"He's a cold-hearted snake,
Look into his eyes, uh-oh
He's been telling lies,
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules, uh-oh
Girl don't play the fool, no"

- Paula Abdul, "Cold Hearted"

Chapter Twenty-One

As soon as I agreed, Reed was by my side to support me. It was slow going; my knee was stiffly bandaged and my hips screamed when I walked. I'd hit the pavement hard and rolled, knocking every joint and inch of skull on the ground.

When we exited the clinic, the stranger from before eagerly popped up. He looked like he was going to be sick.

"Are you okay? Again, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to, I swear—"

"It was my fault," I interrupted, "but thank you for staying. I'm okay."

I smiled as reassuringly as I could. The stranger blew out a deep breath, his relief evident. Reed only remained silent and stony as he held me up.

"I'm Joey." He held out a hand for me to shake and stepped closer.

Feeling Reed's hand tighten on my waist, I lightly pushed the sullen bodyguard off and leaned forward to shake hands. "Nice to meet you, Joey. I'm Avery. I'm really sorry about all this. I wasn't thinking—"

"—isn't that the truth," I heard Reed mutter behind me. I threw a glare over my shoulder and shifted my weight to my good leg, ignoring the throbbing.

Wait, was I not supposed to use my real name? Crap. Not that it matters, the damage is already done. I really screwed everything up.

"—but I'm glad I was able to get to Rolo in time," I finished. "He hasn't seen many rabbits before."

Joey cracked a hesitant grin. "Rolo was cute."

"You mean when he wasn't growling at you?" I grinned back. Joey chuckled and agreed.

"You don't have to worry about whatever he said," I said, gesturing to the brooding man behind me. "There's no need to get anyone else involved. It was an accident, and everyone is okay."

A deep sound of disapproval could be heard from Reed as he stepped a little closer, brushing against my back. His breath fanned my ear.

"You call this okay?"

His hand came up to gently grasp my arm, purposefully avoiding the long scrapes and angry red skin. It didn't matter; his fingers seemed to burn into my skin anyway. With silent anger, Reed tried to bring my wounds to my attention, but I was focused on something entirely different.

I was breathless again for what felt like the hundredth time that day. I held what air I could as I felt my skin prickle from his touch, momentarily forgetting there was someone in front of me.

"I'll give you my information, just in case," Joey said, digging in his pockets and breaking me out of my open-mouthed trance.

"Hm? Oh. Okay. Sure, that's fine."

Soft chuckles bubbled up from behind me as I felt Reed's hands drop away. Heat flamed my cheeks.

Is he messing with me? Maybe he does this with every case he works. He knows what he's doing.

Joey grabbed a pen from his car before messily jotting down his name and number. As he held it out, the paper was plucked from his hand before I could lift my arm.

"Got it," Reed said shortly as he tucked it away.

I looked over my shoulder. "Can you get the car? It might be easier if you drive it over here. It's probably better than having to help me walk."

I gestured to my knee. Reed looked from my knee to my face to Joey; unwillingness to leave clear in his expression. He didn't have to use words to respond when his face could clearly say 'absolutely not'.

"Please?" I added. An internal battle commenced in him. I didn't back down, and finally, he relented with a threatening glare at Joey. He turned and headed to the car.

"Your boyfriend is intense," Joey remarked as he watched Reed's retreating back.

"Oh, he's not—we're not—I mean, he's not my boyfriend." I shook my head as I jumbled my words.

Smooth. I'll just blame that on the concussion.

"Oh, sorry. I assumed he was," Joey admitted with an easy-going smile. "I thought he was going to kill me back there."

"We're not together. We're friends, sort of. It's complicated."

Complicated as in one day I want to kill him and the next day I want... well, him. Complicated as in it's his job. Complicated as in someone tried to kill me.

Even now, I could feel Reed's burning gaze performing careful check-ins as he got the car. From across the lot, I could even see his eyes sweep up and down my body as if reassuring himself I was still standing, that I was okay. Joey raised a brow when he noticed.

