Page 15 of Huck Frasier

He wasn’t a plan.

He was ahome.

And I didn’t know how to want that without unraveling.

10

Frasier

The call came in just after lunch.

One of our own needed backup. It was bad. The kind of mission you don’t come back from clean—if at all.

I told Axel I’d go.

I didn’t think.

Didn’t even pack yet.

Just turned around on instinct and said yes.

And then I walked outside and found Marley leaning against my truck, arms crossed, like she already knew.

“You’re leaving.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

“How long?”

“Don’t know yet.”

She looked away, blinking hard. “Don’t go.”

That stopped me cold.

“Marley—”

“You’re not supposed to be the one risking everything.”

“Says the woman who snuck into a cartel compound with a fake press badge.”

She ignored that. “Lark and Axel made me stay safe.They made me.And now you think you get to waltz off and do the same damn thing without me even getting a say?”

“I’m not asking for permission.”

“Well, I’m notgivingit.”

She stepped forward, furious and beautiful and shaking.

“I can’t go with you. I’m not trained. I know that. I get it. But don’t stand there and pretend like walking away from me won’t cost you something because it will. Itis.”

My chest tightened.

“Marley,” I said, quiet now. “I have to go.”

She shook her head. “No. Youchooseto go. Just like I chose to leave Tunisia. Just like I chose to leave the next morning, and now I hate myself for all of it.”