like he had to grapple for patience. “I dropped off some shit in the office the other night, when I came back late from that op in Houston. I overheard the bosses talking. They’ll be issuing the new employment contracts just before the Fourth of July weekend.”
Ones that might not include a nonfraternization clause that would mean the end of their jobs if they got involved?
“That’s only three weeks away. If the contract crosses my desk and that clause isn’t there, baby, then fair notice: I’m coming for you.”
And she would welcome him—happily. Never mind that, as a single mother, she had no business jumping into a relationship without strings or boundaries. Never mind that Zy could crush her. She would take every moment he would give her. “I’ll be waiting.”
July 3
Butterflies banged inside Tessa’s belly as she headed for the conference room late Thursday afternoon. A glance at the corner of the office told her Zy’s desk was empty. Apparently, he was even more eager to get to the conference room than she was. That giddy something in her stomach churned again.
As she race-walked to the corner of the office, she passed One-Mile, who had just come in from an op last night and now stood at the coffee bar, looking like he dragged ass. Cutter had taken the week off to be with his mom, brother, and some friends on the lake for the long Fourth of July holiday—a blessing since he and the sniper were at each other’s throats all the time these days.
As she walked into the conference room, Josiah and Trees sent her a sidelong stare, then walked out, thick envelopes in hand.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
Were the bosses handing out the contracts for everyone’s reading pleasure over the long weekend?
They both shrugged, but something on Trees’s face looked tense.
“Come in, Tessa,” Hunter insisted. “And shut the door.”
Her heart dropped to her belly as she did, shutting the two operatives outside. “Of course.”
In the chilly room, Hunter, Logan, and Joaquin stood at the front. Zy lounged in an office chair on the far side of the room. He watched as she approached, and Logan gestured her to the seat nearest them, on the left.
She flipped to a blank page in her notepad and took her pen in hand. “I’m ready.”
But she was nervous as all get-out. Was Zy in some trouble? Was that why the others had been handed their papers and let go for the weekend?
“Put the pen down,” Joaquin instructed.
She did, her heart thudding in response to his ominous voice.
“We want to talk to you.”
The first thing that went through her head was Muñoz telling everyone that if the employees had to hear from him, it wasn’t a good thing. Tessa swallowed. “Of course.”
Logan grabbed two envelopes off the credenza behind him and sent one sailing in Zy’s direction before slapping the other on the table in front of her. “Here are your new agreements. Read them over. Some of the stuff in here is negotiable. If you have a question or a problem, the door is open. We want to help you work through your issues.”
“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’m not hooking up with guys who work ops with me.”
“And yet none of them had a problem signing the contract. One-Mile already finalized his. Same with Cutter. When we mentioned the clause to Josiah and Trees, they didn’t voice any objections. Got another argument?”
Zy slanted a glance across the table at her. Tessa didn’t know what to say. She’d been