Page 115 of Ship Outta Luck

“You know I couldn’t.”

“I know.”

June sits up, awake, her hair wild, eyes wilder. “He’s gone? How?”

“I left his room for a second.” Charlie looks chagrined. “I assume he had help.”

I smoothed a hand over June’s forehead and she swats it away, glaring at me. “Wait a minute. Why is she still here?”

“You were in shock. You’ve been asleep for four hours,” I say.

“Answer the question.”

I hesitate. “Charlie is part of the team.”

“Obviously.”

“Listen, June, I’m sorry. I know it’s a lot to take in.”

“And I want you to hurry the hell up.” Charlie pats the brown wig.

“You’re upset.” My eyes dip toward Charlie.

“She lied to me. You both have been lying to me. Of course I’m upset.”

“We did what we had to do to keep you safe.” Something I would do again and again if I needed to.

“And find the drugs,” Charlie adds.

“And find the shipment,” I agree, and June’s eyes squeeze shut.

“We have to go. We don’t know if he’s coming back for you.” Charlie’s voice is tight.

“How did he get away? Can’t you track his phone or something?” June undoes the blood pressure cuff, and Charlie’s face remains a blank mask.

“Here,” Charlie says, and puts her field training to good use by quickly taking the IV needle out of June’s arm and sticking a Snoopy band-aid on her.

“I don’t have a court order to track his phone. Yet,” I finally answer, shooting Charlie a warning look.

June swings her legs over the side of the bed, then sags slightly.

“Slow and steady.” My heart clenches at the sight, the fight in her struggling against the bone-deep weariness I feel too. “You have a safehouse for us?”

“Yeah, of course.” Charlie’s lips are an angry slash against her face and I study her, surprise widening my eyes. She’s hurt by June’s clear mistrust and anger.

It isn’t often Charlie gets to work undercover with good people, people like June. Even someone as hardened as Charlie isn’t immune to feelings.

“We need to move. We can’t risk staying here,” Charlie urges.

“If you were better at your job, maybe we wouldn’t have to.” June’s tone is clipped. Angry.

Charlie steps closer, her brows knitting together. “That’s not fair, and you know it. Everything I did, I did because it was thebest option. I kept you from getting shot and captured. Yes, I lied to you. Does that mean we weren’t friends?” Her mouth twitches into a frown. “I think you’re the only one who can answer that question.”

“You were always my friend, Charlie.” June’s words are soft. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. But you lied to me, manipulated me, even, and that hurts. You aren’t who I thought you were.”

“I did what I had to do.” Charlie moves toward the door.

I step closer to June. “None of us meant to hurt you, princess.”

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