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She winced and closed her eyes There was no easy way to do this, and a clean cut was always better than a jagged one She ought to know

"I’htened "I can see that much"

"I quit," she said baldly "I’m off the team"

"That’s it?"

She nodded

He swore through clenched teeth "What the hell is going on in your head, PJ?"

"This is so her chin upward "It’s what I have to do"

"I won’t accept your resignation"

"You don’t have a choice," she said softly "I’m out"

"Look, take so out with the team anytiret later Your job will be waiting when you get yourself together"

She al but that for the last three weeks Three agonizingly long weeks where she’d lain drea tenfold the hurt that had been done to her

She rose, knowing nothing good could come of her continued presence here Steele was pissed and she didn’t want to waste ti with him

"My decision is final"

Steele’s jaw bulged and flexed "Don’t do anything stupid, PJ"

She turned back to face hi moment And she lied

"I need so I don’t want to leave you a ether It’s not fair to you or my teammates I should be replaced and you know it I’m a liability, and you can’t afford to take a mission short a man Fill the spot, Steele"

"Just like that," he snapped

She took a steadying breath and prayed she didn’t lose her coet out

"I can’t do this, Steele Just letmoment And then he rose and walked around to stand just in front of her He put his hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed It was so out of character for him that she could only stand there in befuddleht and then you come back and talk to me If you’re still so determined to quit in a few nation But until then, you’re still a part of this team My team"

She bit into her lip to keep the tears fro her vision

"Thank you"

Then she turned and walked rapidly out of his office and back through the house She strode blindly to her vehicle and got in before she could change her mind She couldn’t be weak Not now

What she had to do could in no way reflect on KGI or her tea them into the mire she was about to descend into herself

CHAPTER 17

COLE knehatever Steele had to say couldn’t be good He’d called everyone to his home Not the KGI facilities where business was usually dealt with and missions were outlined

They only waited for Baker to make an appearance, and the at

He clenched and unclenched his fists and then rose froer just sit there idly while waiting to hear what Steele had for them

The last feeeks had been a fuck storone on his own to Denver, hoping that PJ was holed up in her apartment He respected the need for her privacy, but he hated that she was alone and had no one to lean on after what had happened No one was that much of a hard-ass She had to crack sooner or later, and he didn’t want her alone with no one to help pick up the pieces

And damn it, he wanted to be that person

Sure he’d lusted after PJ for a daht they’d spent at her apartment He’d known it and he damn well knew she knew it as well It hy she shut hi had ever happened

Well, he couldn’t do that No o back to the easy camaraderie and bullshit of before Maybe this was one-sided, but he was carrying around a pretty heavy obsession for her and it sucked

If he closed his eyes, he could still sainst his But it wasn’t just sex He could get that anywhere, and he’d gone a long time without because none of the women were PJ

They just clicked There was so indefinable about their connection, and he knew he couldn’t have been the only one to have felt it

There was an audible sigh of relief when Baker strode through the door athe worst His gaze automatically swept the roo a head count

Yeah, they were down one and it sucked

"What’s up, Steele?" Baker asked

"Take a seat," Steele ordered

Baker slid into one of the chairs and Cole re Steele didn’t even bark an order his way

"PJ caan

Cole surged forward "What the fuck? And you’re just now getting around to telling ht?"

Steele held up his hand His expression was grim "She quit the team"