Page 184 of Possession

Micah scrapes a hand down his face. “I’ll stay with the ex-biker tonight. Take Landyn back to the hotel and get some rest. We have a meeting first thing in the morning at the Division. Tim wants us there before we head back to New York.”

“Where is Carson?” I ask.

“He grabbed the first flight he could find back to D.C. Apparently, I pushed his boundaries, and we’re on a break. But really, he was done. Somehow, he weaseled his way out of the procedures I sat through all day. It’s either his level at the CIA or Officer Cole Carson doesn’t give a fuck. It’s probably the latter.”

“Go,” Micah stresses, but this time spears me with a stare that speaks a thousand unspoken words. “Rocco’s got to be sick of you fussing over him. I’ll grab a pizza, and we’ll talk football like real men.”

Brax holds his hand out to me. “Let’s go. I’m starving and need a shower. Are your things in Micah’s car?”

“I … um.” I bite my lip before shaking my head. “I never got around to packing a bag.”

There. Not a lie.

He frowns. “Okay. I’ll take you tomorrow on the way to the airport. We’ll be tight on time, but I’ll make it happen.”

It’s all I can do not to look at Micah. “It’s okay. I don’t want to go back there ever again. I’m ready for a whole new start.”

He pulls me to my feet and straight into his arms. “So am I.”

After the quickest goodbyes to Rocco and Micah, we’re on our way.

And dread fills me from the toes up.

* * *

Brax

I pullon a pair of sweatpants and T-shirt from the bag Landyn and I share, and run a hand through my wet hair. I have no idea what’s so important about this meeting in the morning that it has to be done here and not back in New York, but Tim was insistent. I also know Landyn is all woman and used to shop for a living. I can’t move her across the country with five changes of clothes to her name. We’ve got to swing by her house.

She’s staring out the window at the shitty view. Talk about a downgrade from the blues of the Pacific Ocean out the back of Damian’s estate.

I’ve never appreciated a parking lot view, but I do this one.

I fucking love it.

I pull in a breath, and it smells like freedom. No one is watching. I’m not worried about sleeping too deeply. I can take a shower without literally feeling naked because I don’t have my gun on me.

I cross the room, and Landyn jerks in surprise when I pull her back to my chest. There’s hardly been a time that she hasn’t relaxed into my touch. It didn’t take her long after we said I do for her to come around and be mine.

But not right now.

Her body is tense when I wrap an arm around her. “Chica, it feels like you’re in another world. Are you worried about leaving California?”

She shakes her head before turning herself in my arms. Her eyes are cold and flat—not at all like my Landyn. “That’s the last thing I’m worried about. You could take me to Timbuktu, and I’d be thrilled. I don’t even know where that is, but if it’s where you were, I’d go.”

“Something is off. I don’t like the look on your face.”

Her eyes instantly glass over. Her heart races where our bodies are melded as one. “I have to tell you something and I don’t know how to say it.”

I bring my hand up to her face and swipe the tears that spill over. “Baby, why are you upset?”

She tries to pull away from me, but I don’t let her. This reminds me of when Nic got to her all over again. I find my own heart racing to meet hers from the memory.

My tone hardens. “Did someone do something to you?”

She gives her head a small shake, and her voice trembles. “No. Not to me.”

“Landyn,” I bite. “I don’t like seeing you this way. Who did this to you?”

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