Page 9 of Destroyed With You

He wasn’t.

“I’m in,” he said. “Never thought I’d say this, but I guess I’m going back to Texas.”

Chapter Three

“You’re sure it won’t be a problem?” Winston shifted in the chair across from Ryan Hunter’s desk. Problem or not, he was going to Texas. But he preferred to go with Hunter’s blessing.

“Special loan to the SOC,” Hunter said. He lifted his hands in a what can you do? gesture. “How can I compete with that?”

“Well, I appreciate it,” Winston said. Ryan Hunter headed up Stark Security, answering only to billionaire Damien Stark who, as far as Winston had been able to tell, let Hunter take the lead where the agency was concerned. In existence for only a few years, the SSA had already earned its reputation as a force to be reckoned with both domestically and internationally.

“You’re an asset, Starr,” Ryan said. “If the SOC is trying to poach you, we’re going to be butting heads. But if Seagrave just needs you on loan for an operation, that’s not a problem.” A half-smile danced over his lips. “I’m more than happy for covert intelligence organizations to owe us favors.”

He leaned forward, his arms crossed on his desk as he studied Winston. “I’ll admit I’m curious. I won’t ask you to break any confidences, but can you tell me what this is about?”

“Not really.” In truth, he probably could have told Hunter that his dead wife had reappeared and he’d been tasked with figuring out what the hell was going on. Seagrave trusted both Stark and Hunter, and he’d understand that Winston needed someone to talk to.

Except, of course, he didn’t need someone. Or maybe he did, but he wasn’t going to take the comfort. Not when revealing the situation would also reveal the possibility that he’d been an idiot. Practically a cuckold. Used by his wife for some nefarious purpose he still didn’t understand. She’d betrayed him—he knew that. No matter how much he wanted to protest that it was all a misunderstanding, he knew better. She’d used him—and then when she was done with him, she’d slipped off into the dark, ensuring that he wouldn’t follow by making him believe she was dead.

He’d been a lovesick fool, and that wasn’t something he was inclined to share with the man who not only signed his paycheck, but who trusted Winston’s instincts in the field. And, honestly, he didn’t want to see the look of sympathy on his friends’ faces once they learned the truth. Which was why he intended to hold this particular truth very close to the vest.

“I can’t share the details,” he told Hunter. “But it ties back to my days as sheriff. You already know I spent some time working closely with the SOC back then.”

“A new player’s popped up in an old case,” Hunter said. “I understand. You’ll be missed, but we’ll make do. I’ll pair Leah with Renly while you’re away. Let her help him get settled.”

“Renly?”

Hunter shook his head, frowning. “Sorry, Renly Cooper. I forgot you weren’t there last night. He dropped by Emma’s place after you left.”

“I look forward to meeting him.”

“He’s in with Sarah if you want to say hello.” Sarah was the former part-time office manager who’d recently been bumped to full-time.

“When I get back,” Winston said, glancing at his watch. “I’m flying commercial and need to run if I’m going to make my plane.”

“Austin, right?”

“Not a bad location for an assignment.” He tried to look casual. In truth, he’d always loved the capital city of Texas. He hadn’t been back since Linda’s death—or, rather, since her betrayal. It had been their favorite weekend getaway, and the thought of going without her had been too much to bear.

Now she was alive, and he was going back to apprehend her, and he was certain that this would be the last time he’d visit that city. No matter how this ended, his memories—and Austin—would be tainted.

“I’m sure the SOC has you well-equipped, and since I don’t know the mission, I can’t speak to specifics. But you should meet up with Noah Carter when you get there.”

“Will do,” he said, taking the card Ryan proffered. He’d met Noah once before at one of Stark’s functions. A post-Grammy Award party in honor of popular singer Kiki King, Noah’s wife. In the past, Noah had worked with a shadowy vigilante group called Deliverance, several members of which were now working for Stark Security.

A tech genius, Noah had left Deliverance to run the Austin office of Stark Applied Technology. Winston couldn’t think of any specific tech he required, but who knew what he might need on the fly, and he had a feeling that Noah possessed the kind of backend hacker skills that might come in handy.

“I’ll give him a call from the road,” Winston promised. “Buy him lunch once I get there.” With the time change, he’d be arriving around two, so it would be a late lunch. And after that, he’d need to get in place to intercept Linda.

He turned when he heard the light tap at the door. Leah smiled at him, her brows rising above her black glasses. “I’m heading out if you want me to drop you at the airport. Unless you’ve already called a rideshare?”

“A lift would be great.”

“Have a good trip,” Hunter said, rising as Winston did. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

“What would you need?” Leah asked as they headed for the main doors. “Isn’t this a family thing?”

Winston felt a twinge of guilt for telling her that. They’d worked closely for his entire tenure at Stark Security. Hell, they’d even gotten drunk in Hong Kong together, then managed to get completely lost as they stumbled back to their hotel. If he’d had any doubt as to Leah’s friendship or her value as a partner, those doubts had been erased when she’d not only managed to guide them in a blind stupor, but had never breathed a word to anyone at Stark Security about their lapse in judgment.