Page 61 of S.O.S. Mizzay

Tertia didn’t back down. “In your quest to keep your cousin safe, have you ever once considered how miserable his life has been?”

“Wh… I…” Chuck somehow, was reduced to splutters. Maybe this was the first time Tertia had laid down the law with him.

It was awesome to watch.

“He…hasn’t been unhappy,” Chuck defended. “He finds work, he makes friends, and he’s furthered his education.” Smalley’s mouth turned sour. “I even looked the other way when Ifinallyfound out that he and Missy decided to get cozy.”

Yeah. No.He’d been butt-sore that they’d kept it from him for so long. Missy snorted at his assertion. If by looking the other way, he meant having a bloody fit before affecting what amounted to a years’ long pout, then yes, hehadeventually acquiesced to their decision.

Elody, now that she’d plunged into things, wasn’t backing down. “Oh really? You want to cite the jobs he loved and the people he met? Well, fine. He’s had to leaveeverysingle one of them. Not once, not twice, but…” She quirked a brow at Missy.

“Eight times,” she supplied adroitly.

“Eight times, Chuck. Eight.” Elody hammered the point home. “In fourteen years. That’s a lot of ‘leaving behind’. And the classes he took? Great,” she scoffed. “But where did that get him? He’s had to use fake identification to earn his degrees and certifications, so it’s not as if he can actually utilize his education.”

She then cranked up for the final punch. “And don’t youdaretalk about Cobble and Missy’s relationship and the fact that they kept it hidden for a period of time. What havewebeen doing, Chuck, if not close to that very same thing?” She pounded a fist on her chest in frustration. “You convinced me that keeping secretanyassociation we have, is for the best, and I’ve gone along with that for months. Butwhois it best for, huh? You, and some sense of your own importance and how your personal life shouldn’t mix with your public persona?”

Chuck looked like he’d been hit with a big-ass plank. His mouth gaped open, and for once, he was at a loss for words.

“That’s right, Chuck. I amsoover keeping whatever is between us, a secret.” Tertia was on a roll. “I’m not some strung-out floozy you have to be ashamed of. I’m an agent with the FBI, goddammit, and if you’re embarrassed to acknowledge me, then I’m done with you. I’ll find someone else who values me enough that they’re proud to have me on their arm.”

It looked like Elody had been holding that one in for a long time, and Missy couldn’t fault her. Smalley was gruff, he was stubborn, and… Seriously? What the hell had sweet Elody seen in him to begin with?

Hmm. Looking at it objectively, he was grumpy as hell, but hewasactually kind of cute.

Chuck seemed to shrink down in his chair. Was he being targeted and picked on?Yes. Did he deserve it? Anotherhugeaffirmative.

Wiley, who sat next to Chuck, leaned in and whisper-coughed into his ear. “Apologize. Now.”

Missy, being closest to the pair, had heard the suggestion, but she didn’t think anyone else had.

“Elody…” Chuck began.

Missy wanted to cheer that he was taking Wiley’s advice. At least she hoped he was.

Chuck was lucky Tertia hadn’t stormed out the door, slamming it behind her, but she had balls…and patience. She simply stood, waiting. Missy couldn’t sayshewould have been so understanding.

The intrepid woman crossed her arms over her chest, raised a brow at a subdued Chuck, and almost dared him to continue.

“I’m…sorry,” he strangled out.

Good boy, Miss wanted to say.But please go on.

It was almost as if he heard her advice.

“I…never wanted to make you feel uncomfortable or…devalued. I only thought it might be awkward for us to start anything…complicated while working in the same office.”

Elody snorted. “Well,Ididn’t think that. Not for a minute. But right now, it’s oddly fortuitous that you’ve been a stubborn dick.”

Ouch.

“Your silence plays right into the request Missy just made,” Tertia avowed. “Our rogue agent or agents might have wondered why a traitor—when I’ve been outed as the bad-guy—would be dating Cobble’scousin, a status I’m sure they’ll eventually figure out if they haven’t already. But right now, they’re just going to be gleeful that I’m the one taking the heat.”

She turned to Director Baskins. “So are we good? I can be the patsy?”

Baskins pondered for only a second. “Perhaps. Have a seat, Agent Tertia, and let’s hear what else Missy has to say before we settle on anything.”

Elody huffed, but sat back down.

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