Page 130 of The Storm

“Just be glad it wasn’t the knife.”

I lean against the counter and blow out a breath while I rub the back of my neck. I’ve felt like my muscles have been carved out of stone since the moment my eyes landed on Blue in the subway station. They’re that tense.

“I can’t fire him,” Callum says. “I owe Bridget. She’s the best agent I ever had. Plus, I’m a little scared of her.”

“I don’t care.”

“That’s harsh. I thought we were friends.”

“You can’t hire him. Fucking anybody else, but not him.”

It’s a dick move. I acknowledge that. But I can’t have him here.

Callum studies me silently for a bit but eventually he shakes his head on an exhale. “Fine. But when Bridget comes for me I’m going to use you as a human shield.”

I nod in acknowledgment.

I got what I wanted.

It’s done.

So why do I feel like shit about it?

FORTY-TWO

INDY

I get firedvia email before I’ve ever even started the job.

That’s a new low.

I stare at my phone, the words blurring in front of my eyes while I forget to blink. It’s all very apologetic. A change of circumstances and all that. I swallow past the tightness in my throat before I lean my head back against the wall.

There’s a funny thing about last drops. You can’t really predict how many more your cup can fit before it starts to run over. And you’d think it’d be the big things that do it. Heartbreaks and disasters and such. Finding out your whole life has been a lie. Maybe running into the guy you thought was the love of your life after six years of radio silence and having him look at you with nothing but distain. That should definitely do it.

You’d think.

But no. The last drop is getting fired, it turns out.

I clutch the phone so hard the edges dig deep into my skin, and I tap it against my forehead.

Chin up, I remind myself, but that voice is getting pathetically small by now.

Chin. Up.

The reminder is drowned out by something else, though.

You need to quit. I’m serious.

And then my jaw clenches.

Could he have…?

How would he even have gone about it. He doesn’t know?—

She roped you into working for Callum Mercer.

That’s what he said.