“So, what’s your plan now?”
“Well, Sebastian is working on setting up a security detail for me, one that has nothing to do with Blakely.”
“From our guys?”
“Nah, he said he could hook me up with a company out of California.”
“OPS.”
“Right. They have a few guys that agreed to move out here.”
That would take more than guys just moving out to New York. They would need a base of operations close by for that kind of security detail.
“How exactly would that work? Is the company working for you or are you hiring these guys?”
“I guess for the first year they’ll be working for Reed Security on loan, but only with me. If all goes well, I’d have the opportunity to employ them myself.” He shrugged, looking a little baffled. “I don’t really understand how it would all work, but Sebastian assured me that he would set it up so I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.”
“Well, he’s good at that kind of stuff. What about Blakely? Any word on him?”
“You mean, besides the fact that he tried to kill me off?”
“About that,” I questioned, “what happens to your companies if you die?”
“I didn’t actually have that set up.”
“Seriously? You just made all this money, had your wife try to kill you off, and you still haven’t taken care of this?”
“You’re not the first to lecture me. It’s all been moving so fast. I guess I got sidetracked.”
“So, if you died, all your companies would be up for grabs.”
“I know, Mom. Believe me, I’ve already put in the calls to have myself protected.”
“Just do me a favor?” He nodded with a grim smile. “The next time you decide that you’ve found the love of your life…walk away.”
✯✯✯✯✯
“What are you doing?” Alec asked as I got out of bed later that day.
“Cap sent me a message that he needs to see us.”
Alec pulled out his phone and swore. “I told him this wasn’t the right time.”
“Well, I got a message and I’m going,” I said, standing up. My legs wobbled and my vision swam, sending me right back down to the bed. Alec was by my side just moments later.
“What’s wrong?” he asked urgently, running his hands up and down my arms. “Are you okay? Is it your head? Florrie! Can you hear me?”
“I can hear you. Stop fucking yelling at me.”
“Then what the fuck just happened?”
“I’ve been laying down for two fucking days. I just got a little head rush when I stood. I’m fine, I promise. Just give me a minute.”
“You shouldn’t be going anywhere yet. The doctor said that you need rest.”
“I am resting. Going up to Cap’s office isn’t going to kill me.”
“But it may kill me,” he grumbled. He took a step back and sighed. “Look, if you’re determined to do this, then do one thing for me.”
“What’s that?”
He raised an eyebrow and I knew I was screwed. Ten minutes later, Alec was carrying me into Cap’s office like I was a child that needed to be carted around. It was a small price to pay for getting a little freedom. Cap stood, shoving his chair back as he raced around his desk.
“Are you alright? What happened? Did you get dizzy? Did you fall? Craig, call an ambulance!”
“I’m fine,” I interrupted him. “Caveman insisted that he carry me here because I was lightheaded when I stood up.”
“So, you don’t need to go to the hospital?” Cap asked warily.
“No.”
He turned to Alec and slapped him upside the head. “A little warning next time. I thought she was fucking dying!”
Alec set me down in the chair and took the one beside me, never letting go of my hand. I wanted to jerk my hand away because we were in Cap’s office and it was unprofessional, but I just couldn’t bring myself to hurt Alec like that. Not so soon after what had just happened.
“So, I’ll get right to the point,” Cap said, clearing his throat. “Alec has informed me that he’s leaving the team.”
My gaze shot to Alec’s and I slapped him. “What the hell?”
“Yeah, I told you we weren’t done talking about this,” Craig said angrily.
“I made my decision and I stand by it.”
“Listen,” Cap sighed. “It makes sense. I don’t want to see your team split up either, but after Alec told me what happened, I think we all know that this just isn’t going to work forever. It’s not fair to Craig-”
“I’ll deal,” Craig spat. “I’ve been dealing with their issues for the past year, and even longer when I didn’t even know they were together. I can handle their shit.”
“That’s not what you said the other night,” Alec responded.
“Look, I was pissed, but I got over it pretty fast. I don’t want our team to split up.”
“Neither do I,” I said.
“I’m not leaving this up for discussion,” Alec said as he stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Look, I know what I can handle and what I can’t. I love working with you guys, but there are just some things that I can’t deal with when I’m on the job with Florrie. And I promised you that I would put aside my jealousy and possessiveness when we were out on the job. I just don’t see that happening, so I’m doing what I need to. It’s either our team or our relationship, and frankly, if our relationship doesn’t work, we wouldn’t be able to work together anymore anyway.”
“So, you’re just leaving us?” I asked, shoving up out of my chair. “After everything we’ve been through, that’s it?”
“It has to be,” Alec said quietly.
“No,” I shook my head. “No, you didn’t put me first on the job with Jamie. You got him to safety. You did what you should have done.”
“But only because I talked myself into it,” he snapped. “Do you really think that I wanted to save his ass right then? I did that for you! I did it
