“I kept Cass—I kept the asset safe,” Cale corrected himself deliberately. Mercer might not like his methods, but he’d done his job. “And I brought down an internationally wanted killer. I think Mercer can stand to cut me some slack.”
Drew rocked back on his heels. “You need to pay more attention to what’s right in front of you.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
“You need to watch yourself with Cassidy Sherridan.” Now it sounded like Drew was giving him a warning. “She’s not at all what she appears to be.”
He’d already figured that out on his own.
“A woman like her will burn you, and if you aren’t careful, there won’t be anything left but ash.”
Drew turned away.
Cale lunged after him. He grabbed the guy’s arm. “How do you know so much about Cassidy?”
“Because I’ve been on guard duty with her a few times before.”
At those words, a stab of jealousy shot through Cale. Jealousy? Why would he be jealous of another agent doing his job?
But...that job was Cassidy, and he sure didn’t like the idea of Drew Lancaster being so close to her.
“On my last stint with Cassidy, I was on protection detail with her for three months. You can learn a lot about a person when you watch her 24/7.”
Cale’s back teeth clenched.
“You just met her, didn’t you? Known her only a few days...” Drew pulled away from him. “Take the advice that I’m giving, man. Don’t get close to her. Kissing her was probably the worst mistake you could’ve made.”
Cale forced a mocking smile. “Nah, I don’t think it even ranks in my top ten.”
A furrow appeared between Drew’s eyes. “I heard the rumors about you. That you’re not even supposed to be in the EOD. That you have—”
“Overly aggressive tendencies?” Cale quoted from what he knew was in an old case file—courtesy of a shrink who’d been out to punish him. “That I’m prone to extreme violence?” He’d sure gotten violent with those jerks in that basement.
Because they’d tried to come between him and Cassidy.
Drew studied him. “At first, I thought the rumors were B.S. Hell, show me a soldier who isn’t aggressive.”
Aggression was part of who they were.
“But I saw what you left behind in that basement, Hoss.” Drew’s Mississippi drawl roughened the words. “And now I know exactly how you like to play.”
Cale stared back at him. “I wasn’t playing.”
“Cassidy isn’t for you. She’s not supposed to wind up with a soldier who likes to kill.”
He didn’t flinch. Barely.
“There are other plans in place for her. You need to remember that before it’s too late.”
Then Drew turned his back on Cale and opened the door.
Cale didn’t follow him. He was too busy remembering the feel of broken glass in his hands.
He could still smell the blood. Still hear the grunts from the guards.
A soldier who likes to kill...
What chance did he have with a society princess?