“I’m fine to travel.” Erin smiled.
“Good. Good.”
That wasn’t what Erin had told him. Was she saying whatever it took to get out of here? Or had she skipped something when he asked?
Riley turned and leaned against the door. If he couldn’t make himself leave, he didn’t have to watch.
“What happened with Thomas?” Erin asked.
“Oh, dear.” Melody blew out a breath. “When Grant and the others went by your house to get the list of items they found Thomas there, going through your home office files. He’s in custody, but he hasn’t said anything.”
Riley was willing to bet Melody would have words over how this whole thing went down. She’d been intentionally left out of plans and used. But that wasn’t Riley’s problem. He’d been following orders. Sort of.
“Do we think he works for Allied?” Erin asked.
“We don’t know. He hasn’t officially worked for them in years, but...” Melody shrugged.
“That doesn’t mean he isn’t working for an off-the-books branch of the company.” Riley turned toward the ladies. There was still more going on than they realized.
“We don’t know that.” Melody held up her hands. She turned her attention to Erin. “Our concern right now is you.”
“I hate the idea that we’re leaving this mess behind us.” Erin stared at the floor, her smile gone.
Riley swallowed his words. He wanted to soothe her, ease the sting, but he couldn’t. Not without losing the professional distance he needed so badly.
“I held some things back from what we packed up at your house if you’d like to change?” Melody clasped her hands in front of her.
“That would be great.” Erin blew out a breath and lifted her chin. “What about the box? Do we get to take that with us?”
“Let me check on that. One moment?” Melody turned and stared at Riley as she strode out of the room. He wasn’t on just one shit list.
Riley stared at the floor, listening to the tap tap tap of her heels fading under the general noise of the bullpen out there.
“I don’t know what the fuck your problem is, but you do not get to take it out on me, understand?” Erin closed the distance between them until he had no choice but to look at her. She glared at him, all that passion and fury trained his way. “I’m fucked up. I know it. I own it. You? You need to get a handle on your shit.”
She jabbed him in the chest with her finger.
Riley glanced away.
Erin didn’t know him. Not really. She had no clue who he was or what his problems were. And they were none of her business.
She leaned in close and whispered, “At least I’m not scared of what I want.”
Did she mean him?
The initial burst of warmth withered away so fast it was hardly a memory. He disappointed people. He failed those he loved. He didn’t want to do that to Erin. She deserved better than him and what little he had to offer.
“Who the hell said anything about being afraid?” He wrapped his hand around her wrist and pushed it away.
“You just did.”
A chill so deep he shivered settled in Riley’s bones from the look she gave him.
He swallowed and took a step back.
She didn’t know him. Not really.
12.
SUNDAY. BAKHTIARI POLICE Station, Erbil, Kurdistan.
Erin watched Riley’s face. The muscles in his cheeks, around his mouth and eyes, were tight. The difference was in his eyes. The smile didn’t linger. There was no good humor. He couldn’t fucking look at her.
He’d felt something for her, even if it was just lust. But now he was scared and running.
She was beginning to remember why she didn’t date. Why it was better to be alone. After getting out of the army her tastes ran in one direction—to guys like Riley. And they were all a little battered. She got that. Her pieces didn’t fit quite right, but she made it work. Maybe Riley wasn’t there yet. It wasn’t her problem if he couldn’t figure his shit out.
And here she’d wanted to invite him to Miami for a long weekend. Fuck that. He was doing her a favor showing her this side of him before she let herself get any more wound up by him.
Erin needed that box. She couldn’t believe that everything they thought could help solve this mystery was gone. They might as well have killed her, too.
Melody’s heels signaled her return.
“You can go,” Erin said and took a step back, putting distance between her and Riley.
That little muscle at the corner of his jaw twitched. He wasn’t happy? That wasn’t her problem. She wasn’t the one who’d changed their colors and become an asshole. Sure, she was guilty of feeling too much, or letting her imagination get away with her, but at least she’d treated him with respect.
Riley didn’t move. He remained where he was, staring at her, partially blocking the door so Melody had to squeeze past him. Her gaze bounced from Erin to the box and away.
Bits of shredded paper fell from the gaping hole in the side of the box.
“Shit,” Erin muttered. Her heart fell. Whatever chance she’d had of figuring out why she’d been kidnapped was in that box.
Melody set the box on the table then slid the change of clothes off the top and turned toward Erin.
“When you’re done, we can leave. The officers are going to give us an escort to the airport.” She handed the change of clothes to Erin. “I’ve got a few things to sort out, so let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Melody.” Erin stared at the top of the battered box. When they’d left her office it’d been a near perfect white thing. Now the corner on one side was flattened. A hole the size of her fist was in another side and every time the
