Chapter 10
Agent Roy strode into the room and I paused, flipping the butter knife in my hand so the blade pointed down like a dagger. I'd probably learned that move from some action film, but I was owning the look of bitterness, which matched my mood.
Two agents eating at the table did a double-take, grabbed their coffees and overstuffed plates, and jetted from the room.
"Lighten up, sister." Mallory came from behind and took the knife. "Besides, you'd need a butcher knife on a cow like Roy."
Roy stared at the spread: quartered oranges, sunny-side up eggs with ham slices, pepper-jack cheese and a spicy sour cream and salsa. "Who's birthday?"
"Don't look at me," said Mallory, jerking her head my way.
I'd cooked enough for an army of Roys, all of whom I should've been serving that rat poison, if I wasn't so concerned about Sam proving my innocence.
Begrudgingly, I handed Roy a pitcher of fresh-squeezed juice and hovered over him. I'd wrung every orange the way I wanted to wring his thick, hairy neck. "Aren't you going to ask if I spit in it?"
He paused, gazed into the gold liquid, then took a swig. "Learned long ago to keep my mouth shut." He held up the glass for more.
Forgiveness eluded me. Sure, Roy had done his job protecting Vilet, stood his ground fighting with Sam, but he'd damn well cost me a part of Sam, and I'd never get that life back inside me.
"Let me see what yours says." I set the pitcher onto the table so he could fill his own glass and stared at his wrist.
Agent Roy glanced up, his mouth wrapped around his fork. He looked to Mallory and swallowed. Mallory nodded. Roy pulled his sleeve back, yet when I leaned to read the inscription on his bracelet, he balked and put his arm beneath the table.
Mallory snorted. "He's just embarrassed his says 'puny'. As in his little—"
"That's not what it says." He shifted his shoulders. "'Royal pain in the ass' is what yours should say."
"Oh, c-c-c-come on, Roy. Tell her, you c-c-c-coward." Mallory elbowed me. "Think Wizard of Oz."
"Courage?" I turned to see Roy's sullen expression.
"He served in Afghanistan. Guarded some big general. Frightening, isn't it?" She sneered.
"I took a bullet for that guy." He shook his head. "Didn't even like the bastard."
"Yeah, yeah, so you keep saying." She rolled her eyes and loaded her plate alongside Roy.
I watched them settle into their meals, food I'd cooked for them, my enemies. God, this was too surreal. "And Vilet, he wears one too."
Mallory and Roy stared at each other. They weren't laughing.
Sam walked in, fresh from a meeting with his boss. Mallory jerked her head at Sam and held her hands in the air. What happened? Sam wiped his brow, blew out his breath. Relief. Or I didn't get fired. Either was good news. She nodded with a half-smile. Thought so. Their signals, their bonds must have taken years to cement. I was the outsider here.
"Not joining us, I see." Sam blocked me from progressing down the counter with my towel, cleaning a spill that wasn't there. "Probably still considering which pan to throw at Roy."
"More like boiling water," I said.
"You know I dig a woman who's efficient." He leaned in, whispered, "You can take out your frustrations on me later in my room, if you like."
