“I’m not your buddy, Hammond. Never will be.”
Fuck.
He rolls off the side of the booth and walks for the door. When he reaches it, tugging it open, he looks back, shaking his head.
Double fuck.
There is no way he’s not going to take this to Cap. He doesn’t give a crap on a cracker that he’d be ruining London’s career. Not a single damn one.
“Oh my god,” London utters, her forehead hitting the table.
“I’ll make sure this doesn’t blow up in your face.”
She lifts her head, her eyes finding mine. “How? The guy hates us both. This is all he needs to make captain over you, and... have mefired.”
Panic claims her face and she stands, pacing a tight circle by the booth. “Miles, this is not good. He’s—oh my god.”
I push up from the booth and take her arms in my hands. “London, stop. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. If I have to, I’ll take full responsibility. You?—”
“No! You have worked a decade for this. I’m just a probie, I can’t let you throw yourself under the bus for me. Not happening, Miles.”
She stalks from the restaurant.
Now, not only are we foodless, we’re in deep shit. Turning her head side to side, she stands on her tiptoes.
She’s trying to find Schmiddy?
Dammit, woman.
I roll out of the booth and push through the front door.
“Leave it, London.” I grab her arm, spinning her back to me.
Big brown eyes drift up to me, her face crumpled under worry.
“What if he?—”
I fold her into my chest, dotting a kiss to her head. “Then I’ll fix it.”
We stand amongst the people passing by on the sidewalk as the night turns busy around us. She slumps against me, and I turn us for home.
Isip my hot Milo drink as Schmiddy’s glare burns a hole through the side of my face. If the motherfucker thinks I’m intimidated by him, he’s got another thing coming.
London sits chattering away with Davey and Sandy about a hiking trip to Forest Park on our next days off.
Heids plops on the seat beside me.
“Enjoy your days off, Cap?” Her eyes are on me, something like hope in them as they drift between London and me.
Schmiddy breaks his stare and leaves the table.
Stellar timing, Heids.
“Hammond, my office, now,” Cap grunts from the top of the stairs.
Every head turns as the room goes silent.
Dammit.
