Page 40 of Factory Thief

Now is not the time for your stupid masculinity to rear its ugly head, Jack.

This is my type of gig, not yours. Damn it.

I thought I could trust him, but no.

For a moment, I thought he trusted me and believed me competent, but apparently not. Not competent enough to go on a mission which is clearly suited to my unique skill set.

That’s what I get for opening myself up to someone.

I stuck my face out for five seconds and fate shoveled dirt in my mouth.

Never. Never again will I let myself be that vulnerable.

I just want to walk away.

I just want to walk away from all of this.

Jack, the Factory, Xtera, everything.

I head back inside the room and start gathering my things. I can start over. Jack’s not the only one with money hiding in offshore accounts. I can go somewhere no one will ever find me…

I stare at the rumpled sheets and sigh.

Damn it.

I can’t just leave him.

I shake my head.

No, this is weakness.

I can’t be falling for this sensitive soft boy with the hard body…can I?

No.

I can’t walk away from this because of a sense of duty and obligation.

My mother suffered and died because of Xtera’s crappy medicine, and I’m not going to stand by and let them make another girl lose her mother to false hope. Not on my watch. That’s the reason I can’t walk away.

An image of Jack springs unbidden into my mind.

I don’t love you, Jack.

No way. I’m not in love.

That’s not the reason I just can’t let this go.

Sorry, Jack.

I don’t fall in love.

It’s not my thing.

I’ve never been in love. Not. Once.

Not even with guys I slept with more than once. Besides, how long have Jack and I really known each other? A matter of days, and most of that spent crazy and on the run?

I’m only doing this because of my mother and the awful way she died. I want to save other cancer patients and their families. I want them to spare them my pain. No one should have to feel this.

---