Packing Heat(133)

“No fucking way.” I stared at her, completely surprised. As far as I could tell, she was just another civilian. I didn’t see any training in her, anything to suggest that she was more than she appeared.

“How do you think I got assigned to you, Nash?” she asked. “I’m the liaison between you and General Benton. How do you think I got all that information from him?”

I shrugged. “I figured you really thought he was my publisher.”

She laughed loudly, shaking her head. “God, you’re so fucking clueless, Nash. If I weren’t an insider, I would never believe the stories.”

I grinned. “Yeah, but you know.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s all true, more or less.”

“So, what? Why are you telling me this?”

“I’m sick of you looking at me like I’m some idiot civilian bossing you around. I want you to know that what I’m about to say comes from a fucking equal. Get it?”

“Got it, sir,” I said, grinning.

“That’s better,” she mused. “I do outrank you.”

“Technically. Sir.”

“Enough of that.” She slammed her drink back and held out her glass for another. I finished mine and filled them both. “Listen now.”

“Speak freely.”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I laughed. “No shit. But if I don’t stay, Benton isn’t going to put me back on active duty.”

“Maybe, but you still shouldn’t be here.”

I looked at her. “I want to get back out there, Liv.”

“I know. I’m sure you do. You’re one of the best after all.” She sipped her drink, looking out over the city. “But you love her.”

I stared at her for a full minute, not saying a word. We hadn’t spoken about Selena, ever, since she’d left to be with her parents. The media asked questions, but I deflected, telling them that she was home visiting her parents. They speculated, of course, but I didn’t give a fuck.

“You don’t know shit,” I said softly.

“Actually, I do. You’re in love with the girl.”

I took a drink. “So what?”

She smiled at me. “So, get the fuck out of here, Nash. Go see her.”

“Could ruin everything.”

“Everything is ruined already and you know it. You can’t go back into the shit.” She looked at me with this half smile, this serious grin, and I knew she was speaking from experience. “When was the last time you felt alive?”

“With her,” I said instantly, realizing it was true.

“With her,” Liv repeated, nodding. “You’re rotting out here. You need her, Nash. You’re just too stupid and stubborn to see it.”

“Like I was too stupid to figure out who you were?”

“Exactly.” She took a sip. “Just go see her. I can cover you for a week if you want. Or you can never come back and be done with all this.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.”

“Why are you helping me?” I asked.

“Because you don’t deserve this. Not after everything you did. And plus”—she grinned at me—“who in this world should stand in the way of love?”

I laughed, and she stood up, finishing her drink.

“Thanks for the whisky,” she said.

“Yeah,” I grunted. “Sure.”

“Let me know if you leave. Again, I can cover a week. Figure your shit out.”

“Yes, sir.” I stood up and saluted her.

She laughed. “God, that feels strange. The first time you’ve actually given me some respect.”

“First time you deserved it.” I grinned at her.

“At ease, soldier.” She turned and walked away, slipping out of my apartment silently.

I shook my head, completely amazed and mystified. Lieutenant Livy was much more badass than I had realized.

I finished my drink.

It took me two minutes to decide what I wanted to do.

I packed a bag in five. Another two minutes to piss and another ten to book a flight.

Then I was out the fucking door, and I wasn’t looking back.



It was a block just like any other.

Finding Selena wasn’t hard. Her parents were still listed in the phone book, and all it took was one call to her mom to get the address. Tracy was nice as hell, and she seemed pretty happy to hear from me.

So it seemed like Selena hadn’t told her the truth yet, which was good. Maybe she wasn’t as angry at me as she probably should’ve been.

I felt like an asshole when the cab dropped me off. My stuff was back at the hotel, and all I had were the clothes on my back. For some reason I felt like I should have brought a present, if not for Selena, then for her parents. But I had no clue how Chris was holding up, and so I didn’t want to do something stupid.