The Last Detail by Melissa Schroeder Page A

relief, he didn’t feel that guilty about the lie.
     
    The strong scent of antiseptic telling him he was in a hospital was the first thing Sam noticed. Then he lifted his lids. Bright, stabbing pain lanced Sam’s eyes the moment he opened them. He slammed them shut with a groan.
    “Sam?” Lou nearly shouted so loud he grimaced as the sound bounced off the walls.
    “Lou,” Jared said, his voice calm. “Not so loud.”
    Her fingers slipped between his. “He’s lucky I don’t have my fingers wrapped around his throat.”
    Her caressing hand was at odds with her words, but he heard the fear and pain beneath the words. She was pissed at him?
    “You shouldn’t have come.” His statement filled the room with silence.
    Her hand paused and then she moved it away from his. “I guess we should have left you there to die?” she asked, her voice deceptively calm. Lou was like him. When she seemed calm, she was her most dangerous.
    “I had it under control.”
    “Really? That’s funny,” Jared said. He didn’t sound as upset as Lou, but there was a thread of anger beneath his tone. “I thought you were the one unconscious when we got there. I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but if we hadn’t gotten there I am pretty sure Reid would have killed you on the spot.”
    “I had it under control,” he repeated. “All you did was cause problems. I thought you would at least keep Lou under control.”
    Retreating footsteps sounded and then the door opened and closed. He opened his eyes to find Jared staring down at him.
    “What the fuck were you thinking, man? You don’t berate a woman who came to save you. Jesus. Are you that stupid?”
    “I said I had it under control.”
    “Yeah, I heard you. Truth is, you don’t have a leg to stand on in that argument. Reid would have killed you. Your brother was going to frame you, but that bitch wanted you dead. She seemed particularly interested in hurting you. Is there a reason for that?”
    “We did have a thing a while back, but she called it off. It was years ago, but then I also reported her ass for dereliction of duty a year ago. She didn’t show up at a drop. The company docked her credits.”
    Jared shook his head. “You’re going to lose her.”
    “Reid? I don’t want her.”
    Jared rolled his eyes. “No. Lou. Don’t tell me you don’t want her to stick around. I know you too well.”
    He shrugged, causing Jared to chuckle.
    “Yeah, I know you. You might fool around with another agent, but you would have never gone to bed with Lou if you hadn’t wanted her so badly. And you sure as hell wouldn’t have allowed me to touch her if you didn’t sense something was there. That isn’t like you, Sam.”
    Sam looked away. “Just another fun weekend.”
    Jared scoffed. “Listen, jackass.”
    Sam turned back to face his old friend. “I’m not giving her up. I want her. But I know that what we have works even better with you there now. But after that little show you just did, Lou isn’t going to stick around.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I can guarantee she is looking for a transport right now. She doesn’t like being hurt. The first thing she does is run the other direction when it happens.”
    Pain seared Sam’s chest, but he ignored it. “Better off if you ask me.”
    Jared cocked his head and studied him. His speculative gaze made Sam want to shift around.
    “Why?” Jared asked.
    “Why what?”
    “Why is she better off?” Jared asked.
    “Jesus, do I need to explain it to you?”
    Jared said nothing, but crossed his arms over his chest.
    The pain and anger that had been burning in his gut for the last few hours exploded. “Fine. I’m bad luck. Everyone around me ends up hurt in some way.”
    “Funny, you’re the one in the bed. The one who coded once on the way here.”
    That brought him to a stop. “What?”
    “Lou thought we lost you. We both thought you were gone.”
    “Shit.”
    Jared nodded. “Exactly.”
    “Goes to show you, both of