One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

“I’ll see what I can find.”

Dropping the plastic phone on its base, I rubbed my eyes. Spoiled or not, Derek had brains holding onto this place—especially being single. That errand alone made Walter a true asset. I’d shower and put in an appearance at our old firm. It was the least I could do. It was why I’d come back.

* * *

Nikki was at her desk when I pushed through the glass doors. The Imodium had helped my stomach, and I’d taken four of the Advil PMs Walt had included in the discreet brown paper bag. They should hold off the symptoms for a few hours at least.

Blue eyes lit when they met mine, and my hand went straight into my coat pocket to clutch the narrow bottle of painkillers.

“You made it!” She smiled as she rounded the desk, giving me the full view of her body tightly wrapped in a green dress. I remembered why I’d slept with her—I also remembered being sure I’d never come back.

She blinked up at me. “Were you able to sleep last night?”

Was she checking up on me? “I did all right.”

My tone was irritated, and her nose wrinkled. “It always takes me a night to adjust to a new place.”

Right. Stop being fucking paranoid, Stuart. Following her into Derek’s old office, I remembered the cabinets full of food. “Hey, thanks for stocking the kitchen.”

“I figured you’d be hungry.” She touched my arm and leaned forward so that looking down, I had the full view of the dark line between her breasts.

The memory of those in my hands caused a twinge below my belt. Whether I acted on it or not, it was a good sign. The fucking drugs hadn’t taken everything.

“I’ve already set up your computer and the card with how to change your password is on your desk. Let me know if you need a refresher on the phone system.”

Clearing my throat, I looked away from her body. “I won’t stay in long today. Fucking jet lag.”

“Okay!” She gave my arm a squeeze and went to the door. “Come over to my place tonight. A home-cooked meal at dinnertime will help

.”

Jaw clenched, I tried to think of a reason to say no. I needed to say no. So many reasons to say no filtered through my mind, but I couldn’t find an appropriate one to say out loud.

“I’ll expect you at six o’clock sharp, Mister Knight.” She gave me a wink and twirled out the door.

Yeah, this wasn’t going to work.

* * *

Fire blazed in my legs. The pain was so intense, I yelled as hard as I could against it. It didn’t matter. Nobody heard me. Explosions blasted all around us, and I couldn’t force my body to respond. We were so close, and we weren’t going to make it. Our last fucking day, and we were both going to die.

Fuck that. I was born to die for my country, but Derek wasn’t. He had Allison and plans for a family. He’d told me about his dreams, and I’d silently vowed to get him out alive no matter what happened. He deserved that.

Strong hands grasped both my arms, roughly pulling me up and dragging me toward the trucks. Looking back, I saw him lying unconscious, unprotected on the desert sand where I’d fallen.

“Put me down!” I yelled, struggling against their grip. “Get him first!”

The loud SLAM! of shrapnel hitting the ground threw us all a foot in the air and jerked me awake.

I sat straight up in the bed shaking in the twilight and gasping for breath. My body was drenched in sweat.

Dropping my head into my hands, pain radiated from my lower back down through my legs. Even sleeping on one of those expensive number mattresses didn’t stop the pain of that old injury. Only one thing was strong enough for that...

No.

The clock said five-thirty. Nikki expected me at six. I considered being a dick and pulling a no-show, but that was a coward’s way. Staggering across the hall into the bathroom, the shakes were back. God dammit, I was a wreck.

In my coat, I found the Advil PM Walter had brought me and took four more along with another Imodium. Seven to ten days is how long they said before the drugs were out of my system. Then I’d be through the worst.