Page 57 of Direct Action

I ignored the holding on to her grudge until the day she died part, hoping I could talk her around to understanding why I did what I did. And seriously, if her father being in a nursing home wasn’t in play, I might still be considering taking her to the cabin. But I hadn’t lied; that option was now tabled, but like I’d told her, only because I knew she’d never forgive that. And I had two goals: Get her through this situation safe and whole, and install her in my life and in my bed. It would suck if I did the first and failed at the second. But I’d take her hatred if she was alive to feel that emotion. Which meant it was off the table for now, but very easily could be reinstated.

By my way of thinking, that wasn’t having multiple personalities. That was a man weighing his options and hedging his bets.

“Chloe?”

“Huh?”

“I did what I did because I want you safe.”

She had nothing to say to that because there was nothing to say. She knew I was right. Now I’d have to see just how long my stubborn girl could hold on to her grudge.

Chapter Nineteen

“Poppy, this isn’t smart,” Chloe told her friend.

The two women were sitting next to each other on Pete’s couch. Catarina was sitting in one of the chairs off to the side, with Jack standing behind her, Gavin in another. Pete and Fallon were on the couch opposite the women. Like Beckett, I’d opted to keep my feet and stand. Unlike Beck, who looked mildly bored, I was struggling to keep my mouth shut.

“My friend is missing,” Poppy returned.

“I know,” Chloe whispered.

“Pete told me,” Poppy continued. “What they do and what’s happening at the Vault. I can’t quit. For Cindy I can’t quit. I have to try and help.”

Chloe’s gaze came up and locked with mine.

Fuck my life.

From across the room, I could feel Chloe vacillating. I knew she was smart. I knew her being stubborn about quitting was, yes, about needing money, but it was more about my approach, which was part of my colossal fuckup I was attempting to rectify by keeping my mouth shut.

But now she was wavering.

One of the many things I liked about Chloe was her loyalty. I didn’t have to be entrenched in her daily life to know she deeply cared for her friends. Poppy especially. There was no chance she’d quit and leave Poppy blowing in the wind. She’d stay and put herself in danger to have her friend’s back.

And that was a mindfuck. Something I admired so deeply was now the very thing that was going to cause me the most trouble.

Yeah, fuck my life.

“Poppy,” Chloe tried again but got no further.

“I can do this,” Poppy returned. “Catarina explained everything. Their plan won’t work unless they have someone on the inside.”

My gaze shot to Cat. To her credit, she held strong under my scathing stare. The damn woman was impenetrable. Or maybe Jack had been right and the woman had a death wish, because right then I felt like wrapping my hands around her throat and squeezing.

“How helpful of her,” I gritted through clenched teeth.

“She needs to understand what she’s getting into,” Cat put in.

What she was getting into was a dangerous game she didn’t know how to play. I didn’t want Poppy involved, but unlike my violent reaction to Chloe’s continued employment at the Vault—which made my gut twist into a ball of fury—Poppy staying on was a worry I could manage.

Totally fucked, but the truth.

“Poppy, please think about this,” Chloe pleaded. “It’s really dangerous.”

“You didn’t see her,” Poppy said softly.

“Who, honey?” Chloe asked.

“Pamela, Cindy’s sister. She was undone. I want to help. And it won’t be dangerous, not for me. All they need is someone on the inside to report what’s going on behind the scenes.”