Page 193 of Sinful Like Us

I glare. Give the guy a rope and he’ll take the entire fucking ship. “No,” I say severely. “You can’t be a lead.”

“Then no deal. Take it or leave it.”

O’Malley sends him a hesitant look. “Way to shoot for the stars, man.” He shakes his head. “Akara, I like where I’m at. I don’t want a transfer.”

Back to being fucked.I expel a breath through my nose.

He looks to me. “But I’d like a promise from you.”

My brows draw together, and I think of Jane. What would I do to stay in security, to work near her, to protect her day in and day out?

I tell O’Malley, “Anything.”

“I’ve only ever been on Epsilon. Before Jane, you had too, and I always considered you one of us. Even after you transferred to Omega. Even after our fight. I guess the moment I realized you weren’t was whenIwas the one being kept in the dark about the twin swap.” He lets out a laugh. “Shit, I should’ve known it was you, Thatcher. It sucked that I didn’t figure it out. It sucked being blindsided again by a guy I’d die for.” His forehead wrinkles in a deeper frown. “I just want honesty. Just promise methatgoing forward.”

My men.

It’s been a while since Epsilon was my responsibility. Since he was, and like O’Malley, I feel that loss. I’m Omega.

My loyalty is with those men first. But I won’t give my word flippantly. I have to mean what I say or else I’ve lost all fucking sense of integrity, and I can’t live with that.

“I promise,” I say seriously, deeply. “I’ll be honest with you going forward.”

O’Malley gauges my sincerity and then nods. “Thank you.”

I nod back.

Genuine feelings exchanged, he grabs the duffel strap and pats Tony’s shoulder. “Good luck swinging lead.” He leaves out the front door.

I cross my arms and nod to Tony. “You’re not getting lead.”

“At least not immediately,” Akara says, deadening the air.

Muttering and whispering andwhat the fuck is he doingcomes from the foyer, but none of the men interject or approach.

Tony smiles. “When? Because I’m not waiting around a year.”

The bottom of my stomach drops out. “Akara, you can’t.”Not for me.This is exactly what I feared the first time—back when I was sleeping with a client. I didn’t want him to bear the repercussions for my actions.

“I’m the Omega lead. I can do whatever the fuck I want.” Akara says this while staring at Tony, and he tells him, “Price and Sinclair love you. They’ll be fine with the promotion as long as the recommendation comes from me. Short term: you should stay on Jane’s detail until I have the transfer approved. It’ll probably take a couple months.”

I grit down so hard my jaw feels like it’s splitting in two. I could fuckingscreamat the top of my lungs—but I stay quiet. I scowl and glare—andthis can’t be right.

We’re losing everything.

Akara as SFO lead.

And Tony was supposed to be off Jane’s detailweeksago. His probationary period has been over, and all the confetti-popping parties I planned to have just fade away.

I turn my head. “Akara—”

“It’s two months.” He pulls a beanie over his head. “You and Jane can handle it.” To Tony, he says, “Long term: you can’t stay on her detail. So pick someone else.”

“Charlie,” he says. “You all say he’s the most difficult client, but he just hasn’t had me on his detail yet.”Fuck.

“Done,” Akara says. “We good?”

“All good.” Tony nods. “And Akara, if this doesn’t happen in two months, I’m going to tell Price and Sinclair what I know.”