The Payback (Team Zulu 2)

“Wait. Where’s Cameron?” I asked.

Shep picked at the beer label, taking his time to answer. “Cut her loose.”

“For good?”

He took a long pull of his beer, swallowed hard, then nodded.

Sage clicked her tongue.

“What? Why?” I asked. “I thought you actually felt something for her.”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel. She deserves better. And come on, man, she’d have ditched me when she realized I was dragging her down. I might be an asshole, but I won’t put her through that.”

I shook my head. “Are you blind?”

Shep’s eyes narrowed to slits. “The fuck?”

“I saw the way Cameron looked at you. She’s in love with you, man. If you pull a good woman like her, you damn well hang on and don’t let go.”

“You know there’s no room for her in my life. Too many targets on my back.”

“That should be rectified once you finish this mission.”

Shep only grunted in response.

“Holy shit.” I smirked. “I never thought I’d see the day. You love her, too.”

The hitman sent me a warning look but didn’t deny it.

“And that scares the crap out of you.”

“Fuck you, Landers. Why don’t you focus on your own shit and keeping your girl safe?”

“Apparently, he’s blindanddeaf,” Sage muttered to herself. “I told you I’m not his girl.”

Our gazes shifted to Sage, and I hated to admit that Shep had a fair point. The situation with Dante was escalating, and before it was through, I’d have to get my hands dirty. I didn’t want to ask Sage to take a back seat, but her safety was paramount. How could I take on Dante and his elite security crew while also making sure she was safe?

And how the hell did this reclusive son of a bitch end up giving relationship advice to me?

I sighed and shoved my hands in my pockets. “So, are we done here?”

“Yeah. And I’ve decided you’re more useful to me alive than dead, so you can stop worrying about me coming for you in your sleep.”

“Good to know.”

Shep stood, downed the rest of his beer, and tossed the bottle in the trash. He walked up to Sage, and even though I knew he wouldn’t harm her, my body tensed at the hitman being near her. Sage stood as he approached.

“Thank you,” he said. “For freeing Cam. For helping us both.”

Sage gave a single nod. “She’d have done the same for me.”

Shep’s eyes shifted to the floor. “Yeah, she would.”

Seeing Shep hurting over Cameron actually made me feel sorry for the cold bastard. I hoped they’d find some way to work it out.

I stepped up behind him. “Hey. I helped get you out of there, too. Where’s my thank-you?” I held my arms open for a bro hug that would never happen.

Shep spun to glare at me. “You’re lucky you’re not floating facedown in the Delaware.”