Page 48 of Desperate Games

I mean, I would've stayed and fought for it—fought for her—if she hadn’t slammed the damn door in my face and locked it behind me.

But I needed time to think. To process. To plan.

I have shit to do first, but I have every intention of revisiting our relationship—if it can be called that.

Meantime, I shut my laptop with a sigh, the echo of Callie’s sweet little voice still playing in the back of my mind.

We'd just finished a quick FaceTime call—her grinning up at me with chocolate on her cheeks and her hair in lopsided pigtails.

Mom had been behind her, smiling too tightly.

“Remy,” she’d said, once Callie ran off, “I found a beautiful retirement community. In Palm Beach. They’ve got a garden, art classes, and a shuttle to the grocery store. I’m thinking it’s time.”

I knew what she was really saying.

Time to stop sharing custody.

Time to take full responsibility.

Time to be a full-time father figure to a three-year-old who didn’t ask for any of this, but deserves the world anyway.

“I’ll be back this weekend,” I told her, jaw set. “It’s time. I’m ready.”

Mom nodded, eyes glinting a little. “I know you are, son. You’re going to be such a good father!”

I nod at her before signing off.

She’s right. I am ready.

I have to be.

For Callie. For myself. For the future.

I’ve seen enough men in this line of work pretend they can juggle it all—missions, women, ghosts—and it always ends the same.

I’m not going to be that guy. I’ve made my choice.

Family first.

No distractions.

No Andrea.

Not until we can talk. Really talk. About where we stand with each other. Where this thing is going.

Because yeah, I can handle it if a woman leaves me, but Callie deserves better.

I lean back in the too-small chair I’m sitting in, muscles tight, heart tighter.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Maybe the universe saved me from something messy.

From caring too much.

From becoming the kind of man who chases after a woman who already made her decision.

Maybe I just have to forget she exists.