Page 33 of The Last Call Home
Because there’s a lot I could tell her, but I’m not sure if Malerick is willing to say anything.I’m an open book.I’ve had relationships, none of them serious, but they knew who I am and what my expectations were.Mal ...it was always complicated since the first time.Maybe that’s where I made a mistake or we both did.We should’ve talked about it, but we were too young, too horny, and too preoccupied with saving each other’s asses to talk about what was happening when we weren’t working.
“It’s not just my story to tell,” I say, voice low.“It’s his, too.”
Her expression shifts.There’s a long pause that feels almost asphyxiating and then ...“Are you two together?”
“We were ...partners.In the Bureau.”
The word tastes old in my mouth—like something I buried under secrets and bullets and nights where we pretended we didn’t want more than backup.
“Were,” she repeats.The word comes out slow and skeptical, like she’s turning it over in her mouth to see how it tastes.“You’re not FBI?”
“No.I left a long time ago.”
Her eyes narrow.She wasn’t expecting that.
“You’re still working undercover for a private company?Like Atlas used to?”
I blink.“How do you know about Atlas?”
“It’s not important.”
“Somehow I think it is.”
She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth, and it does terrible things to my ability to think rationally.“I have a friend,” she says finally.“She may or may not have ties to the company he used to work for.We exchanged a few notes.”
“Friend?”My pulse tightens.I don’t like this.What if she’s unknowingly feeding intel to someone that could fuck with active covers?
“She knows Atlas through family reunions.Her family kind of adopted him.They have a habit of picking up strays,” she adds, watching me.Testing me.
And it clicks.“Oh, so you’re friends with a Decker.”
Her mouth tilts, just enough to confirm it.“Yeah, but I won’t tell you which one.That’s classified.”
I huff a laugh.“Fair enough.”After taking a deep breath, I continue my story, “I was recruited after leaving the Bureau.It made sense.The suits hated the way I worked, and things with my partner were ...less than ideal.”
That should give her a picture without having to tell her the entire story of what was happening between Mal and me, right?
“Malerick?”
“What about him?”
“You left the FBI and Malerick, right?”
I nod.“Yeah, I haven’t seen him since.”
“Or fucked him,” she adds flatly.
I snort.“Fair.”
“So what now?You want to use me to get him back?”
That hits harder than she probably means it to.I didn’t even realize until now how badly I want something that isn’t tactical.
Something messy and alive and terrifying.
I wanted to save Mal.I still do.But when I look at her ...I wonder if maybe someone could save me, too.
“No.I wouldn’t mind having sex with him again—sure.Or with you.”I meet her gaze, voice lowering.“Wouldn’t mind having a taste of that sweet pussy you keep teasing me with.But that’s not what I’m doing here.”
