Page 10 of Ravaged With You

Red leaned forward, looking directly into Damien’s dual-colored eyes. “I like you. And Renly damn sure respects you. But even a man like you doesn’t always get what he wants.”

Damien smiled. “You’re right. I don’t. But I always try. Usually I succeed. I’m stubborn that way. In your case, I wanted to know more about you. Like you said, you saved my wife’s life. And I’m always on the lookout for talent.”

“I told you I wasn’t interested in working for Stark Security.”

“And if I’d stopped pushing after the first no in any business negotiation, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Red exhaled. “What is it you think you know?”

“You were the SOC, one of the most secret and elite groups under that umbrella of Special Forces. You have skills. You spent time in Romania. And you left the service after coming home.”

Red forced himself not to react. “I’m impressed. How exactly did you find all of that?”

“I told you. I’m tenacious.”

Red drew a deep breath, wondering how much Damien knew. The silence lingered, and it became a point of pride not to speak first.

Red won.

“Those must have been interesting missions,” Damien said. “I know a bit about human trafficking network operations in Romania. We’ve dealt with the fallout from a network run by a man named Corbu.”

“I know the name. His, and his lieutenants.”

“I thought you might.”

Once again, silence hung between them. Red looked toward the flagstone path, but only the uniformed officer was there now. Renly and the detective must have gone inside.

“I think you’d be an asset.” Damien’s voice was level, but Red thought he heard an undertone of compassion. As if Damien understood some of what had gone down.

“I’ll think about it.” When hell freezes over. “In the meantime, just so we’re clear, I do intend to handle this myself. It’s personal. But I’ll likely need op tech and remote assistance, not to mention backup.”

“Again, you have it. Whatever you need, no questions asked. And, Red,” Damien added, “that’s not a one-time offer. Anytime, anywhere. Whatever you need, tomorrow or ten years from now.”

“I won’t turn it down, but I think you’re being overly generous.”

“No,” Damien said. “I’m not.”

Red nodded, thinking of Nikki and the connection between the two of them that was so vibrant it practically lit up a room. “I get it,” he said softly, his heart turning over as he saw Jo step into the garden from the tasting room, a uniformed officer at her side.

He realized what he’d said, and almost tried to cover. But he let the words linger. They were true, after all. Maybe that made him the world’s biggest asshole, but he loved her. He had for years.

And there wasn’t a damn thing he intended to do about that except be the best friend he could possibly be.

He didn’t realize that he’d stood until she turned toward him. Even from this distance, he could see her red, swollen eyes.

“Go on,” Damien said gently, now also standing. “She’s going to need you.”

Red didn’t answer. Just hurried toward her, and she did the same. They met on the grass between the path and his table, and she threw herself into his arms, then wept as though she’d been keeping it all bottled inside until she saw him.

He held her, hoping his arms around her were some comfort, though how could they be? She’d just lost her husband. What could possibly erase the pain?

Her body shook, the tremors cutting through him, then slowing as she caught her breath, calmed her shaking, and finally stepped back out of the circle of his arms.

It took all his strength not to draw her back in. He told himself that he needed comfort, too. But it was more than that. He needed her. He always had. But oh, God, not like this. Never like this.

“You called,” she said, her eyes meeting his. “I tried to text back but I didn’t have a signal, and I was going to call you back as soon as I got home. But then the officer was waiting in the driveway and—and—”

“I know. Jo, I know.”