She leaned against the shower wall and stared at the steam, the shapes billowing around her. She’d been introduced to NexGen by a commanding officer who had a cousin or something that worked for the company. What were the chances she could get a hold of him?
Lieutenant Colburn would know the right people. She’d worked with his unit a few times and he’d always impressed her. Plus, he was a local which meant she had options available to her right now.
Erin twisted the knobs, turning the shower off while her plan solidified.
Riley was going to be pissed.
She couldn’t make her decisions based on what his feelings were. She cared about him. They could be good together, but that didn’t change her responsibility to the truth. She had to do what was right even if that meant losing Riley. If he was the man she thought he was, he’d understand.
Erin dried off and pulled on a new change of yoga pants and a t-shirt. She appreciated the thoughtfulness behind having clothes, but she was sick of stretchy pants. With any luck, in a week, she’d be living in a bathing suit and shorts.
She tied her hair back in a braid and considered her next move. This would be where her actions went against the team. Was she willing to do this?
Or, a better question, was she willing to take the chance that nothing would change? She wasn’t, which meant her mind was made up.
She gathered her things and tip toed down the hall to her room. She crept into the room to the tune of Riley’s soft snores. She dumped the dirty clothes and snagged the canvas shoes she’d almost worn through.
Riley rolled over in his sleep, his arm flung out toward her.
She stared at his dark shape and her heart hurt.
Tomorrow she hoped he understood and could forgive her. She still wanted to give what they had a chance, but she’d never forgive herself if she sat back and did nothing.
Erin slipped on her shoes and left the room. There would be at least one other person awake if not two. With any luck they had yet to find a solution to the camera problem, which meant she could slip away easier.
She peered out onto the empty living room. The laptops and electronics were neatly stacked on the ottoman. Lights were on in the front room, kitchen and dining area, but not a soul stirred.
“Anyone awake?” Erin asked.
“In here.”
Brenden.
She swallowed and crossed the house to the front room.
Brenden was the team member she’d spoken with the least. He was quiet, in that brooding sort of way that made her want to give him a wide berth. He sat at the desk dominating the office area, a dismantled hand gun spread out on paper towels in front of him.
“Hey, everyone asleep?” she asked.
“Yup.” He barely glanced up at her.
“Do I need to ask about making personal calls?”
“No. There’s a landline or you could use my phone.”
“Landline is perfect, thanks.” She pushed off the wall, eager get a hold of someone.
“Melatonin,” Brenden said.
“I’m sorry?” Erin blinked at him.
“The sleeplessness. Take Melatonin. It helps.” He glanced up at her briefly.
“Thanks.”
Erin turned and did her best to not scamper away. She still wasn’t ready to confront her demons, like the inability to sleep. That was going to take time and soul searching she didn’t have the luxury of spending right now. She grabbed the laptop and took it to the dining table on the other side of the house putting a wall and the kitchen between her and Brenden. A quick boot up and internet search provided her with the contact information she needed.
It was late, and she’d probably need to make some apologies later. Neither stopped her from dialing. She pressed the phone to hear ear and glanced at the living room.
Brenden might still hear her.
The line rang.
She glanced around, looking for a hiding spot.
The pantry.
Another ring.
Small. Enclosed. Probably dark.
She gritted her teeth and ducked into it before her head could talk her out of it.
Another ring.
She wasn’t going to get an answer.
What did she say? What did she dare leave in a message?
“Hello?” a gravelly voice asked.
“Lieutenant Colonel Colborn?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Erin Lopez, I was a translator—”
“Erin?” His tone changed. His voice shook with a chuckle and she could hear the man’s smile.
“I, um, have something I need to talk about. It’s sensitive. I didn’t know who to go to about this.”
“What kind of sensitive are we talking about?” The good humor was wiped away.
“The sort of thing that could start a whole new kind of war.” She knew from firsthand experience how tired people were of fighting and death. If they learned about Allied Security’s black ops work, it could start something horrible.
“We need to have this conversation somewhere safe. Where are you?”
“I’m in Las Colinas. Texas? I’m not real sure.”
“I know where that is.”
Erin gave him the address off a card stuck to the fridge and the gate code written on the back. She didn’t volunteer the information about who she was with or her accommodations. If she couldn’t get away from the team, it wouldn’t matter.
She slung the laptop bag across her chest and spent a moment listening to the stillness of the house. She’d kept her voice down, but who knew what Brenden had heard? Not much if he hadn’t come to investigate.
Erin scrawled two notes on a pad of paper, one to the team and the other to Riley. His she folded. Her words were for him alone. Either he understood, or he wouldn’t. If it was the latter, this was the better way to end things. If she had to tell him goodbye in person, how she really felt would slip out. That done, she let herself out into the back yard through a glass sliding door, no one the wiser.
She skirted the house on the far side, away
