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“It’s not worth all the questions. I wasn’t allowed. I don’t have the same last name anymore. I don’t have the same Social Security number or background. It’s all manufactured. There are a million places I could be in the world. Just because I’m based near here doesn’t mean that’s where I live.”
“What’s your last name?”
She paused, then took a long draw off the bottle. “Garrison.”
Sucker punch to the dome, and he was almost lights out. “What?”
“I’m embarrassed, if you want the truth. I got to pick. It was the only other last name I ever wanted. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. Certainly not have to explain it to you.”
His mind ran round, his thoughts speeding like a car chase. “You’re killing me.”
“Look, Cash. Don’t worry about me. I’ll do this job and be out of here.”
He stood and leaned back against the side of his truck, wrapping his arms over his chest, trying, willing the words to stay in his head where they should be. “I don’t want you doing this, Nic.” He said it. A little louder than he intended.So much for keeping private thoughts private.
“Big surprise. But it’s never been your call, and it’s not now.”
“It’s not safe.” That was the most important reason he had in the quit-your-day-job arsenal. She needed to walk away from the gun play.
Her body language clearly didn’t agree. “It’s not safe for you either,” Nicola countered.
“I’m trained. I can—”
She recoiled. “You think I’m not?”
“No.” His voice rose, frustration igniting his words. She wasn’t having any of his reasoning. “I don’t.”
“You don’t know me.”
“Not my fault, is it?” God, she made him want to shake her. Or pin her against the wall. Either would do right now.
“We’re throwing down in front of everyone again.” Nicola gestured to Rocco, who tuned in like they were a reality show in the making. “Should’ve aired your grievance earlier, when I gave you the chance in the truck.”
He glared at the guys, tugged on her good elbow. “Come with me.”
“No way.”
His hands itched for something to do. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something he’d regret. It wasn’t killing off the urge. He threw a handful of Altoids into his mouth. Still no help. “Nicola, I don’t have time for this.”
“Guess what, Cash. Jared just partnered you and me together. You’ll get to see how good I am.”
He froze, cemented to the ground. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” She laughed. “Now what are you going to do?”
“Fix it.” There was no way she was going out in the field with him.
“Oh, hell no.”
“Watch me.”
“Cash, stop it.”
Cash looked at Rocco, who was now flanked by his buddies Winters and Brock. They all smiled, enjoying the hell out of this.Good Christ.“Let’s go. We have to talk. In private.”
“Don’t feel like it.”
He scooped her off the tailgate, threw her over his shoulder, and stalked off. The background noise was littered with laughter and jokes. It didn’t matter. He was sick of this BS. Nicola wasn’t going to get herself killed on his watch.