Read Online Deep Cover by Kimberly Van Meter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kimberly Van Meter
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“You go, girl.”
Time to put on the game face.
CHAPTER 8
I t was difficult to listen to your gut when your heart was saying something different. He knew Poppy had something to prove.
And if he were on his own, he would have ignored the warning in his gut saying that it could be a trap, because when he was on his own he only had to worry about himself.
The fact that he hesitated meant that he was thinking of Poppy in ways that he shouldn’t, which was why he decided to go through with attending the party.
If they were willing to back down at the slightest hint of danger, they had no business going undercover.
That was what the logical side of his brain told him.
But logic wasn’t running the show right now.
He knew this because all he could think about was that Poppy was fifteen minutes ahead of him, possibly driving straight into a trap.
How was he supposed to be okay with that?
The part that was trying to create distance was quick to remind him that they were no longer dating, and it wasn’t his responsibility to care about her on a personal level. But the other part of him argued that he would care about any agent’s safety.
Regardless of any prior history between them.
It wasn’t as if he would willingly watch another agent walk into a trap.
And this was why his head was all messed up.
Was he concerned because she was a fellow agent or was he concerned because he and Poppy had shared time together?
Okay, let’s be honest. It wasn’t just time—he’d loved her.
Loved her with every ounce of his being. There was no one else he’d ever felt that way about and letting her go had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Damn it, just focus on the case.
The growing frustration made it hard to think straight.
Maybe he should’ve backed out of this assignment. Maybe he was the one who should’ve known better.
Maybe he was worried that if he had backed off, a less experienced agent would’ve taken his place, therefore putting Poppy in more danger.
As much as he wanted to put the past where it belonged, their history remained between them, unresolved.
No closure.
And how could they have closure? She’d just split. One big fight and the next day she was gone.
Personally, he thought that’d been pretty chickenshit. And he’d never had the opportunity to tell her exactly that.
What was the point? It wasn’t as if she would come back.
Besides, he’d been so angry and hurt, he probably would’ve made things worse.
That was the thing about relationships ending, they were filled with crappy situations, where there was no winning, only losing.
But most people didn’t end up having to work with their ex-partners.
Victoria walked him to the door, apprehension in her expression. “Why are you going against your instincts? I’ve never known you to ignore your gut.”
“This isn’t only my case. Agent Jones is an experienced agent in her own right. I was told to play nice, to listen to others. I’m trying to do that.”
“There’s a time and a place. Don’t go getting yourself killed just to prove a point.”
“I have no intentions of doing that,” he assured his partner. “Like I said, this is me playing nice.”
“Yeah, well, screw that if the other agent is TSTL.”
“Jones isn’t Too Stupid To Live.” Shaine laughed to cover his discomfort. He shouldn’t be the least bit tweaked over Victoria throwing shade on Poppy. If it were anyone else, he’d laugh and trade barbs.
“Oh, c’mon. You and I both know she’s not cut out for this kind of work. Frankly, I’d worry that her dumb ass would end up getting me killed.”
He had to stuff down the overwhelming urge to continue to defend Poppy and that meant he needed to split.
“Stay sharp,” he said as he walked out the door, ending the conversation.
“Stay smart,” Victoria called out, and he waved in the air to indicate he’d heard her.
That’s all he had to say.
His mouth was clearly at odds with his
Time to put on the game face.
CHAPTER 8
I t was difficult to listen to your gut when your heart was saying something different. He knew Poppy had something to prove.
And if he were on his own, he would have ignored the warning in his gut saying that it could be a trap, because when he was on his own he only had to worry about himself.
The fact that he hesitated meant that he was thinking of Poppy in ways that he shouldn’t, which was why he decided to go through with attending the party.
If they were willing to back down at the slightest hint of danger, they had no business going undercover.
That was what the logical side of his brain told him.
But logic wasn’t running the show right now.
He knew this because all he could think about was that Poppy was fifteen minutes ahead of him, possibly driving straight into a trap.
How was he supposed to be okay with that?
The part that was trying to create distance was quick to remind him that they were no longer dating, and it wasn’t his responsibility to care about her on a personal level. But the other part of him argued that he would care about any agent’s safety.
Regardless of any prior history between them.
It wasn’t as if he would willingly watch another agent walk into a trap.
And this was why his head was all messed up.
Was he concerned because she was a fellow agent or was he concerned because he and Poppy had shared time together?
Okay, let’s be honest. It wasn’t just time—he’d loved her.
Loved her with every ounce of his being. There was no one else he’d ever felt that way about and letting her go had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.
Damn it, just focus on the case.
The growing frustration made it hard to think straight.
Maybe he should’ve backed out of this assignment. Maybe he was the one who should’ve known better.
Maybe he was worried that if he had backed off, a less experienced agent would’ve taken his place, therefore putting Poppy in more danger.
As much as he wanted to put the past where it belonged, their history remained between them, unresolved.
No closure.
And how could they have closure? She’d just split. One big fight and the next day she was gone.
Personally, he thought that’d been pretty chickenshit. And he’d never had the opportunity to tell her exactly that.
What was the point? It wasn’t as if she would come back.
Besides, he’d been so angry and hurt, he probably would’ve made things worse.
That was the thing about relationships ending, they were filled with crappy situations, where there was no winning, only losing.
But most people didn’t end up having to work with their ex-partners.
Victoria walked him to the door, apprehension in her expression. “Why are you going against your instincts? I’ve never known you to ignore your gut.”
“This isn’t only my case. Agent Jones is an experienced agent in her own right. I was told to play nice, to listen to others. I’m trying to do that.”
“There’s a time and a place. Don’t go getting yourself killed just to prove a point.”
“I have no intentions of doing that,” he assured his partner. “Like I said, this is me playing nice.”
“Yeah, well, screw that if the other agent is TSTL.”
“Jones isn’t Too Stupid To Live.” Shaine laughed to cover his discomfort. He shouldn’t be the least bit tweaked over Victoria throwing shade on Poppy. If it were anyone else, he’d laugh and trade barbs.
“Oh, c’mon. You and I both know she’s not cut out for this kind of work. Frankly, I’d worry that her dumb ass would end up getting me killed.”
He had to stuff down the overwhelming urge to continue to defend Poppy and that meant he needed to split.
“Stay sharp,” he said as he walked out the door, ending the conversation.
“Stay smart,” Victoria called out, and he waved in the air to indicate he’d heard her.
That’s all he had to say.
His mouth was clearly at odds with his
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