Page 43 of Embedded
“Most soldiers hold people back at about an arm’s length, but you keep them miles away.”
“I have my reasons.”
“What are your reasons with me?” She lifted a brow, and I felt my heart pick up speed.
“I let you in last night,” I reminded her.
She nodded as she typed away. “And I’m waiting for the door to slam shut at any moment.”
Flashes of me as Eric rushed to the surface, then Talya’s beautiful face, and then Chase.
When I didn’t answer, she sighed and went back to typing.
We didn’t speak the rest of the flight. She worked, and I sat there and fought the battle inside.
Bash woke just as we landed and jumped right back into conversation with Nicole. I couldn’t get off the flight quickly enough.
We were greeted by a young soldier who was to drive us to our Washington headquarters. I didn’t retain his name, as my head was elsewhere. Again, I took the front and scanned the hundreds of cars that flooded around us.
“We’re about ten minutes out,” I commented as I glanced at the time. Nicole’s pen wildly rattled against her notepad as she looked out the window.
“You good?” Bash whispered, but she didn’t seem to hear him. I turned in time to see him slip a hand over her wrist to quiet her fidgeting. “Nicole?”
Her head whipped around, and so much was written in her wild eyes. She looked at me then Bash, then down to his hand on her which he slowly moved away. “Yeah?”
“What’s wrong?”
She blinked at him. “Wrong?”
“You’re suddenly very tense.”
She let out a short huff. “I’m fine, thanks.” She went back to looking out the window, and I turned around in my seat.
I caught Bash in the side mirror studying her, and that horrible knot formed in my stomach. I hated the feeling of jealousy, especially when I had no right to be. I had it for years with Talya and Grim, even though I knew she didn’t love him. She loved me. The fact that I had been keeping a secret about who I was then, and now I was doing it again, made my insides twist.
We parked and thanked the young driver. He would look after getting our belongings to the hotel.
“It’s understandable to feel nervous, Nicole,” Bash said gently as we were about to enter the building. “Anxiety can come out of nowhere. Remember you’re a badass.” He winked, she smiled, and I fought not to roll my eyes then felt like an asshole. I wasn’t good verbally, so I showed my support physically. Again, another roadblock, thanks to my past.
“Thanks, Bash. Good luck with your meetings.” He waved and smiled at us as we walked away.
“Paul?” Nicole pulled me from my frustration, and I looked up and saw she was waiting for me. “You coming?”
I nodded once, and we walked inside together. Once we stepped from the elevator and headed down the hall, Cole suddenly popped out of a doorway.
“Logan!” I coughed. “Logan.” I was happy to see one of my bothers and felt instant relief. The stress of the situation and the fact that our Washington headquarters had never been my favorite place had made me overreact at the sight of him. I saw him raise a brow. “I thought you were in New York,” I covered in a normal tone.
“I was, but I had a hunch I’d be needed here more.” His lips pressed into a firm line, and I knew he was just as uncomfortable with General Bruce as I was. “Let’s see what shitstorm comes our way this time,” he added quietly.
“Cole,” Nicole stepped forward, “if I am being stripped of my position, does that mean I need to show?—"
General Bruce stepped out of his office, and Nicole’s words faded away. “Please, come in. Ms. Winter, it’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, sir,” she said quickly then stepped up to do as he’d asked. “Let’s get this over with.”
I wanted to pull her aside and hear the rest of her question, but it wasn’t the time. Cole and I exchanged a worried look as we followed them inside.
General Bruce kept his office freezing, which I welcomed because I always ran hot. I figured he did that to keep people from staying too long. Smart tactic.
