Chapter One Hundred Eleven

The silence grew uncomfortable as Angel stood with Colton in the parking lot. He was looking at her so intently, but didn’t say another word.

There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but she knew it would only confuse the situation even more. It wasn’t fair of her to ask him to give up this new opportunity with Task Force Phoenix.

She didn’t deserve his sacrifice, if he gave up what he wanted for her. Not when she’d been too scared to do the same for him a year ago.

“Well, I guess I need to get going before the news vans show up.” She couldn’t handle a bunch of probing questions about her past or her future.

He gave a short nod. “Sure. Good luck in whatever you end up doing.”

He started to turn away, but she struck like a snake before he could, her body moving without her brain navigating.

She stood up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. There was a moment of hesitation before his mouth softened into what she interpreted as permission. His hands moved up her back and over her shoulders, to hold her face in his palms as his tongue mastered hers.

With a gasp, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. “Angel—”

Yes, she silently answered whatever he was going to ask.

“Take care of yourself.” He stepped back and opened the door of the SUV without looking at her. “Goodbye.”

“Bye,” she said, but he’d already closed the door. Her heart pounded hard, the rhythm begging her feet to move.

Instead, she stood there in agony, watching him drive away.

Taking her heart with him.

She heard the uneven scuff of a boot on the pavement, and swallowed down the tears that were brimming.

“I’ve seen you do some pretty stupid things, but that was seriously painful,” Dane muttered.

Dane was the older brother she wished she’d had. She loved his protectiveness, and didn’t mind the teasing. But the best part was his brotherly advice.

Except when he didn’t agree with her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she managed to say through her tight throat. She prayed he’d play along, but she wasn’t that lucky.

“Seriously? That’s how you’re playing it?”

She let out a sigh and gave up the innocent act. “What was I supposed to do? Beg him to come with me into a life of oblivion? I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m doing? He has a future with the team. It’s what he wants. But it’s not what I want anymore.”

“What do you want?” Dane asked, looking steadily at her.

Good question. Once being with Colton was off the table, there wasn’t much left. “I don’t know.”

“That’s a lie. You do know. You’re just afraid.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged it off. “But it’s too late now.”

Dane sighed and shook his head. “Fine. Whatever. You want to stay with me until you get things figured out?”

“Would you mind?” She really didn’t want to be alone.

She’d been roommates with Dane in the past. While he didn’t cook and he played video games way too much, he was neat and didn’t ask her questions about her past.

“It would be nice to have some company,” he said as he glanced away.

Wait. Something was wrong. She’d been so immersed in her own misery, she hadn’t noticed his.

Until now.

“What’s going on?” she asked, ready to spring to his defense, whatever it was.

“Caroline got married this weekend.” He winced as if the statement caused him physical pain. It probably did.

Angel’s problems were difficult and her past was painful, but Dane’s story had always been utterly heartbreaking.

Caroline was Dane’s widow. The woman who thought her husband had been killed in a fire, and had gone on to raise their son while Dane saved other people so they could go home to their families.

It wasn’t fair.

“I’m so sorry,” Angel said, and pulled him close for a hug.

“Come on,” he muttered. “Let’s go get drunk.”