Strategic Maneuvers - Jemma Westbrook Page 0,3
straight to the passenger’s door, opening it and sitting inside.
The man in the driver’s seat remained silent, never once glancing Pierce’s way as they drove back to Alaskan Security. When they pulled up to the gate the driver from GHOST rolled down his window and punched in a code.
The gate slid open.
Son of a—
The second they were parked Pierce was out of the vehicle and headed to the front entry. He needed a drink. Something to take the edge off before old habits proved he was the one thing he couldn’t afford to be ever again.
Out of control.
He didn’t even bother watching to see where the man and the SUV from GHOST went. If they stayed, if they went. Didn’t matter.
He went directly to his office, raking one hand through his hair as he walked down the silent halls. It was late enough no one was in the main building. Maybe a few of the cleaning staff passing through, but right now even they were most likely gone for the night.
Pierce walked into his office, bumping the door closed as the automatic lights—
They were already on. A fact he would have recognized earlier if not for the complete shit show his evening had been.
He stood perfectly still, back to the room and whoever was in it.
Whoever was here to see if it was possible to ruin his day a little more.
Even a deep breath couldn’t settle the irritation this unwanted visitor caused.
Pierce turned, as ready as he could be to deal with whoever needed a piece of him next.
But the cool eyes that met his were like a bucket of ice, hitting him with a force little else could. “Mona.”
There was nothing he wanted to deal with. Not a soul he desired to see.
Except her.
“How is he?”
He.
Zeke.
Of course she wanted to know Zeke’s condition. It was fucking poetic justice.
And his own damn fault.
“He’s fine.”
Mona’s chin barely dipped in a nod. “When will he be back?”
“He’s not coming back.”
Mona’s eyes widened. “What? Why not?”
He should never have sent her to Zeke. He should have used the opportunity to train her in self-defense the way he wanted. Pulled her closer.
But restraint was not an easy thing for him. Never had been.
And nothing tested his limits the way she did.
“Zeke took two members of our team against their will. Led them straight into the line of fire.” Pierce risked a step closer. “Heidi could have died because of what he did.”
Mona’s gaze sharpened. “Heidi survived because of what he did. He risked his life to save her and Shawn both.” She was the next one to close the gap between them. Stealing a little more of his sanity with each move of her feet. “You know better than anyone there are no sides right now, Pierce.”
His eyes dipped to her lips, watched as his name slipped through them.
“There are always sides, Mona.” Pulling his gaze from her mouth was agony. “Always.”
She held his stare, chin lifted in glorious defiance.
It was something he’d waited so long to see from her, thinking it would mean the time had finally come.
That Mona was ready to see all he wanted to show her.
“You are not a side, Pierce.” Her cool blue gaze raked down him. “No matter what you might think.”
She slipped past him with silent steps, disappearing into the quiet hall, leaving him with nothing but regrets and the lingering scent of her skin.
At least he could take comfort in the fact that he’d been right.
Beneath Mona’s soft and uncertain self was a strength even she hadn’t known existed.
He’d meant to foster it. Nurture it. Help it to bloom and grow into something as beautiful as she was.
He succeeded.
Only the strength Mona possessed was a quiet calm he never saw coming. One that cut him off at the knees.
And now he was faced with the monster he created.
CHAPTER 2
“I WANT TO see Zeke.”
Shawn stared back at her across his desk.
Mona lifted a brow in question. “Did you not hear me?”
He blinked. “I did. I’m just not sure I think that’s a good idea.”
Of course he didn’t. “I don’t remember asking how you felt about it.”
She was tired of people thinking they knew what was good for her. It was something she’d allowed in her life for too long.
No more.
“I am concerned—”
“I don’t need your concern, Shawn.” Mona spoke a little louder. The way she heard Harlow and Heidi do when they needed to get their point across. “I need you to take me to where Zeke