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Liam
“You’re off regular duty until further notice. If we need you for a case it will be in-house issues where we know you are protected.”
“Sir, with all due respect, I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
“This is not a request. Also, you will be placed in another apartment across town. The address will be need-to-know only, until we know who was behind all this.”
“What about another apartment in the same building? I don’t want to be so far from Amelia—uh in case she’s still a target.”
“We will send another agent to keep an eye on her.”
“Sir, please? I need—”
“Director Stone, if I may...” Chase interjected, and the Director nodded. “Whoever is responsible for the bombing most likely is in our agency or familiar with it at the least. They would know protocol would be to relocate an agent some distance from the initial attack. If we go by the same book as them, they are going to have our plays in hand. If we go off script, then it may throw them off their game.”
“What do you recommend?”
“Whatever the book says, do the opposite. Obviously, he can’t be put back in his apartment since it’s a crime scene, but in the same building, maybe even the same side of the building. It would throw them off.”
“I like the way you think, agent. Make the arrangements. Talk to Wendy out front and she can make the necessary calls.”
“Thank you, sir,” I added and gave a grateful glance at Chase.
When the meeting was over, I hurried out the door to get back to Amelia. I had driven myself crazy in the time we’d been apart and all I could think of was making up for lost time. I never wanted to let her out of my sight or my arms again. If I had anything to do with it, I wouldn’t have to once the case was over.
I longed to return to the peace and tranquility of the cabin, this time with Amelia as a willing and eager guest. I thought about our time beside the fire in the clearing where she’d painted that beautiful work of art. It had been hanging in my apartment and I prayed it had survived the blast. I could still feel her soft skin under my hands as I laid her down on the ground. I could still hear her soft moans and cries as she reached her climax.
She sat near Wendy’s desk and while Chase made arrangements involving my new residence, I hurried over to her.
“Hey, sorry about that. I had to iron out some things with my boss.”
“It’s no problem. Get everything taken care of?” I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but she seemed colder.
“Yeah. You okay?”
“Just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“I’m sure you’re exhausted. I was thinking of going to stay at my cabin for a week until other living arrangements in the city were worked out. What do you think?”
“I’m sure you could use the time to relax after all you’ve been through.” Her words showed little emotion.
“I was thinking you could come with me. It could be a nice little escape for us.”
“Thanks, but I have to work. I really need to focus on getting back into my normal life again.”
“Oh. Yeah, I get that. Maybe once I get settled into the new place you could come over and I could cook dinner? I won’t be able to go out much until all this is settled but we could watch a movie or something.
“Liam...I can’t do this anymore. I don’t deny that there’s an attraction between us, but we’ve just been through too much. I don't think I can get over it all. We’d never be able to have a normal life.”
My heart sank into my stomach. I knew what she was saying held some truth, but my mind and my wolf were battling as I listened to her words. “Amelia, I love you. I can’t imagine living without you.”
“If you love me, then you need to let me be. I want a normal life. Not...this.”
‘Don’t let her go. She’s our mate. She’s the one. Lock her back up if you have to. Whatever it takes to keep her,’ my wolf demanded and it took every ounce of willpower in me to deny him what he wanted.
Amelia wanted me to let her go. She said if I loved her that I needed to let her live her life. She needed a chance at normal, and I couldn’t blame her. I had Chase take her home and I hitched a ride with a rookie I knew lived nearby. It may have been juvenile, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of being so close to Amelia and not be able to have her. Maybe one day it would be easier, but not that day.
Three and a half weeks and neither my heart nor my wolf had gotten the message that Amelia wanted nothing more to do with me. It was a hard pill to swallow. I couldn’t imagine moving on. Even if I wanted to forget about her, I wasn’t convinced she was out of danger. My new home was just below my old one, putting me even with Amelia’s place.
I didn’t have a balcony like my last apartment, but the large picture window offered me an unobscured view of hers. She didn’t want to be with me, but I would protect her whether she liked it or not.
The Director kept my duties restricted to in-housework. Between that and staying in my apartment, I was about to lose my mind. I knew it was best, but it didn’t make it any easier.
I sat in my usual chair in front of the living room window watching Amelia’s apartment like I did every day. My mind wandered back to our time together. There were definitely some bad times but the good far outweighed the bad. I wished she could see that.
I was pulled from my thoughts by the sudden buzz from my intercom.
“Who is it?”
“Liam, it’s me,” Olivia’s sultry voice cooed through the speaker.
“Olivia?” I hit the button to let her in and hurried to the door once she made it up. “What’s going on? Is there a case?”
I looked for any excuse to feel relevant. I moved from the doorway to let her in and led her to the couch.
“No case. I was actually just checking on you. I know it can’t be easy being sidelined.” She rested her hand on my arm.
“I’m doing alright. I still get thrown a case or two.”
“In-house. I heard. Still, it can’t be easy being stuck in this apartment most of the time. I thought you might need some company.”
“Thanks, but I’m doing okay.”
“How are you handling things with Amelia? You two still seeing each other?”
“No,” I bit out the word.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Olivia tilted her head and feigned sympathy. “I was afraid things with you two might not work out. It’s hard for someone not in the agency, especially a human,” she said the word with such disdain, “to understand what we do and why we do it. I’ve found it’s better to keep things casual but to stick with someone like us and in the same line of work. It’s mutually beneficial without complications.”
I didn’t want that woman in my home. I didn’t want anyone in my home anymore—except the one person who never would. I had to force myself to be polite. “Well, I appreciate you checking on me, but really, I’m fine. I’m sure you’re a busy woman and probably need to be on your way...”
“Can I at least get a drink before I go?”
“Sure. What will you have?” I rose from my chair and made my way to the kitchen.
“Do you have any wine?”
“I think I have some red.”
“That would be perfect.”
She leaned back on the couch making herself comfortable. Her long slender leg crossed over the other, making her skirt slip up her thigh a little more.
I poured her a glass of wine and myself a whiskey before returning to the living room. I was halfway back to my seat when she stopped me.
“I won’t bite, you know. You can sit closer to me.” She patted the couch next to her and although my senses told me to keep my distance, the other part of me—the lonely, discouraged part—told me that I should try to let myself move on to numb the pain, but my wolf growled in displeasure at the notion. She understands my job. I reminded myself. She wouldn’t blame me or think less of me for following through on my orders.
‘She's not our mate. She’s not Amelia.’
As if I needed the reminder from my wolf. But I craved some way to dull the pain of not having her.
I fought against my wolf’s demands for me to keep my distance and instead, sat beside her on the couch, flashing her one of my most charming smiles. I rested my arms out on the back of the couch and crossed my leg at the ankle to appear casual and confident as she drew the glass to her lips, tilted it back, and let the rich red wine slip past her lips. I wouldn’t move too fast or show too much interest. The hunt was always my favorite part, and I was going to drag it out because as long as I was focused on that, I didn’t have to focus on the pain of losing Amelia.