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Kris glared at me. “This isn’t up for debate. I expect you to be levelheaded about this. The duchess’ safety far outweighs her temporary discomfort.”
“You’re blowing this out of proportion,” I grumbled.
“I’m really not.”
“Nothing even happened,” Liam hissed.
“But itcouldhave.”
“We don’t operate on ‘could haves’,” I said. “What’s crawled up your ass today?”
Sam inhaled sharply. “Boys, please don’t—”
“Seriously,” I continued, my anger boiling over. “Just because the pressure of the job is getting to you, that doesn’t mean you get to take it out on us.”
“The fuck did you just say to me?”
“I think you heard me just fine.”
Kris’ eyes grew dark. “Terrance is out there somewhere planning God knows what,” he hissed, the venom in his words bitter enough to bite through steel. “And you’re willing to let the duchess do something as stupid as go to get drinks? We’re not here to play fucking babysitter, Charlie. We’re here toprotecther, and that means putting her safety above her boredom.”
“Don’t lecture me,” I bit back. “I know what the fuck we’re doing. I’m not an idiot.”
“Oh, really? Then explain to me how you let Alexander Vasiliev get a word in with her, huh? The man’s wanted in twenty different countries.”
“Stop it, both of you!” Sam shouted. “Just stop. It was my fault, okay?”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Adam said, adding to the noise.
“Of course, it’s a big deal,” Kris grumbled.
“You need to calm down,” Liam muttered.
“Youneed to take this seriously!”
I set my jaw. I honestly hadn’t recognized the man. I’d seen his mugshot on several international Most Wanted boards, but… I had no excuse. It slipped my mind. I’d made a mistake. Whether it was due to exhaustion or indifference, I couldn’t tell anymore. It was burnout at its finest.
“I expect you all to be more prepared than that,” Kris said, pointedly glaring at me. “Why else do I pay you so fucking much?”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have to worry about it anymore,” I snapped, speaking before my brain had the chance to catch up.
Kris frowned. “What?”
“When this whole thing is over—”
Sam glanced up at me, giving my forearm a light squeeze. “Charlie, don’t.”
“I’ll be handing in my resignation.”
A heavy silence blanketed the room. My friends’ faces went blank.
“What?” Kris asked.
“This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you all, but… Ah, fuck it. I’m done, okay? I’ve been thinking about leaving for a long time and I’m just…” I sighed heavily. “I’m tired. I don’t want to do this anymore. And if you’re going to blow up at us over something this small, it’s just not worth it.”
Adam shifted uncomfortably. “Charlie, man…”
“I’ll see this mission through to the end,” I said clearly, holding Kris’ dumbfounded gaze. “But afterward, I’m walking away.”
