Chapter Twenty-Four
Boss Man threw the door open and stormed into the war room. He saw Hagan and his fists curled. “What did I tell you?”
The same surge of adrenaline that would arrive seconds before a bar fight hammered Hagan’s chest. He inhaled and held the breath, wanting cooler heads to prevail.
Who the hell knew if Boss Man had heard the word no before?
If so, it didn’t happen often. “I heard you, and I’m sorry.
That’s not an order I’ll follow.” Hagan didn’t want to lose his job or Amanda.
“She’s not the job. It’s not life or death—”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Jared strode forward and pointed to a chair. “Sit your ass down.”
A knot formed in his throat. Hagan didn’t back down easily. He gripped the back of the office chair. His fingertips dug into the black leather. Boss Man glared then pulled out a chair. They managed to sit at the same time.
“I like her,” Hagan said. “And if mutual interest remains, I don’t intend to stop seeing her.”
Jared placed his elbows on the table and cupped one hand over the other.
He popped his knuckles, one after the next.
Hagan prepared for whatever might come, but by the time the last knuckle cracked, Jared seemed less like an angry son of a bitch and more like he was worried.
Hagan would have almost rather dealt with the anger.
"This still gives me heartburn.” Jared leaned back and stared at the ceiling, then added, “She hasn’t told you anything you need to know.”
“How do you know?”
Jared snorted and shook his head. “Trust me, I’d know.”
Hagan’s heel bounced. He wished he’d opted for breakfast, or maybe not as much coffee. His stomach churned. “I need this job.”
“I know,” Jared muttered, finally adding, “and I want you on this team.” He took a minute to lean back in his chair and scrub a hand over his face. “But this isn’t going to end well.”
“Appreciate you looking out and all.” Hagan shrugged. “But that’s on us. Not you.”
Jared shook his head.
Feeling more confident than when he’d first walked in and waited, Hagan cleared his throat. “I want to run something by you.”
“Oh, this’ll be good,” he muttered. “Shoot.”
“I translated some Arabic for Amanda. A casino project out of Lebanon.”
Jared’s scowl deepened. “This sounds like you’re about to ask me to approve leave for a slumber party with your girlfriend.”
Hagan chewed the inside of his mouth. “From everything that you and Parker have said, it sounds like you worry about her.”
He didn’t disagree.
“And, after listening to Amanda and her business partner brainstorm the best way to approach the project, we think that I should head there with her.”
Jared arched his brows. “We think?”
“If there’s nothing on the books still.” Hagan nodded. “I can partner with Amanda. Get the job done and be back before we suit up for our next assignment.”
He smirked. “Did they go into detail about what this partnership might look like?”
Hagan forced a neutral expression. “I was more concerned about how you and I would work things out.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s what had your focus, and not the shared hotel room.”
“Look, man.” His molars ground. He couldn’t afford to wonder if they’d shared a hotel room before. “I don’t get your problem, and I don’t want to know. But if you’d rather send her into a situation alone, when backup is preferred, then we don’t understand each other.”
Jared grimaced, as if realizing he’d been called out on the hot-and-cold way he treated Amanda. His fingernails drilled against the heavy table, and his jaw sawed. “You know what?” He thumped his fist against the table. “You’re right. Bring her in today. Have Halle connect with Parker.”
His eyebrow crooked. “That’s it?”
Jared pinched the bridge of his nose. “Doesn’t seem like anyone’s listening to me. You’re both sure as shit not sharing what you need to—”
“I’m not?” Hagan asked.
“This will be great.” Jared pushed out of his chair. “Or you’ll realize you should’ve listened to me. Keep her safe.” He jabbed a finger toward Hagan. “From everyone. Including you.”