Page 3 of Tested

He laughs at that, arms crossed to show off his biceps. “Shit. A guy like you is too good for whatever that bullshit is. You’ve got skills, man, and it’s killing all of us that you’re not using them.”

I rub my eyes to get rid of the powder. I don’t answer, because there is no good answer. He’s not wrong. I do miss being part of the Elites. I miss the challenge, the camaraderie. Poole was the first one who ever said my gifts were worth something, and that validation changed my whole life.

But it was the Elites, and specifically Poole, who ordered me to fool Trajan into thinking I was dead, and I can’t chance doing that to him again. That’s too high a price.

“I’m doing fine, and my answer’s not going to change.” A cop car pulls up, light flashing but no siren. “Now get out of here before I tell them how you drove me off the road.”

Brodie’s smile has dimmed. “Don’t be like that.”

“Don’tyoube like that.” I shrug, palms up. “I gave the Elites eight years. Time for me to do something else.”

“You’re making a bad decision.” He sobers completely. “You can’t just walk away.”

The cop is headed our way. “I suggest you do walk away before your name ends up in a police report.”

With a look of disgust, he takes off. It’s hard to maintain your image as a member of a supersecret supernatural SWAT team if you end up in some yokel’s accident report. He swaggers when he walks, possessing a confidence I recognize.

I used to walk like that, before I saw up-close how badly I’d hurt Trajan. Apricot Pekinese might not present the same level of challenge, but with time, I’ll get hired for more complicated cases. I fish my phone out and send David a text.

Remember how you said I needed a new car?