Free Remy by Susan Bliler Page B

called the Walkers monsters, yet even among them, she had no place.
    Turning, she hurried to the barracks. She needed to get into the shower so she could shed a few tears without being caught.
    Twenty minutes later found her lying on her cot, a ball of misery.  She’d showered, foregone dinner—much to the protest of her grumbling stomach—and had finally fallen into an exhausted slumber, her only escape from the realty that she had no place at StoneCrow.

Chapter 9
    Remy strode into Monroe’s office, tensing when he found Mason seated on one of the CEOs two leather couches. Monroe was absent.  They were scheduled to meet to go over Harlow’s performance in order to determine whether or not she’d stay on with Sentry training. 
    “Mason,” Remy clipped out by way of greeting.  “Monroe coming?”
    “Yeah,” Mason leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, folding his hands together.  “He’ll be here.” 
    Silence hung between them as Remy paced to the window and stared down over the Estate.
    “How’s Harlow?”
    Remy turned at Mason’s query.  “You haven’t spoken to her?”
    “No.” Mason’s expression darkened.  “She didn’t want me visiting or checking up on her while she’s in training.  She thought it’d look bad for her.”
    Remy smiled. That sounded like something Harlow would request.  “Surprisingly well,” he offered, unwilling to inform Mason of his sister’s recent difficulties.  Sometime over the course of the past few days he’d decided not to throw her to the wolves.  He didn’t know if it was how hard she was trying, or how sad she looked yesterday after training, but something within him had changed, and he was now willing to see just how far she could take it.  “She’s a lot tougher than I’d have expected.  She’s a hard worker, and an exceptional teammate.”  It was hard to hide the admiration he felt for her.  She’d been busting her ass from the moment she’d stepped out of the barracks decked out in her brand new BDUs.  “I’m lucky to have her.”
    Mason shoved off his knees and stood.  “You don’t have her!  And you’re going to stay the hell away from her, Remy McCabe, or I’m going to fucking end you!”
    Remy’s own lip peeled back in a snarl.  He was sick and tired of having this same argument with Mason.  Sure, he’d done some pretty shitty things when he’d been trying to get back at Mason for stealing Amanda, but that all ended when Aries Drago had been so badly hurt because of his actions.  Her car crash, complete with serious wounds and a dangerous head injury ended for good Remy’s vendetta. He finally let his hatred for Mason extinguish itself with his relief that Aries hadn’t died because of his selfishness. 
    “I was referring to having her on my team!  I’m giving Harlow a compliment, not trying to get a rise outta you,” Remy snarled, stepping forward. “You’re no longer worth the effort.”
    “Why?  Because now you’ve got the object of your obsession in your hands?  All your focus on Harlow now, is that it?”
    Remy shook his head in disgust.  “I’ve said I’m done with it, and I’m sick of fucking talking about it!”
    Mason snorted his derision.  “You’ll have to excuse me if I find it a little hard to believe that, finally presented with the one weapon that could truly wound me, you’re choosing the higher ground.”
    “SHE’S NOT A FUCKING WEAPON!”  The words were out before Remy could check them, startling not only Mason, but himself as well.  Straightening, he pulled at the front of his shirt that had bunched with his muscles and lifted his chin.  “She’ll make a good Sentry.  Put her where you want her, but know right fucking now that I have no intentions of making this hard for her, and that’s not for your sake.  She’s volunteered to go through the most rigorous training there is to defend a species she doesn’t belong to.  My respect is earned, and she’s