Page 88 of Nikolai (Kansas City Reapers)

She was too much brat. Too much attraction.

Too muchdistraction.

I needed to keep my head in the game if I was going to keep her safe, yet every day I spent with her only made it that much harder.

The truth of the matter was that I was growing attached.

And I didn’tdoattachments. Not like this. Not likeher.

“Niko, you’re going to have to give me more than that if I’m going to be able to do anything,” Quinn said calmly.

“She’s just too much to handle. We’ve worked hard to keep her safe here while you work to set up a new safe house. Where are you at on that front?” I prayed. I prayed for the first time in God only knew how long.

But what was I truly praying for?

For her to be moved?

Or for her to stay?

I couldn’t make heads or tails of my own desires anymore. And that right there told me all I needed to know. I was becoming compromised in my own mission. And a Marine knew it was time to pull out when he became compromised, for the safety of the mission.

And after all, wasn’t Maddy’s safety the real mission here?

I didn’t feel like I could keep her safe if I could not control myself around her. That was a danger waiting to happen.

“Actually, it’s funny you should mention that. I just got word that our new safe house is set up. I was going to call you later this morning, truth be told. So, I guess the timing is perfect. I was going to give you the option of keeping her there if it was working out, but I can hear that it’s not.”

“So, what happens now?” I asked, instantly feeling my stomach fill with dread and regret. But my feelings weren’t important here. They had no validity in the task of keeping Maddy safe from Dom Krovi.

“Well, I’ll need at least another day to finalize things on my end, plus I’m sure Ms. Ayers will need a day to pack up her things and be ready to go. So if it works out on your end, I’ll come pick her up the day after tomorrow. Let’s say around five in the evening. Or maybe just after dinner, if that works best. I’ve got a shift to work, and I’ll pick her up on my way out of the station.” As Quinn detailed his plan of action, I found myself curling inwards physically,my shoulders hunching and my arms crossing over my chest.

There was something about this whole situation that didn’t sit well with me. Not one bit.

“Hey, Niko. You got a minute?” Sully asked, knocking on my office door a few minutes after I got off the phone with Quinn. I hesitated for a moment, wanting to send him away and deal with these feelings that were refusing to be silenced, but that was not the right thing to do. And right now, I needed to focus on doing the right thing, not following my emotions. That only led to trouble.

“Niko?” he called from behind the door a second time.

“Yeah, sorry. Come on in,” I called, taking a deep breath and straightening myself back up in my chair.

“Hey, dude. Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to talk to you about last night.” He shut the door behind himself, taking a seat opposite me. He looked comically large in the small seat — well, not a small seat, just small for him. The dude was built like a brick shit house, all muscle and brawn.

Great, here we go again,I thought to myself.

“What about last night?”

“About you and Maddy,” he said, as though it were obvious. I supposed, in a way, it was.

“Listen, Sully. I know what we’re doing is wrong, but —”

“Wrong? What are you on about, dude? I think it’s fuckinggreat!” he chuckled, a big goofy smile on his face.

“Wait, what?” My head spun with his words. What the hell?

“Yeah. It’s awesome. I’ve never seen you so happy. I just wanted to take a minute to tell you that I’m happy for you. Happy for thebothof you.” He cracked his knuckles, shifting around in what little space was left in the chair.

“Happy for us…” I repeated, absolutely confused. First Deacon tells me it’s a problem, and now Sully thought it was great? My head was spinning.

“Yeah, man. If you ask me, you two are just about perfect for each other. I mean, come on. She fit in perfectly last night.”

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