"Does he know? That it's complicated?"

Any potential responses were cut off as Reed jumped out to return to my side. I was glad, because I had no idea what the hell to say to that.

Because it's super casual to drop in 'oh no, he's protective of me because someone might be trying to murder me and it's his job, but I hate that and I think I want more'.

"It was nice meeting you, Avery. I'm glad you're okay. Nice meeting you too, sir."

I couldn't help but be amused at the formality. Reed only jerked his chin in response while helping me in the car. I waved over his shoulder, and Joey disappeared, back to his own journey.

I straightened my knee as much as I could in the front seat. I'd stubbornly declined to sit in the back.

He already said he wasn't an uber.

Reed had moved the seat as far back as it would go, but it'd be an uncomfortable ride to the safe house. Hell, it'd be uncomfortable regardless of where I sat.

"Okay. You said you would tell me everything," I said as soon as he got in the car. "I'm ready to hear it."

"I know."

Reed sighed as we pulled onto the road. Long shadows were beginning to stretch over the trees. "Look, a lot of clients don't want to be involved. They want me to do my job so they don't have to worry about the gritty details. I'm not used to questions."

"And I'm not used to answers. You haven't given me any. What has to happen now? Who is 'he', and what job are you having him get done?" I picked at the abrasions on my arms as I waited for an answer.

"Stop doing that." Reed gently pushed my hand away from my arm. "You're going to meet him soon."

I slapped his hand away crossly, remembering the other times Reed had refused to be forthcoming with me. "That doesn't answer anything! Why is it such a struggle to give me a direct answer?"

"We have to leave. That house isn't safe anymore. That is what has to happen now. It was always a possibility we'd have to relocate, but it happened earlier than any of us could've predicted."

"You couldn't just say that? Who were you on the phone with?" I narrowed my eyes, waiting for the 'need to know'.

"Mr. Romano. I had to inform him the plans had changed and the relocation was happening immediately. He wanted to consider other options." Reed's hands tightened on the steering wheel.

"What other options?"

"It doesn't matter, they're not going to happen. We're leaving—tonight."

"Tell me the other options." 

What are our options? I like that house. I'm finally getting comfortable there. I don't want to leave if there's another way.

"Greystone hasn't made much progress on the identity of the shooter yet," he responded, avoiding the question. "There are too many possibilities. Whoever it is knows to lay low."

I work in politics. I know a red herring when I see one.

Realistically, I wasn't surprised at the lack of progress on the case. It'd been two weeks since the party, but the number of possibilities was staggering. Any case Cruz and I touched had to be deeply combed through. Four years of cases for me, and eight years of cases for Cruz.

Not to mention personal lives.

"Okay. I understand. Now back to the other thing you said. What are the options he wants to consider?"

"They aren't options!" he snapped. Reed was angry, and I was exasperated. "I won't allow it to happen."

"You are the most avoidant person I have ever met! What are the options, Reed?"

"Romano is impatient. He wants us to stay put and he'll send some teams up here to prepare." His hands pushed his hair off his face as he finally relented the truth. He looked furious and ashamed.

I was silent for a moment as I looked at him. Realization was a heavy burden to bear.

"Bait," I said quietly. "They want me to be bait."

Reed's gaze shot to mine. "I won't let that happen."

I thought about this possibility, the possibility of ending this, of freeing Cruz and Amanda from their own safehouse.

The possibility of a marble city.

"Would it help?"

Reed looked at me incredulously, now looking far past the line of anger. "Are you hearing yourself? Like you said, you'd be exposed as bait to lure them out. If you're the target, they'll come after you."

"You're right. But we still don't know if they're after me. They could be after Cruz, and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe they thought they could get to Cruz through me and now they can't. Or maybe it was someone else at the party they were after," I said. "Maybe we don't have to leave at all. No bait, no running, no security."

This unknown was what had kept me going. It'd sustained me when the fear had crept in; the thought that this could just be an unnecessary precaution, and I wasn't really in danger. If I was being honest, I hadn't let myself fully consider any other possibility.

