Matthew,” I said. “It’s about his life. Our lives. I don’t want him getting killed. We’re going to have kids. Just like you. I don’t want you getting killed, and I’m sure Meredith doesn’t, either.”
I glanced at him; he was sulking, watching the road. “I’m trying to do the right thing for all of us,” I said, a pleading tone sneaking into my voice. He was silent. “Don’t you think Mer would rather have you doing some civilian work? So she doesn’t have to worry about you getting shot all the time?”
“She thinks she wants that,” he said, his handsome, chiseled face stony. “But she’s also used to a certain standard of living. The standard only John can provide. If I went back into the military, or had to do a civilian security detail…we’d have to move in with her parents. And Mer’s parents aren’t exactly huge fans of mine. It would suck. Especially with a toddler and a new baby.” He shuddered. “It would be like Teen Mom. Except Mer and I are in our twenties, so it would be that much grosser.”
“ I’ll talk to Mer about it,” I snapped, “and see how she feels.”
“Awesome,” Matthew said, and sighed. “Next time, can you send Ian to pick me up from my perimeter scan? You’re a little testy these days.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be testy,” I said, feeling badly. I didn’t want to make Matthew, or any of the guys, upset. But.
“I thought we were all on the same page, finally. Matthew—you’re family. All of the guys are. I don’t want to break the company up and leave everybody scrambling. That’s the last thing I want.” I sighed. “But because you’re family, I don’t want you getting killed. So I thought a civilian detail might be better. Safer, for everyone.”
“I’m too hot to be a mall cop,” Matthew said, stubbornly. “I couldn’t just stand there all day. My muscles would start to atrophy.”
I gave him an exasperated look. “It’s better than getting shot at all the time. And sleeping in jungles and fighting spiders. And breaking into cartel strongholds.”
“If you say so,” Matthew said. “To me, it sounds like giving up. I’d rather fight a huge spider than bust teenagers for shoplifting lip gloss.”
“Fine,” I said. “But I’m not promising anything.”
“It’s a start, Lib, it’s a start,” Matthew said. “Besides, I happen to know you liked killing that spider when we were in the jungle. You didn’t just kill it—you pounded it. You showed no mercy. And then there was Angel Morales…”
I shot him a filthy look. Mentioning Angel Morales was a double low blow. First of all, I’d shot him. Second of all, he was Catherine’s husband.
Was being the operative word.
Matthew smiled at me and shrugged. “Everybody’s gotta do something,” he said. “Sometimes, the thing chooses you.”
“This ‘thing’ means bullets, danger, worry—and training. Forget it, Matthew. I’m over it,” I said.
“Never say never,” he said, and smiled at me.
“I didn’t say never,” I said.
“I told you to never say it,” he said, laughing. “And there you go again!”
I shook my head at him and sighed. It was good that he had small children. They could appreciate his sense of humor. Maybe.
Finally, we reached the gravel drive that led home. I punched in the code and the star-embossed gate opened. As we drove through, the beautiful house that John and I now shared came into view. The rolling green lawns spread out all around us, thrilling me.
I didn’t love this place because it was a mansion with enormous grounds. I loved it because it was home. And I never thought that I’d find a place to call home, so far from where I started. I could still picture myself alone, in my crap apartment in Vegas, sitting at that chipped card table. Back then, if you’d told me that I would soon be safe, married and have a family and friends on the other side of the country, I would’ve sworn you were
I glanced at him; he was sulking, watching the road. “I’m trying to do the right thing for all of us,” I said, a pleading tone sneaking into my voice. He was silent. “Don’t you think Mer would rather have you doing some civilian work? So she doesn’t have to worry about you getting shot all the time?”
“She thinks she wants that,” he said, his handsome, chiseled face stony. “But she’s also used to a certain standard of living. The standard only John can provide. If I went back into the military, or had to do a civilian security detail…we’d have to move in with her parents. And Mer’s parents aren’t exactly huge fans of mine. It would suck. Especially with a toddler and a new baby.” He shuddered. “It would be like Teen Mom. Except Mer and I are in our twenties, so it would be that much grosser.”
“ I’ll talk to Mer about it,” I snapped, “and see how she feels.”
“Awesome,” Matthew said, and sighed. “Next time, can you send Ian to pick me up from my perimeter scan? You’re a little testy these days.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be testy,” I said, feeling badly. I didn’t want to make Matthew, or any of the guys, upset. But.
“I thought we were all on the same page, finally. Matthew—you’re family. All of the guys are. I don’t want to break the company up and leave everybody scrambling. That’s the last thing I want.” I sighed. “But because you’re family, I don’t want you getting killed. So I thought a civilian detail might be better. Safer, for everyone.”
“I’m too hot to be a mall cop,” Matthew said, stubbornly. “I couldn’t just stand there all day. My muscles would start to atrophy.”
I gave him an exasperated look. “It’s better than getting shot at all the time. And sleeping in jungles and fighting spiders. And breaking into cartel strongholds.”
“If you say so,” Matthew said. “To me, it sounds like giving up. I’d rather fight a huge spider than bust teenagers for shoplifting lip gloss.”
“Fine,” I said. “But I’m not promising anything.”
“It’s a start, Lib, it’s a start,” Matthew said. “Besides, I happen to know you liked killing that spider when we were in the jungle. You didn’t just kill it—you pounded it. You showed no mercy. And then there was Angel Morales…”
I shot him a filthy look. Mentioning Angel Morales was a double low blow. First of all, I’d shot him. Second of all, he was Catherine’s husband.
Was being the operative word.
Matthew smiled at me and shrugged. “Everybody’s gotta do something,” he said. “Sometimes, the thing chooses you.”
“This ‘thing’ means bullets, danger, worry—and training. Forget it, Matthew. I’m over it,” I said.
“Never say never,” he said, and smiled at me.
“I didn’t say never,” I said.
“I told you to never say it,” he said, laughing. “And there you go again!”
I shook my head at him and sighed. It was good that he had small children. They could appreciate his sense of humor. Maybe.
Finally, we reached the gravel drive that led home. I punched in the code and the star-embossed gate opened. As we drove through, the beautiful house that John and I now shared came into view. The rolling green lawns spread out all around us, thrilling me.
I didn’t love this place because it was a mansion with enormous grounds. I loved it because it was home. And I never thought that I’d find a place to call home, so far from where I started. I could still picture myself alone, in my crap apartment in Vegas, sitting at that chipped card table. Back then, if you’d told me that I would soon be safe, married and have a family and friends on the other side of the country, I would’ve sworn you were
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