Page 86 of Jagger

“Well, shit. Now I know the signs to look for so I can run far away from any chick I start feeling that way with.” Hunter was thoroughly amused.

Maybe I was feeling a little that way, but love wasn’t in the cards. “I’m not good for her, Shep. You know that.”

“Why the fuck would you say that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I insisted.

“Yeah, I think it does. You retreated back into that shell of yours after the first goddamn few weeks of living here. Why?”

I shrugged as an answer. Meeting them wasn’t about analyzing my mental condition.

“Nightmares?” Hunter asked and this time, there was no look of amusement on his face.

According to the contracts we’d each signed with different organizations, we weren’t allowed to discuss anything regarding the missions. All three of us had turned our military skills into a mercenary position, but I had no clue who they’d worked foror in what parts of the world they’d been. The three of us had tried to bury our experiences, but even though Shep was happy as could be, I sensed his darkness remaining.

Was there a way to exorcise the demons that were covered in blood? That was the million-dollar question.

“A few.” My answer was controlled.

“Maybe you need to talk to someone,” Shephard suggested.

“I don’t need a damn shrink.” My tone was harsher than I intended.

“No, but you need to talk this out. Maybe Bella can help with that.”

My laugh sounded anything but happy. “She has too much shit on her plate right now. She needs our help. Are you willing or am I going this alone? I don’t fucking care if I need to fly to Baltimore, I’ll get that asshole to stop hassling her one way or another.”

I could tell by Shephard’s grin I’d hit all the hot buttons in his mind. Fuck that. My only intention was to get her the help she needed. Period.

“Don’t do anything stupid, brother of mine. Let me make a few phone calls.” Shephard took a long pull of his beer. “But I can’t promise anything. I burned a few bridges myself. I’m going to get another beer and a glass of wine for my girl.Youwere fashionably late.” He laughed as he rose from the chair.

“She has you wrapped around her little finger,” I told him, trying to pull the conversation back to something lighter.

Hunter was staring at me like he used to do as a kid. He’d once told me I was the weirdest human he’d ever met. I had a feeling he still felt that way. Not that I could blame him.

“Does Bella know you’re looking into her ex?” he asked.

“No.”

“You can’t start off a relationship with a lie.”

“It’s not a damn relationship and it’s not a lie.”

He laughed and lifted his glass. “You act like you have it all figured out. She’ll call you not sharing this with her or worse, killing the man, a lie and let me ask you something. Is she sleeping in your bed in your house where she currently resides?”

I just glared at him.

“That’s what I thought. You’re in a relationship.” He gave me a drawn-out smile before gulping his drink. “I’m just jiving you, man. You’ve been way off lately. More so than when we arrived. I’ve noticed you a couple times sparring with the sheriff. Is he giving you a hard time?”

“Always. I think he has something on Pops.”

Hunter breathed out. “Then we can’t let him destroy our future.”

Future. I still wondered what kind of future I really had. “Yeah.”

“Is there something else?”

I twirled my glass. “Nothing that needs mentioning.”

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