"Or you could be the target. No one else was targeted that night. Photos of you and Cruz were delivered directly to the office. This isn't about anyone else—this is about you or Cruz. You're asking me to expose you willingly."

Every word jabbed me, poking holes in the remaining sense of security I'd been clinging to.

Reed had said them to motivate me to look for cover. To make me run for safety. But the words had the opposite effect. They didn't make me want to play safe, they fed my desperation to be free. They terrified me—but not into compliance.

I wanted to be safe, but I couldn't play safe to get there.

"I won't be exposed. You just said the teams will be there and so will you."

"Why are you talking about it like it's going to happen? You're injured. You couldn't walk away, let alone run, if you needed to. It's not happening," Reed said firmly.

"What would you do if this was another job? Would you be more open to the idea if I was someone else?"

Reed's eyes stared out the windshield, refusing to answer. That was all I needed.

"I'm not fragile, Reed. I'm just as capable as anyone else. If this is the best plan, then that's what we should do."

He doesn't think I can do it.

"That's not why, Avery. I don't think you're uncapable."

He was getting increasingly frustrated. I'd seen more emotion from him in the past few hours than I had over the past two weeks combined.

Maybe we should take a breath. It's been a long day and we can continue this conversation after we have a chance to regroup and rethink. We will evaluate options later. There are other questions to discuss in the meantime.

"Who is 'he'?"

I switched to the previous questions that still hung unanswered between us. Reed rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. He pointed as we turned onto the driveway, drawing my attention to a black SUV parked in front of the garage. It was a Greystone vehicle.

"That's him." Reed parked behind the SUV as a figure unfolded from the driver's seat. Reed helped me towards yet another stranger, this one standing patiently by his car.

As we gingerly made our way towards 'him', I looked at the 'he' Reed had been talking about. He had olive skin, deep black hair, and a narrow nose. With his casual clothing and easygoing stance, he was a stark contrast to his coworker beside me. He looked like he belonged on a Greek beach rather than half hidden in the shadows of the driveway.

"Reed Sterling!" His voice bounced in the empty space between the trees as he strode over with a deep grin. Where Beck had exerted warmth and comfort, he exerted mischief and humor.

He seems like the type of friend that is always there for a good time, a bad time, or a 'run from the cops' kind of time. He's a Kennedy!

"Avery, this is Simon Gatz. He works for Greystone."

"At your service, ma'am." Simon dramatically flourished his words, subtly taking in my injuries but never losing his smile.

"Nice to meet you, Simon."

Reed carefully leaned me against the car, not noticing his friend's curious gaze. His eyes stayed on me even as he spoke to Simon. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course. Beck filled me in. I'm glad to be back." Simon cleared his throat, and glanced at me with another quizzical expression. Reed still didn't notice, or he simply ignored it.

Reed gave him a look, something loaded with codes I didn't have the tools to decipher. "I figured you were ready to return."

"I never wanted the break to start with. Is Romano good with me being back?"

"I told him you'll get the job done, and he knows you will. You always do. Doesn't matter if he's good with it."

"Right. And Romano's plan?" Simon asked with another careful look at me.

"Not happening. We're leaving," Reed promptly replied. His gruff voice indicated he wouldn't be taking suggestions. 

Simon nodded, sighing at my swollen, bandaged knee. "Agreed."

I looked back and forth, marveling the fast and easy conversation between the two. This was a close-up of two men who'd obviously known each other for a while, and worked as a well-established team. It was the type of rapid adaptation to the other that didn't come from anything but time.

Simon switched to a more light-hearted tone, turning to me with a grin. "I heard you're giving Reed a run for his money, Avery."

Just like Beck, it was natural when Simon used Reed's first name. I was still getting used to it.

Even my cheeks ached when I tried for a weak smile. Simon was kind enough not to comment when I failed. "Trying to."

"Good. He needs it." With his back to the house, he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Is that your dog I've been hearing?"

