Page 78 of Never Say Never
"What does that mean?"
The person knocked again, and I strode over to the door. I yanked it open, staring Hunter in the face. I didn't have the fortitude to play Paul's cheerfulness or even be nice. "Fuck off, now."
Hunter blinked at me with surprise written all over his face. He was lucky I had any restraint left at all. If it had been teenage me, I would have shot first and gave no fucks. I slammed the door, not giving him another second of my time.
"You called me. Out of everyone in our department, I was the first one you reached out to." I strode back over to York, needing to be as close as possible.
"That was?—"
I wasn't listening to his bullshit. "You knew at the end of the day that I'm the one you want, just like you're the one I want."
"Life isn't that simple."
Who the fuck was he telling? "Thanks for the heads up, but I warned you when I want something, I will get it at all costs." I was too engrossed in York to leave him be. Getting that call with his voice shaking and the girls crying in the background cemented in my brain, he was mine. "I'm taking some leave."
"For what?" York asked.
To kill every single person who put you and the girls in danger. "Personal matter." I looked him up and down knowing the answer before I even asked it. "Are you going to take some time off? Maybe comfort the girls?"
York was already shaking his head before I could get the question out fully. Punching my boss wasn't a good idea, but punching the dumbass who I cared about was a different story.
"I can't promise them everything will be okay without taking these bastards down and guaranteeing their safety.” He frowned, sadness in his eyes. “I—I don’t know how to comfort them. Not without reassuring them that the person who tried to hurt them is put away.”
The conversation felt like it was in an endless cycle. No matter what I said, York was going to do what he thought was best. My shoulders dropped and I nodded before opening the door again. In some ways, I got it. He didn’t know what to say to them, especially now that he felt like he’d failed them. On some level, I didn’t know what to say either.
"Paul, wait," York called out.
If he said come back and stay by my side, I would. I was a fucking sucker when it came to this man.
"Where are you going?"
Disappointment was something I was quickly learning to swallow. "To do some fieldwork."
York's gaze bore into me. "Take?—"
"I'm good on my own." I let the door close behind me. Out of all the places in the city, York was safest at FBI headquarters. It didn't mean I trusted anyone here. I eyed every single person I walked past. Ai’s words came back to me from the other night. I wasn't the only mole who'd infiltrated the FBI. I gave a cursory glance at York's office. Telling him would be smart, but then I'd have to come up with another lie to feed him on how I knew.
I'm exhausted. I don't want to lie to him anymore.
Three days of the same routine. I followed York around whenever he left the penthouse. Every step he took, I wasn't too far behind him. Everything felt too quiet, putting me on edge even more.
I thought about calling Benito, but what was I going to say? I need help watching over my boss and his kids? Yeah, the same boss who wants you and our entire family to rot in jail.
Fuck, I was on my own.
I'd been on my own a long time, but there had always been the small inclination that my brothers would be there when the time came or even the other agents I'd built a fake relationship with. None of that was true.
My phone dinged next to me. Before I could pick it up and check it, a call came through. The ringing echoed through the otherwise empty apartment. I snatched it up and smiled instinctively.
"Hello, Navy and Nyra."
"How did you know it's both of us?" Navy asked.
I found them in the middle of the living room. The cameras York installed picked up on everything. Together, they stood there with a phone in their hand, their heads pressed together.
"A hunch. What's wrong?"
They were quiet for a second, and I wanted to go there and comfort them.