Page 55 of Tangled Like Us

Comms crackle in my eardrum.Good thing.I zero in on work and listen to the Omega lead speak.

“Akara to Thatcher, Farrow, and Quinn—we’re at the grocery. Is there anything specific you want?”

I touch my flannel collar and press my mic. “Check to see if they have a stop leak additive. Jane’s Beetle is leaking oil again.” Ophelia rubs up against my ankles and purrs. I reach down and scratch behind her ear, she tries to bump her head into my hand, enjoying it. I do a quick sweep of the room and locate the cats.

All but one is in sight. Licorice can be shy, and he’s the most skittish. It’s made me more concerned about him. But there are plenty of places he could be hiding.

“Copy,” Akara responds.

Static buzzes, waiting for Quinn’s response.

I look right at Farrow while he stands up—done tying his boots—and I’m positive he’s silenced his radio.

Wouldn’t be the first time.

I drop my arm to my side. “SFO is at the grocery. You need something?”

“No,” he says with the casual shake of his head. “I’m good.” He quickens his pace towards the fireplace.

I spot movement a fraction of a second after Farrow does. Because the fireplace had been at my back.

He snatches Walrus, a calico cat, off the mantel. Plus, he catches a picture frame that teeters off the ledge.

He’s vigilant, always a skilled set of hands, and constantly on guard, even if he’s cracking jokes, smiling, or lounging on furniture like the world isn’t on fire when it’s actually up in fucking flames.

Walrus tries to paw his nose, and Farrow jerks back with a smile. “Not today, you little bastard.” He lets Walrus go, and the cat scampers into the kitchen.

I adjust my earpiece, and we’re suddenly facing one another. I nod to the empty milk jug on the mantel. What Walrus was interested in.

Farrow grabs the milk jug and then flicks a switch on his radio. “You haven’t railed on me for comms in a while.” He raises his brows. “Bored?”

He has no clue.

He wouldn’t.

Since I used to be the Epsilon lead, I know how the security team functions to the exact center. All the ins-and-outs. Every decision, every reasoning. I’m not in the dark.

The whole team is aware that Farrow selectively uses comms, so his lack of response is expected and not an issue among the leads.

Akara is only waiting for Quinn to reply.

Have I hated his lack of comms use in the past? Yeah. Things would’ve been easier if he just followed the fucking rules, but I accepted a long time ago that he was gonna do shit his own way.

Farrow gets away with it because he’s never made a real mistake.

Because he picks up slack. Without needing to be asked.

Because he’s so calm and reliable under fire, andthat…just can’t be taught. When lives are at stake, not just these families but the safety of the team, we want the best bodyguards here.

And bywe, I mean Akara Kitsuwon, me, and anyone else who’s been in charge.

I can’t say every new hire on the team sees the depth of Farrow’s value. Not when they’re slapped on the wrist orfiredfor the same moves he pulls.

I can’t say that my men on Epsilon have felt anything more than bitter fucking hostility. To the point where I had one man taking personal shots at Donnelly just to piss off Farrow.

Being a lead means making hard calls.

Years back during breakfast, Akara, Banks, and I had a talk about how to prevent in-fighting. Mainly, my guys antagonizing Farrow. Their jealousy was escalating. Something bad was going to happen.