My shoulders slumped when I shifted, nodding. "Rolo's a little protective," I admitted.

"He let me know to keep my distance," Simon agreed with a smile.

"It's only because I was gone. He had a scare earlier, and I'm sure he's a little on edge. It'll be okay if I introduce you."

I pushed myself off the car. Reed jolted forward, but Simon beat him to it.

"Here, let me. May I?" Simon offered his arm. I accepted and let him help me as we walked towards the house. Reed trailed behind us.

"Be careful with her knee." Reed's hand sprung out, ready to catch me when I stumbled on the uneven ground. To his credit, Simon steadied me immediately. He couldn't help that I wasn't coordinated even on a good day.

"I got her. Go get ready," Simon encouraged Reed. "I won't let her fall."

"How long before we need to leave?" I asked as Simon helped me up the steps.

"Soon," Reed said shortly. "As soon as we're packed."

"It won't take me long to get ready. I just have to get up the stairs." My knee was pulsing, but I wasn't going to let that be known.

"No, you're going to sit here and wait."

Reed pointed at the porch swing, steadying it as Simon helped lower me down. My knee creaked and whined as I tried to straighten it out. I could do nothing but nod and agree him through gritted teeth.

As Reed hurried into the house, Rolo immediately pushed his way out, making a beeline for the swing. He whined and aggressively pushed his nose into me as his tail wagged.

"I'm okay, pretty boy, I'm okay," I murmured.

Rolo finally turned to Simon, who was waiting patiently to be noticed. His tail slowed; he looked cautiously at the frozen man. Simon hesitantly offered a hand to sniff.

"He's okay. He's nice," I promised. "He won't hurt us."

Rolo sniffed Simon. His tail slowly wagged as he got more and more excited.

I assume he won't, or at least I hope not. He's Greystone. But Reed didn't say what job Simon will be doing. He said we had to move houses, and that was what had to happen now, but he never answered the question of what job Simon has to get done. Hopefully he's just here to help us get on the road.

"Very nice. The nicest," Simon agreed. As Rolo and Simon became best friends, I leaned back and took in my surroundings. I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to leave the fireflies, or the porch swing, or the hidden sanctuary among the trees the house had become.

"Are you going to help Reed?" I didn't need a babysitter to rock on a porch swing.

Simon looked up from my sprawled-out pooch as his hand slowed mid-belly rub. He was looking at me strangely again, something like shock unfurling across his expression.

"Reed? You call him Reed?" he asked slowly.

"That's his name, isn't it?"

"Yes." Simon let out a quiet laugh, turning back to my dog. "I'm surprised, he never lets clients call him that. You must be something special, Miss Avery."

I'd stopped listening after 'clients', and cursed myself for the bubble of hurt that rose at his words.

Right. Another reminder this is just a job for him. He said it wasn't, but I'd be a fool to think otherwise. I don't know him at all. Why do I keep letting myself get sucked in?

"Stay here."

Simon stood and disappeared into the house after Reed. My thoughts began to bombard me; a haunting repeat of the instructions I'd been given from myself and the Greystone men.

Stay here. Trust me. Don't question things. Don't overthink. Stay here. Do you trust me?

"I'm having a bad day, Rolo. Did you know that?" Rolo looked at me, cocking his head before prancing down the steps to try to eat the fireflies.

"Good conversation. We should do it again sometime." I huffed, throwing my head back. Rolo was giving a wide berth to the driveway, both of us having learned a hard lesson about chasing rabbits and running towards roads.

I'm not going to just sit here while they do all the work.

With several deep breaths, curses at the universe, and breaks, I pushed myself up, using the walls to ease off as much weight as possible. As I stepped into the house and made my way through the dark rooms, I heard the deep, low tones of voices in the kitchen.

And as I got closer, I was hit with a strong sense of déjà vu. Here I was again, accidentally eavesdropping as I painfully made my way to my protector, hating myself more and more with every word I heard.

Hating him with every word I heard.

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- H