Page 31 of With You

“You’re done, Roe, she has you. Distraction only allows your opponent the advantage, remember that.” The sound of Gray’s voice echoing through the gym brought me back, for a moment I’d forgotten that we weren’t alone. I released my hold and Roe lifted his considerable weight off me. I took his offered hand and jumped to my feet, brushing off my clothes and avoiding eye contact.

I chanced a look at the others. Gray was already striding to the door that would lead back to the living spaces and Lily. Kane was distractedly texting on his phone, more than likely with Winnie. And Gage, Gage was watching me and Roe. Golden, knowing eyes narrowed as they bounced between us. Shit.

I walked to where I’d left my water bottle and drank deep, avoiding the two men who were still in the room with me. Testosterone was beating against my back, rolling off them in waves. Gage knew me well, being the team member that I was the closest with—at least he used to be, now it was possible that Roe held that spot. Still, I didn’t doubt that he’d noticed my odd behavior.

I needed to get out of here, to escape before Gage asked questions that I’d only be able to answer with a lie. Without a backward glance, I left the room, letting the door slam shut behind me.

15

ROE

The sound of the door slamming echoed in the silent room.

Well, fuck. That didn’t go well at all. One minute we were teasing, wrestling in a way that I wanted to repeat in my bed later and the next she was walking away. I let out a sigh and turned to get my stuff, trying to think of the right thing to say when I went after her.

A wall of black clothing, tattoos and golden eyes stood in my path. Gage could be fucking scary when he wanted to be. It was like staring at a tiger in the zoo, you knew you were safe because there was a wall of glass between you, but it didn’t stop the chill up your spine when an apex predator was stalking you.

“What?” I asked impatiently when he didn’t move. He’d never be the one to talk first and all I wanted was to follow my woman to make sure she was okay.

“You know what you’re doing?” There was no emotion in the words, but he might as well have punched me in the gut. Gage knew something was going on between me and Sam, it wasn’t surprising he was the first to notice. He’d always had her back and I’d liked that about him. It was a relief knowing that when they were teamed up, she had a good partner looking out for her. However, questioning my intentions pissed me the fuck off.

My posture stiffened, unwilling to let him intimidate me when it came to the most important person in my life. “If you have something you want to say to me, Adam, come out and say it.”

No one, ever called Gage by his first name, ever. I knew what it was of course because I knew everything about everyone. I was the man behind the curtain, the keeper of secrets. I could also be a dick when I wanted.

He was in my face so fast, he was a blur until I was staring directly into his unsettling eyes. “You aren’t the only one on this team that knows things. I’ve seen how you’ve watched her, obsessed over her for years. You think she’s safe with you? That you’ll ever be able to give her a normal life? Marriage, kids, a fucking golden retriever to round out your perfect family portrait?”

“Not sure we’re talking about me. At least I have the balls to go after the woman I want instead of staring from the shadows like a goddamn stalker.” It was a low blow, but his issues weren’t mine and right now, he was projecting them all over me.

“The rest of them aren’t like us. We work here because we got fucked up working for our government and there wasn’t anywhere else we could go that we weren’t a danger to the general public. You and I both know what we did and where we’re going when our miserable lives are finally over. You want to drag her down with you like a selfish bastard, that’s your choice but you better be real positive you can handle the fall out. Because she might be it for you, but I’m not so sure she feels the same.”

He slammed his shoulder into mine as he walked past and that damn door banged closed again. Regret swam inside me. How had this day gone so wrong? Gage may have been projecting his own fears but he wasn’t wrong about what we’d done while enlisted.

I’d been the asshole sitting behind a computer while he carried out orders. Nobody was better than Gage when it came to wet work and he got the job done every time. I’d provided him intel for assignment after assignment. There were times where I’d sit in a dark room watching the satellite footage and wonder what kind of toll it took on a man to kill like that. I guess now I knew.

* * *

My fingers drifted through Sam’s hair while she drooled on my bare chest.

After my fight with Gage, I’d gone to find her just like I’d intended. She’d been standoffish, not wanting to explain to me why she’d left the gym so suddenly even though I already knew. Sam was panicked at the thought of our coworkers, our friends, finding out about us. It was written all over her and even though that made my heart feel like it was cracking into pieces, I didn’t let it show.

She’d further avoided the conversation by pulling me into the shower and now, hours later, nothing was resolved and I was unable to sleep. I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer we could live like this. Would Sam ever want to claim me in front of the others? Or was I just a good lay to pass the time with, the guy that everyone laughed at and never took seriously.

My phone rang from the nightstand and I reached over quickly to silence it so that it didn’t bother her. I answered Gray’s call and felt the bed shift when Sam propped herself on her elbows.

“Everything okay?” she asked while Gray was telling me that Lily thought she could identify one of the men in the security footage from the gas station.

There was a pause on the other end of the line like Gray had heard her and I braced myself for his questions. But they never came, presumably because he was excited about finally having a suspect that was responsible for torturing his woman or maybe he just didn’t give a shit. After hanging up the phone, I filled Sam in and we both started to get dressed.

“You think you can identify him once she points him out?” Sam hopped on one foot as she tugged up her jeans.

“That’s an insulting question. You may think I’m a dumbass but I’m also really fucking good at this, Sam, or have you forgotten that?” My tone was harsh and she visibly drew herself back in surprise. I was being an asshole but I was tired, from my confrontation with Gage, from not sleeping, from her constant lack of belief in me, in us.

“I know that. I didn’t mean it that way. You’re the smartest, most hard-working man I’ve ever met. If anyone can help Lily and find who’s been after her it would be you.”

Her words were completely sincere, the honesty melting my foul mood. I crossed the room and pulled her stiff body into my arms. “I’m sorry, Sam. I took out my bad mood on you and that wasn’t fair.” I cupped her angelic face in between my big palms. “The feeling’s mutual, I think you’re pretty fucking perfect, too.”

“I didn’t say perfect,” she smirked and I squished her cheeks together so that her lips formed a fish-like pout before laying a smacking kiss on them.

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