Page 67 of The Ranger
What Idoknow is that shit is getting real at QuantumCore.If the erbium arrives, or is already there, my full attention is going to be on this project.It should be already.
The high-risk product cannot leave the facility.
If Chen is simply an argumentative narcissist and incompetent, then that’s fine.I can’t take my eyes off the others—it could be any of them.
But he’s still my top suspect.
Whoever it is may not be working alone.It’s likely he has covert operators inside or outside the organization.Ideally, we would have a lot more time.
We don’t.
So, I couldn’t answer Scarlett’s question.The answer was too important to get wrong.
I rang Nathan yesterday morning and flagged my concerns that Chen’s last report had some errors.Again, I wondered if he was incompetent or trying to buy himself time.I might not be an actual Senior Engineering Manager, but, unluckily for him, my attention to detail is very high.
A few hours later, Nathan rang me back.“I told Chen that you had raised some questions and asked him to get back to me.”
“Good.He needs to know that he’s being watched closely if he is the mole.If not, you’ve got some very expensive personnel feedback.”I smiled while holding the phone to my head.
“Yeah,” Nathan half laughed.
Then Trey, Savannah’s guard, messaged to say a van was outside Scarlett’s house.The team tracked it and discovered it was stolen.
It made me very uncomfortable.Although her road is busy enough, it could be there for any reason, I decided to head over.I’d already promised to make her dinner.
Which didn’t happen as she was exhausted and then asked that damn question.
Do you love me, Cole?
I didn’t leave.I sat outside Scar’s house for a few hours after she went to bed.Knowing she had cameras around her house, I went home and lay awake.
Great.
I walk to the sofa and sit, then swipe my phone open.I got to Scarlett’s social media pages and flick through the photos of the baby shower.I can’t help my smile.
Mom looks happy.
Scarlett looks overwhelmed.
Letting out a sigh, wishing she’d let me stay and feed her, I lie down and keep flicking until I get to one of me in the waiting room at her OBGYN.I’m winking at her.
Further along there’s a photo of us seeing the baby on the monitor for the first time.My arm is behind her head, leaning over as we stare at the screen.
We look scared, but I smile because we also look like a team.We’re doing this together despite how much she keeps me at arm's length.
Unless I’m between her legs.
The next one catches my attention.Scarlett is glancing up at me, while I gaze down at her.We could almost be about to kiss.The chemistry is thick, but it’s more than just lust.There’s emotion and a connection you’d never call friendship.
I’ve seen the photo before.The doctor showed it to me briefly before handing the phone back to Scar.
As a guy, I gave it a quick smile and carried on.We don’t care how our hair looks and all that jazz.
Now, I’m seeing it as if for the first time.Two people having a baby.Two people who created a life.Who are going through this wild experience together, terrified, excited, attracted...and way fucking more.
God, are we both dumb and blind?
Or ignoring what we don’t want to face?
