Up in Flames(44)

His face was getting red as he said these things to me, and he was getting louder and louder. He’d be yelling at me soon.

Did he think he was hurting me? That others hadn’t said these exact same words to me before? Maybe he didn’t know that although I had my weaknesses, I was not completely weak. I had a strong core that held up under verbal attacks. I’d been dealt these blows my entire life, starting with my mother.

“Are you about done?” I asked before taking another bite of my yogurt. I really liked this yogurt. It had the fruit on the bottom, and it gave the tart flavor a sweet kick. Only one hundred thirty calories a serving. Couldn’t be better for my figure.

“Yeah, Nan. I’m about fucking done,” he said, his voice going back to normal. “With you,” he finished, as if that was going to hurt me. Silly boy. He knew nothing.

“Show yourself out. The maid will get your cup.”

He stared at me, and I lifted my gaze from the cup of yogurt I suddenly was in love with and smiled. I was as cold and bitter as he accused me of being.

I didn’t need or want Major Colt. God help the woman stupid enough to love his ass. He’d never love anyone as much as he loved himself. If he only knew how much work he needed in the bedroom. I could yawn thinking about how vanilla sex was with him.

“This is it, then? This is how you want to end it?” he asked, setting his cup down after only one sip.

“It’s been over. Just took you longer to figure it out than it did me.”

He narrowed his eyes and shook his head as if he couldn’t believe a word I was saying. “Crazy bitch,” he muttered.

I was done with him calling me a bitch in my own house. If he wanted to call me a bitch, then by all means, he could do it, but for God’s sake, not in my house. Did the boy have no manners at all? “Call me a bitch to my face one more time in my house, and I’ll slam a fucking frying pan over your head and smash your perfect nose,” I warned him, with a calm, bored voice. Then took another bite of my yogurt, because it was delicious.

He opened his mouth, and I cocked an eyebrow at him as if to say that I wasn’t kidding. He glanced up to a corner of the kitchen, shook his head, and walked away.

I waited until the front door closed behind him and let out the breath I was holding. “Thank God his ass is gone. Jesus, that was exhausting. I need another yogurt.”





Cope


Thank God his ass is gone. Jesus, that was exhausting. I need another yogurt.

There were things we could do with that yogurt she seemed to love so fucking much. The grin she brought to my lips wasn’t foreign anymore. She’d made me smile so damn much lately that I expected it. Savored it.

She didn’t go back for another yogurt, though. She debated a moment while looking into the fridge, then turned and went to put on her running clothes. The tight little shorts she wore was my favorite article of clothing she owned.

I’d slap her for this later. Maybe wrap my hands around her neck and gently squeeze. She was teasing me and anyone else who saw her with her body. Made me feel violent, yet I wanted her at the same time.

My phone vibrated, and it was Major. I ignored him. He knew I could see the stupid move he’d just made. He had gone against orders. I could send a text, and within seconds, his phone would be cut off. He’d be ordered to evacuate the apartment he was living in immediately. And I’d be gone. He wouldn’t be able to find me.

Major wouldn’t be continuing his work with us. He’d made the wrong choice. However, he’d live. At least, if DeCarlo said he would. If DeCarlo ordered a hit on him, I couldn’t stop that.

He was never cut out for this world. Captain had been wrong. But then, Captain hadn’t really been cut from my cloth, either. He had been on a train for revenge. Or vengeance, as he called it. Me, I just liked the kill. The feel of control and knowing that I was righting a wrong.

Nan walked out of her house, and I knew it was time to start the new plan. Major was out, and Gannon was back in. Because Nan loved what Gannon gave her, and he’d be able to tease out the info from her without the drama Major came with.

Tonight Gannon would call her a bitch during their sleepy sex session. See if she used that sass on him. God, I hoped she did.





Nan


A part of me worried that Major was stupid enough to show up on this run. But when I’d finished my seventh mile without seeing him, I felt confident that he was finally gone. Now to keep myself from going home and locking myself in a dark room to sleep in hopes of another dream. That would officially make me a psycho. I wasn’t going there just yet.

I could go to Vegas.

If I really wanted to . . . I could just go.