Page 122 of Rogue

“Put Diego back on the phone.”

Are you still going to terminate me?I think, then swallow hard when I realize I blurted out my question aloud.

Diego heard me, his rifle loaded and waiting. Jaxson heard me, but not so much as a twitch of worry is coming from his big, beautiful, very naked body. Still, I’m freaking out. Who can blame me?

I’ve been running rogue for nine months. I’ve had not one, not two, but if you factor in the mysterious McDuff, that’s three mercenaries on my tail. I’ve killed my lover, then attempted to actually kill him after discovering he was alive. Not my best effort, that. I survived the Parisian lovers and the carnival of catacombs. I survived the Pricks, and the king Prick himself—Novák. I barely survived Jaxson. I just about died in bliss from our marathon makeup sex.

But will I survive Hayden?

“I have news for you.”

“Listen, I officially quit TORC. Working for you isn’t the best career path for me. Do I submit a formal letter of resignation since we have a signed contract?”

“No need. Resignation accepted.”

I exhale, a long drawn-out breath. One I’ve been holding for far too long.

“Thank you.”

“Under one condition. You understand about conditions, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes. Unforgiving man. “Yes.”

“You’ll receive an advance degree in chemistry from any university of choice.” He pauses, and I have a hard time keeping my excitement at bay. “I’ll finance your expenses, tuition, textbooks, lab expenses, whatever is needed.”

“Why would you do that?” I whisper. It’s a pretty daunting carrot he’s waving before me, after all.

“My condition is nonnegotiable. You hear me?”

I sigh. “Fine.”

“If I ever need an expert in chemistry, toxic poisons and such, you’ll be on call.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

I draw in a breath, my eyes connecting with Jaxson’s.

“I have one condition.”

“Nonnegotiable,” he grounds out.

“Jaxson won’t be your stud for hire anymore. He’s . . . off the market.”

There’s a long silence on the other end.

“Agreed,” he finally says.

“You won’t regret this.”

“I better not.”

I hand the cell to Diego. Who listens to Hayden, nods, then hands it back to me. “You didn’t wait for your news.”

“My news?”

Oh. Wasn’t him calling off the termination news enough?