Page 122 of What About Love

T ignored his crack. “Put Jonas with Pete and we’ll manage.”

“We’ll need Jonas for alarms and computer systems.”

“Dex or Kyle?”

“We need their muscle. It’s decided, T.”

“I’ll be fine,” Angie murmured.

He set his hands on the tabletop and leaned in, imitating her position of only minutes before, but with much more authority and intimidation. “You will stick to me like glue, do exactly as ordered, or you’ll answer to me, trainee. None of this OFP crap like in LA. If you aren’t adhered to my side, you are glued to the general’s. Is that clear?”

“No. It’s not. I’ll stick by Dan.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Angie. I am your handler for this operation or I shut it down. Agreed, Cap?”

Tony’s eyes shifted between the two of them, his black brows practically knitted together as he frowned. Finally, he nodded. “Agreed.”

“I don’t agree,” Angie protested.

“You don’t get a vote.”

Disregarding her subsequent cursing, Cap faced T. “You’ve got seven hours. Take her to the simulator and see if you can get her up to at least 90 percent.”

“I’ve got that thing in Houston to reschedule.” Still angry, his gaze snapped to Angie. She almost felt scorched by his glare. “I have some calls to make. Meet me on the range in fifteen minutes. Do not be late.” Dismissing them both, T stalked out of the office.

Once he was gone, she exhaled, the tension going out of her body as her shoulders drooped and she slumped into her chair.

“You’re in love with him.”

She opened her mouth to deny it but snapped it shut when she realized Cap’s astute gaze had her pegged. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want my love.”

“He does, Angie. It’s just that he doesn’t know what to do with it. I don’t know what happened in his past—”

“I do,” she interrupted. “Though it’s not for me to share, I can tell you it was horrific and life altering, needless to say. The shields he built around his heart since then are impenetrable. I’ve tried to break through, but he keeps pushing me away.”

“I see him keep pulling you back.”

“Yes, I mentioned that to him. He claimed he was doing it out of selfishness, wanting some small part of me, at least. But that’s not enough. And this hot and cold routine, like just now...” She shook her head sadly. “My heart simply can’t take it. When we get back, I’d like to talk about a transfer to LA.”

“I hope you’re not serious.”

“I am.”

“But this is your home. Your friends and family are here. I know Megan would miss you terribly if you left.”

“I’d miss her, too, Cap, also you and the boys, Regan and Rick, my parents... But it’s simply too painful for me to stay and be around him.”

“You need to dig in. I won’t ask what happened, but whatever it was made him afraid to give any woman his heart. But you have it, I’d swear to it. Show him. Prove that you are the woman he can entrust it to.”

Their last argument came back to her vividly. He thought her a lying, manipulative bitch like his cheating wife. How did she alter that perception?

“That boat has already sailed, I’m afraid.”

“He’s got demons, Angie. We all do, some worse than others.”

“His are the worst.”

“All the more reason he needs your help to fight them.”

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