Page 16 of A Damaged Soul
"Okay. I'll call you later tonight?" I asked.
"I'd like that."
We said our goodbyes before I hung up the phone. Then before I could think better of it, I opened up our text thread and sent her a quick message.
RHETT
Good morning, beautiful. I hope you have a great day at work.
After I put my phone away, I looked up and saw Matthew smirking at me. "What?"
I knew whatever he was going to say I wasn't going to like just based on the grin that took over his face.
"She's hot. No wonder you stopped to take her call."
"Shut up." I pushed him. "She's just a friend."
"Why?" Matthew looked horrified.
"Why what?"
"Why just friends? And who was the idiot that suggested that?" I immediately got defensive for Elle's sake even though neither of us had ever made such a deal.
"Don't talk about her like that, and neither of us suggested it. It's just how it is." I couldn't even remember who mentioned friends first, but it kinda just happened, and I was in no position to correct it.
"You mean you're refusing to be anything more," Matthew correctly surmised.
"You know damn well in our line of work it's hard enough, and let's not even talk about my fucked-up shit. Do you really think I'm boyfriend material for anyone?
"Don't answer that," I said before Matthew could say anything.
Of course that didn't stop him.
"Don't tell me what to do," he chided me. "And look at Graham. He makes it work, so why the hell can't you."
Graham was an idiot, but I didn't say that.
"He hasn't seen or done half the shit I have, so don't even compare me to him."
"That's bullshit, Rhett. What we were forced to do while captured doesn't reflect the men that we are. I was right there with you. Had to torture and kill the same innocent people. Does that mean I don't deserve to find someone one day?"
I jerked back at the question because I always thought Matthew and I were on the same page when it came to relationships and our future. "You really want to bring someone into the fucked-up life?"
"What's so fucked up about it?" Matthew challenged.
"We kill without remorse," I reminded him. "We take a life like it means nothing."
"No." Matthew shook his head. "We protect and rescue people. Those we kill deserve it because they are trying to hurt innocent people. We are making up for all the bad shit we were forced to do."
"You really believe that?" I asked.
"You're telling me you don't?"
No, I didn't. Even after all these years, I still couldn't forgive myself for the things I had to do in order to survive and to protect those on my team.
CHAPTER NINE
Elle
