Page 107 of The Wild Card

The words take a moment to register.

Staying in Dallas.

No transfer. No new city, new doctors, new routines. No starting over from scratch.

I should feel relieved. This is what I wanted—what I schemed and manipulated and added a girlfriend clause to a roommate agreement for. This is the win.

So why does my stomach feel like it’s filled with concrete?

“That’s… good news, sir.”

“It is.” Daniels studies me with that sharp gaze that’s made him one of the best interrogators in the Bureau. “I have to say, Jensen, I wasn’t sure about you a few months ago. You were wound tighter than a drum. Half the office was afraid to talk to you.”

“I’m aware of my reputation, sir.”

“But lately…” He tilts his head. “You’ve been different. More present. Less like you’re about to snap someone’s arm off for breathing too loud.”

“I don’t—”

“It’s that girl, isn’t it?” His smile widens. “Emmie.”

Hearing her name in his mouth makes something twist in my chest.

“She’s been… good for me,” I manage.

“I’ll say. Foster tells me you’ve been leaving work on time. Eating actual food. Hell, he said you hummed in the elevator last week.”

I’m going to kill Foster.

“The point is,” Daniels continues, “whatever she’s doing, it’s working. You’re a better agent when you’re not running on fumes and spite. So—” He stands, extending his hand. “Keep her around, Jensen. That’s an order.”

I shake his hand automatically. “Yes, sir.”

“Now get out of here. Don’t you have a girlfriend to get home to?”

I nod, mumble something appropriate, and walk out of his office on autopilot.

Foster ambushes me before I make it back to my desk.

“Well? What happened? You look like someone died.”

“Transfer’s off.”

“That’s great!” He claps me on the shoulder. “That’s what you wanted, right? You get to stay. No Alaska. No starting over.”

“Right.”

“So why do you look like you’re about to throw up?”

Because the arrangement is over.

The thought hits me like a bullet to the chest. The whole point of the girlfriend clause was to convince Daniels I had roots here. Ties to the community. A compelling reason to stay.

Now I’m staying. Which means I don’t need a fake girlfriend anymore.

Which means I don’t need Emmie.

“Crew.” Foster’s voice is concerned now. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”