Page 42 of Flame
“I don’t want you to leave.”
I smile at him. “I know you don’t. But you know I have to. Unless you can come up with some brilliant plan to solve this impossible puzzle, I can’t do this.”
He nods without trying to reply. It’s just as well. If his voice breaks like I think it might, I don’t want to witness it.
“Thank you for being honest with me,” I say.
I tuck my chin to my chest and head down the hallway.
He stands in the foyer and watches me go.
CHAPTER9
Foxx
“Fuck this day already.” I run my hand over my chin and look in the mirror. “Carmichael, you look like shit.”
I don’t know what I expected when I peered in the glass, but this is at least accurate of how I feel inside.
Dark eyes. Blotchy skin. A crack down the center of my bottom lip. My cheeks are dusted with stubble from not shaving, but I couldn’t possibly care less. The only thing I care about is in a room across the hallway, probably mad as hell at me and making calls to get herself out of here.
And I can’t blame her.
“Can I stay here tonight? And we’ll figure this out tomorrow.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“I know you don’t. But you know I have to. Unless you can come up with some brilliant plan to solve this impossible puzzle, I can’t do this.”
I grip the counter and hang my head. “I’m trying, Bianca. I’m trying.”
There’s no obvious solution to thisimpossible puzzle. I signed a code of conduct with Landry Security when, at Jason’s urging, I started working for them. I assured Jason that I would be there for him and his family—that he could count on me. That I wouldn’t fail him just like he didn’t fail me.
But in that code of conduct, I can’t fraternize with the people I’m sworn to protect. And even if it wasn’t written in black and white, it’s unethical. How can you remain steadfast and unbiased, thinking clearly and logically, when you’re in a relationship with someone? Of course, emotions would be involved, and in my field of work, emotions are dangerous. They’re a weakness. I can’t risk it.
I can’t be the weak link.
I groan, picking up my phone beside the toothpaste.
Landry: Please have Bianca join us for the meeting if at all possible.
“Great.”
I type back my response.
Me: I’ll let her know.
I check the time before locking the screen.We have ten minutes before it starts.
I’ve put off leaving my bedroom because I know the countdown to her departure begins as soon as I see her. The thought of her walking out makes my heart beat out of control. If she leaves, she won’t come back. It’ll likely be the last time I see her without being in a room full of other people.
This will be it. And I’m not ready.
Think. Figure out how to fix this. There’s always a way.
“Here goes nothing,” I mutter, releasing a long sigh before opening the door.
“Wear a bell or something.” Bianca slaps a hand to her chest and huffs out a breath. “You scared the crap out of me.”
