she could get power to the cell, Jag swiped it out of her hand. “Hey! Give that back.”
He pulled it out of her reach.
“And let you put yourself, me, and anyone at Storm Pass at risk? Hell no!” he said through gritted teeth.
“Then stop right here, and I’ll walk.” Why had she ever gotten into Mateo’s truck? She knew this was a mistake.
“Over my dead body,” he said calmly.
“That can be arranged,” she huffed.
“What has set you off?” He stuffed the phone into his jacket.
“I’m not a cook. I have a career—a thriving career. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, building a solid reputation.”
“What does being aranchcook haveanythingto do with your thriving career? You’re acting like I’m asking you to give up infiltration and take up baking.”
“This entire situation is unnerving.”
“Yea? You jeopardized yourself and your brother—and your business—by thinking you’re a field agent. You should be happy Mateo delivered your ass to safety instead of making you clean up your mess.”
“Don’t talk to me in that tone. See, this is exactly why we can’t be near each other.”
“So what would you like to do? Go back and get yourself killed? Get Mateo killed?” His gaze was heated through the shadows of the truck cab.
“I can take care of myself!” She tilted her chin defiantly.
He abruptly hit the brakes, causing the tires to screech on the pavement while the back of the truck quivered. “Then do what you think you need to do. I won’t stop you.” His voice was devoid of emotion as he gazed vacantly at her.
Irritated, she opened the door.
“You don’t want to forget this,” he said, holding out her phone. But as she went to grab it, he pulled his hand back. “You’re still selfish. That’s never changed.”
“And you’re still an asshole. Glad we caught up. Let’s hope it’s a decade at least before we cross paths again.”
She snatched her phone and pushed the door shut, causing it to slam with enough force to rattle the window. Grabbing her bag from the back, she slung it over her shoulder.
Frustrated, she marched away from the truck, continuing along the seemingly endless roadside. As the hum of the running engine dwindled and the night enveloped her, she recognized that she might have bit off more than she could chew. Turning around, she saw the taillights glowing like a lighthouse beam.
Why didn’t he drive away?
She knew why.
Retracing her steps, she flung open the passenger door and climbed back into the safety of the truck, not saying a word. She was angrier than before, feeling stuck.
“Mercy, sometimes in life we don’t get to choose where our paths lead us. If you genuinely want to go back and you’re sure that’s best, I’ll drive you wherever you want to go. I made a promise to Mateo, and I plan to keep it.”
“No, tonight I shouldn’t go back.”
“I’ll even make a promise to you right now. When, or if, you can convince me that you’re better off back in Denver, I’ll take you there myself. For now, though, let’s make this easier than training a wild horse.”
The graveness of his voice scattered goosebumps over her skin. Although she wanted to go back, she couldn’t do that to Mateo. He’d never forgive her.
Dropping her phone back into her purse, she said, “I won’t turn it on, but you can’t expect me to be okay with this.”
