She could handle Paris. She had a small flat there, but she wouldn’t be visiting it. Levi definitely knew about that place. She would take a couple of days and figure out where to go from there.
Then she would disappear until she could clear her name.
She turned to Beck. “Thanks for the save. I can take it from here.”
A single brow arched over his heavenly eyes. “Oh, you can take it from here? I’m supposed to hang around and wait to be arrested?”
She didn’t see that happening. Beck was far more protected than she was. Damon Knight had serious pull in Europe, and Big Tag could work miracles in the States. Neither of those men owed her anything. Beyond that, Levi had shown his true hand today. “Levi’s not coming after you.”
“He’s always looking for an excuse. Every time I’ve come up against the man in the last few years, he’s tried to kill me.”
“Killing you would cause him problems.” She wasn’t sure what Beck’s point was. It would be far better for him in the long run if he wasn’t in the middle of this war she found herself in. “I think it’s best you stay here in London and work on the problem with Damon. I’ll find a way to contact you when I land somewhere.”
Beck stared at her, his gaze predatory. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You shouldn’t be out there alone. Unless I’m mistaken. Maybe I’m looking at this the wrong way. I assumed you wanted to be rescued. Or do I find myself in the middle of a lover’s spat?”
Her heart rate was right back up. “What did you say?”
“Maybe we should get back to The Garden.” Steph packed up her kit, a forced smile on her face.
Walt nodded, obviously feeling their bad vibes, too. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Look, when you get to Paris, a man named Rene will be waiting for you. He’s a friend of Big Tag’s. Used to be French intelligence, but Tag said he’s solid. He’s going to arrange everything. Call if you get in trouble.” Walt started for the door and stopped. “Like real actual mission trouble. Not the marital kind. I’m not good at that. Ariel is, though. I could try getting her on the phone.”
Beck smiled, a predatory expression. “We don’t need therapy. Go on, Walt. We’ll head out in thirty minutes. I don’t want to leave until I know you’re watching.”
Walt was right. This was a fight they should have in private. “I’m going to leave sooner than that. And thanks for everything, both of you. Please let Nick and Brody know how much I appreciate what they did for me today.”
Walt frowned. “What should I tell Damon? That you’re splitting up? He’s going to want to know what’s happening. I think Big Tag told Rene to expect two of you.”
“And there will be two of us,” Beck announced with arrogant finality. “Go on, Walt. I promise she’s safe. I didn’t wreck my life to turn around and let her fuck this mission up. We’ll be fine.”
She felt her fists clench. That hadn’t taken long. She should have known this was some weird impulse of Beck’s that he would regret as soon as the bullets stopped flying. She watched as Steph and Walt left, the door closing behind them with an audible click.
“You want to explain to me what this crap is about?” Beck asked, turning on her like she was some teen caught after curfew. “You almost got taken by that fucker. You want to give him another shot? Is there something I’m missing? I know you like it rough sometimes, but this is taking it too far.”
She couldn’t help it. Her hand came out and she slapped the fuck out of him. Not a punch. A punch would mean a fight. This wasn’t a fight. She open-palm slapped him because he was being small and petty. Because this was the way he treated her now. “Fuck you, Beck. And no, I do not need you. If accepting all this help means listening to you call me a whore, then I’ll make my own way.”
She started for the door. She would have to risk going to her place. In her mind she was already thinking about how to sneak in. Levi would have someone watching, but without a car or her purse or a single weapon, she didn’t see another way to go.
“Kim, stop.” Beck sighed, an exhausted sound. “Please.”
It was the please that did it. He was so rarely polite to her. She took a deep breath and turned to him. They needed to ratchet down the emotion. It was what always tripped them up. “I don’t think we can work together.”
“We certainly can’t if I continue to be a massive asshole.” He moved toward her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. You’re still a touchy subject for me.”
She nodded, unable to say a word for fear of unleashing a tidal wave. Not seconds before she’d told herself to tamp down the emotion, but here it was, threatening to overwhelm her and all he’d had to do was touch her.
“How about we agree that Levi Green is a problem for both of us and we work together to solve it,” he offered. “Kim, we’ve been going in circles for years. Maybe it’s time we find a way to move on. I know I’m tired of hating you.”
She stepped back. She couldn’t have his hands on her when he used that word. It was wrong when all she’d ever done was love him. “Ariel pointed out that it would be easier on both of us if I stopped showing up in your life.”
His gaze softened. “Would it? I didn’t see you for a couple of years and it didn’t feel any
