Page 76 of Steel Vengeance

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”

“Don’t forget the sling.”

She nodded and got up. She slid her arm in and looped it over her head, wincing at the movement.

“Here, let me.” He straightened it for her, lifting her hair out from beneath the band.

Now he was just messing with her. She took a step back. “I’m okay, thanks.”

He moved away with a little nod. “Sloane, there’s something you should know.”

She bit her lip. “What?”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was he going to tell her she was on her own? That he and Blade could no longer protect her? That they were going after Omari themselves?

“The day I went to the graveyard to take out Omari?—”

“Yeah?”

“I overheard the date the shipment is leaving Karachi.”

She gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sighed. “I couldn’t trust you. I knew you’d tell Matthew.”

She fell silent, but his words gnawed at her.

“You were right not to,” she admitted, eventually. “I called Matthew that night and told him everything. If I’d known about the shipment, I would’ve told him that too.”

Stitch just nodded.

“I can’t believe how naive I was.” She shook her head. “I trusted him. I thought he… I thought he cared about me,” she corrected. “But he was using me this whole time.”

“You weren’t to know.”

“I should’ve figured it out.” She looked up at him. “You did.”

“I’ve had years of practice. You’re new to this.”

“I’m quitting the Agency,” she said quietly.

He didn’t seem surprised.

“This isn’t who I am. I’m not the girl who chases bad guys, gets shot at, and takes down drug dealers. I’m a teacher. I like being a teacher and I don’t care if that makes me boring.”

“You could never be boring,” he murmured, softly.

She barely heard him. “Besides, I’m a terrible field agent.”

He smiled softly, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. The look stopped her in her tracks, turning her brain to mush.

Oh, hell.

Don’t look at me like that.

“I bet you’re a great schoolteacher,” he said, unaware of the effect he had on her.

It was too much. Her heart twisted painfully, and she looked away. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting back to it, once this is over.”