Page 47 of Broken

He didn’t realize just a few months ago how muchhe was going to miss. They only had a few nights of sleeping together, but itseemed that had been enough. Pulling out his cell phone, he called Warden. Hewasn’t surprised when the boss picked up right away.

“What’s up?”

“I want to be put on either Kim’s protectiondetail or at the diner,” Dirty said.

There was silence.

He heard Kim in the background. “Who is it?”

“It’s Dirty.”

“What does he want?”

There was a time when there was quite a bit of animosityto saying his name. Now, it was just a normal word. There was no anger or ragethere. He didn’t know what he’d done to impress her, if he’d even doneanything. Either way, it didn’t matter, because Kim wasn’t treating him likethe enemy, which meant the shit jobs were not going to be on his radar.

For a short time, after he decided to blurt outthe whole truth to the club, he’d been doing jobs only prospects did. That hadchanged, thankfully. He didn’t mind doing any job for the club, but prospectshad certain jobs for a reason. It built character.

“He wants to be on your protection detail,” Wardensaid. “Or, he wants to be at the diner to protect.”

Warden must have covered the cell phone, becausefor a short time there was no noise. He glanced down to make sure his cellphone hadn’t timed out, and it hadn’t. He waited.

“Dirty,” Warden said, after what seemed like waytoo long of a wait.

“Yeah.”

“You can be on the diner’s protection detail. Iwant to know if you see or hear anything. Anyone you don’t recognize. I wantpictures sent to Fritz every chance you get, got it?”

“Got it.”

Warden hung up.

“Do you think I can’t do my job?” Myth asked.

“It’s not about you doing your job. If shit hitthe fan at the diner, you and I both know there is only one woman you would gofor—Kim. She is your only person of interest to keep alive because you areterrified of Warden.”

“Everyone is terrified of Warden.”

“As they should be, because Kim is Warden’s onlysanity. We all know that. Take her out of the equation and we’re fucked. I getthat. He’d make Daemon look like a cuddly teddy bear. So, the more peoplehelping you, the better.”

“And we both know you’d die for Petal,” Myth said,after a few seconds.

Dirty didn’t confirm or deny it. He would takecare of Petal, but he’d do everything he could to eliminate the target as well.Warden would expect Myth to get Kim to safety, not to do any kind of heroics.

He took a long sip of his coffee.

“You love her, don’t you?” Myth asked.

Dirty kept looking at Myth, and he waited. He wasnot going to answer that question.

Myth laughed and he leaned back. “You know what,you’re full of shit.”

Dirty waited, not sure what his point was.

“I don’t get it, you say all that shit aboutPetal, you make her fucking hate you, and now what? You’re still in love withher.”

“And you’re not in love with her?” Dirty asked.

“Petal’s my friend.”

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