Page 340 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“You can’t run this story. It’s too dangerous.”

“Think about it,” I said, putting my hand on his thick arm. “If we go public, they can’t disappear us. At least not as easily.”

He shook his head.

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, to be honest, I don’t really need your information or to even source you in the story,” I fought back, not believing how quickly he was shutting down my idea.

“Other journalists will look into it and see I was at FOB Cobra during the same time period. Are you willing to ruin my life like that?”

“Ruin your life? What about me? Are you not interested in a life for both of us?”

He took a deep breath, taking a few steps away before stopping and turning. “No.”

“No, what?” I asked, following him.

“I’m not helping you with this. I’ll go to the feds and tell them it was all me.”

“Don’t be an idiot.”

“Name calling? Really? Are you twelve or something?”

“You can be such an asshole sometimes. You know that?”

“And you can be a…”

He grimaced, not finishing the thought.

“Fuck you, Cooper. I came all the way over here to share the good news with you, and you’re not interested in anything other than controlling what I do.”

“Come on, Jade. I’m trying to protect us the best way I know how. Don’t be like that.”

“Like what? Someone who stands up for myself? Maybe I should hook you up with Laura.”

“I love you,” he said, putting a strong hand on my waist.

We made eye contact.

“Prove it.”

He sighed, removed his hand, and looked away.

“You should go,” he said. “We don’t want them to catch you here. They probably followed you.”

“I don’t have my phone on me, and I took some evasive measures.”

“Yeah, I noticed the wig.”

I pouted.

“Why do we have to do this to ourselves?”

“I don’t know,” he said then repeated, “You should go.”

“Fine. I’ll talk to you when I talk to you, I guess.”

As I rode the elevator downstairs, anger boiled up inside me, ready to burst. The poor doorman must have thought I was such a bitch as I left the building in a rage.

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