Semua Bab Trapped Between Two Alphas: Bab 631 - Bab 640

“I’ll get it in a minute. Coffee pods are—”“In the pantry, I know.”“Do you notice everything?”“Pretty much. Occupational hazard.”Tessa got that. The guys who worked for Colonel Edgington all had that sharp, watchful quality. Josiah rarely failed in the friendly smile department, but he observed others way more than he spoke. Same with Cutter. Since Trees wrestled with cybersecurity, he was more into machines than humans, but he’d proven that he was always paying attention. And One-Mile? He did everything with an intensity that scared her.As the automatic brewer finished another mug, presumably Zy’s coffee, Hallie finished eating. Another burp later, and Tessa righted her pajamas, settled the baby in her swing, then claimed her tea in the kitchen. Zy stood at the island, drinking black coffee and watching her approach. She wished she knew what he was thinking.“Eggs, bacon, and biscuits sound good?” she asked as she added some sugar substitute to her tea.“Great. Need help?”Tessa

Cash stood on the front stoop, hands shoved in his pockets, huddled against the chilly night. His blond beard looked scruffy and his blue eyes bloodshot. He wore scuffed cowboy boots, faded jeans, and a ratty T-shirt with a drawing of a pig standing at a barbecue that said I like my pork pulled and my meat rubbed.Classy guy.“Listen, buddy. She doesn’t want you here. So take your drunk ass and—”“Who the fuck are you?” Cash lurched drunkenly, looking him up and down. “Is she banging you already?”Zy itched to punch him. “I’m here to protect her. Watch your fucking mouth.”“You don’t tell me what to do!”“Do you want to see Tessa again?”“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”“Do you want to meet your daughter?”Cash looked less enthusiastic about that. “Well, yeah.”Zy bit back his opinion that the asshole didn’t deserve either of them.“Then you’ve got to start playing by the rules. You scared Tessa the other day, and she got a restraining order. Because she’s afraid of you. So

She’d been busy since her return because Aspen had left everything a mess. Zy had been on a couple of short ops, thankfully without incident or injury. But they hadn’t talked. And it felt weird. Even knowing he was in the building, nearby, and breathing the same air made her body hum.God, she had it bad and she needed to let go.Tessa pasted on a smile. “Do you know what this is about?”He shook his head. “No clue. Cash given you any problems lately?”“None. He’s been blessedly quiet. Maybe getting arrested made him think.”“Not if the charges didn’t stick,” Zy shot back.“True, but for now no noise is good. How’s the new place?” She’d avoided asking him, mostly because she hated to dwell on just how empty her duplex was without him. Everywhere she looked, she remembered Zy. She especially couldn’t be anywhere near her sofa and not see him stretched out, big and shirtless and watching her.“Good,” he said. Then he flashed her a wry smile. “Actually, it’s a shithole. It’s too close to

The guys asked a few more questions. Josiah’s “date,” Ashley, seemed impatient to get on with it since she cocked her weapon, tucked it into a thigh holster, then all but dragged him to the door. With a shake of their heads, Cutter and Rebecca followed the pair.Zy turned to her, and he didn’t look pleased. Then he glared back at Hunter. “If something happens to Tessa, there won’t be a hole deep enough for you to bury yourself in.”She gaped. Was he crazy, threatening their new boss? “Zy—”“If something happens to her, it will be on you,” Hunter snarled back. “I won’t fucking be there. Now go do your job.”Beside her, Zy looked ready for a fight. Since he needed this job, too, she grabbed him and hauled him toward the door. “I’m fine. The others are leaving us behind. Let’s go.”He cursed as he led her out of the suite and slammed the door behind them. “This is bullshit. I don’t want this for you.”“I’m a little scared, but we’ve got this.” She hoped.“Stay close to me.”She nodded. I

“All right.” Tessa itched to open it now to see if she and Zy had any hope, but she waited for Logan to finish speaking.Zy wasn’t nearly as patient. He ripped into the envelope and flipped, quickly scanning page after page. Then he stopped and glared at their trio of bosses. “I have a problem.”Logan raised a dark brow. “Let us finish our explanation. Then let’s see if you want to talk.”Hunter stepped in. “There are two clauses we won’t bend on. The first is that if you invoke the separation clause to leave EM Security before the term of the contract expires, you cannot work for a US-based competitor for six months. Since we’re investing time and money into your training, we’re firm on that.”“Fine. I have no issue with that. But—”“Then you’re objecting to clause eight?” Hunter stepped in. “The one that prohibits intimate relationships between employees? It stands, Garrett. Hookups and romances in the office aren’t allowed. They’re too distracting and—”“It’s fucking ridiculous. I’