I exhale heavily before shoveling more food into my mouth.
“When did you have the time to make decisions like that every day?” I ask, looking at Enzo.
He shrugs. “It’s part of the job. I got used to it. Most of the men already know what my answer will be before they ask it. So most of it can be done over text, email, or phone. Which speaking of…” he reaches into his pocket and tosses me his phone.
“Why are you giving me your phone? I have my own.”
“Because that phone has a dozen unanswered voicemails, a hundred unresolved emails, and twenty frantic text messages for Black.” He gives me a pointed look. “That’s you.”
“It shouldn’t be,” Langston says.
Enzo frowns, snapping his head to Langston. He thinks Langston is dissing my leadership skills, not trying to protect me.
“And why the hell not? She’s amazing! And she wasn’t even trying. Think of how incredible of a natural leader she will be when she actually tries,” Enzo gets in Langston’s face.
Langston ignores him, looking at me.
“Langston’s right. I don’t want the job. I’m not good at it. As soon as someone attacks with guns, I’ll let them all down. I can make decisions from an office, but not in the heat of battle,” I say.
Enzo growls, not liking any of my words. “Langston leave,” Enzo orders.
“You aren’t my boss at the moment. I only take orders from Kai,” Langston says.
Both men’s eyes cut to me.
“Tell him to leave, or I’ll profess my love to you in front
of the entire team,” Enzo says, blackmailing me. If Enzo did that, no one on the team would ever let him lead again.
“Go,” I tell Langston.
He huffs but leaves us alone.
“What do you want?” I ask as Enzo approaches me like a predator about to spring.
“Why don’t you want to be Black?”
“Because I’m not the best for the job.”
He laughs. “You’ve been fighting me for three rounds so far because you thought you were the right woman for the job. What changed?”
I suck in a breath. Everything changed. And I have another life to worry about; it’s not just me anymore.
“I’m afraid. I don’t want to die.”
His eyes tighten into slits. He wasn’t expecting that response. I’ve never been afraid of death before.
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, sending chills down my neck.
“Langston and I will never let someone kill you. I can’t promise you won’t get hurt, because, with this job, it’s almost a requirement, but I will not let you die.”
“I know.”
His eyes search mine for the truth. And I need him to stop, or he’ll find it.
“Why do you want me to be Black? Haven’t you been working your entire life for this?”
“I have, but I’m not sure I want anything other than you. And if you are in control and happy, then that’s what I want: you happy.”