“Fuck,” Billy swore softly. “There has to be another way. She can’t go through that again.”
“What’s it to be? Let her go down with a little slice that will put her out of commission for a while? Or do you want to wait and see what your Wizard has up his sleeve. ’Cause I’m telling you, anyone’s who around him when it goes down is gonna be dead.”
“Do it,” Kalicek said softly. “Scare the hell out of her while you’re at it. I don’t want her back until this is over.”
Billy’s lip curled in a snarl. “Don’t do this, man.”
“What?” Gabriel said, lifting a brow. “Did you already fall for her? Didn’t think you’d let yourself be led by your dick, or I never would have given her to you in the first place.”
“Gabe,” Billy said, his eyes imploring. “Not her. Please.”
“Sorry. You’re gonna thank me, later. If you make it out alive.”
“You really think this thing’s gonna get ugly?” Kalicek asked.
“Hell on Earth. Fire and brimstone stuff. He’s a goddamn reptile. Cold-blooded mother-fucker.” He gave Billy a quick glance, noted the tension in his body and the quiet fury in his gaze. “Kalicek. Make sure Billy here is in the tower the first half of the shift.”
Billy’s eyes widened, and he took a step toward him, his fist swinging.
Gabriel ducked under it, grabbed his arm and swung him into the wall. “You know I’m right, buddy. You know I don’t have any other choice.”
“Let go of me,” Billy said, his voice low and tight. When Gabriel released him and stepped back, Billy turned, rubbing his arm. “Promise me, you won’t hurt her any more than you have to.”
“I like the girl, too. I don’t want to do this. You know that, don’t you?”
Billy nodded, his features still stark and taut.
“And this way, she never has to know.”
A deep inhalation lifted Billy’s chest, and his gaze dropped away. Gabriel clapped his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Escort me back?”
* * *
Gillian finished her first round on the floor and headed to the booth for a cup of coffee. Billy had tower duty. Before he’d left he’d passed her in the hall outside the barracks, sweeping close to brush his hand against hers. Their fingers had connected, twining for just a second. “See you later,” he’d said in a low, gruff voice.
She’d smiled as she walked away, liking that he didn’t seem able to stay away. That maybe he was just as eager as she felt to make it through the shift and slide into bed together again. They had the next three days off. She bet she wouldn’t be wearing a thing for longer than it took to grab a meal the entire time.
She had wicked plans for his manly body.
The hot cup of coffee-scented sludge was a poor substitute for the warm thing she wanted to wrap her hands around.
“The lieutenant tryin’ to break you two up?” McPhee said slyly behind her.
“Pardon me?” she said, her gaze rising to his.
“Hedron doesn’t do tower duty like a newbie. The LT must have figgered out he’s sweet on you.”
“Sweet on me?” A rush of pleasure, sweet and hot suffused her body. She pulled on a frown. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, McPhee.”
“I see things…” he said, pointing two fingers toward his eyes. “Hedron’s been like a bull in china shop ever since you came. Never takes his eyes off you.”
She stilled. Not good. She didn’t like the thought that her private life was so transparent, but worse, it was just plain dangerous for Billy not to keep his eyes where they belonged. Watching prisoners. “I’m sure you’re wrong.”
“Right. You just keep telling yourself that, little lady. Won’t be long before we have two Hedrons walking the floor.”
“How about we drop this conversation right now,” she said, her stomach knotting.
“Want some advice?”