Read Taking Sides (ARC Operatives Book 2) for Free Online

recon agents were stationed. All of them were sat quietly, either going over a paper map or flipping through their booklets. Nico had his head down, was making notes even, looking relaxed and nonchalant.
    She stared blankly at the screens before a burning feeling crawled up the back of her throat.
    “I gotta go for a walk,” she said suddenly, and didn’t wait for Russi to okay it. She just turned on her heel and pushed out of the cabin, walking quickly down the gravel driveway and then bursting into a flat out run.

CHAPTER FIVE

    She returned back to the cabin as the woods were getting dark, birds heralding the coming night all around her. Nico hadn’t picked up any of her calls, hadn’t returned any of her text messages, and after an hour she realized it was pointless to even try. Whatever had happened between them, as confusing as his anger over it was, she’d have to deal with it when the mission was over.
    If he’d even talk to her at that point. She trudged over the gravel and up the porch steps only to find Russi opening the door for her. His expression was neutral as she stepped inside, and he thankfully didn’t ask her any questions. She could tell by the way he looked over her that he noticed her slightly red eyes, and the flush in her cheeks from the few angry tears she’d shed out in the woods.
    “I made dinner,” he said gruffly, pointing at a pot on the stove, and the loaf of bread beside it. Daria murmured her thanks and stepped up to the counter.
    “Want me to fix you a bowl?” she asked as she opened up the cupboards.
    “Already ate,” he said, and that’s when she noticed the bowl and spoon in the sink waiting to be washed up. Mission rule #1: whoever cooked didn’t clean. She sighed, feeling hollow and hoped the soup would put a dent in the empty feeling currently making itself at home in her gut.
    “Thanks,” she said to the pot of soup as she spooned herself up. It looked like rich, creamy corn chowder, and she ripped off a hunk of bread to sop up the remnants. No need to worry about carbs or her figure, she thought, given that what she’d hoped would be a long-term relationship had maybe-probably just gone up in flames. That thought gnawed at her, sending sharp fingers of pain through her chest again.
    Daria sat down heavily at the kitchen table and began to plow her way through the soup. Russi watched her out of the corner of his eye before he finally sighed and pulled off his headphones.
    “I’m only gonna ask once more. Do you wanna talk about it?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair.
    “You’re my mission partner, not my girlfriend,” Daria couldn’t help the dead quality to her voice as she dipped a piece of bread in the soup.
    “Yeah well, say you get distracted and it ends up with me getting hit or worse, killed. Better you talk now and get your feelings out so you can watch my back out here later.” Russi’s reasoning was sound enough, but all she could do was shrug her shoulders.
    “I think he dumped me. I dunno.” She shoved a large piece of bread into her mouth and tried not to concentrated on it too hard. Russi was quiet and when she looked up at him both of his eyebrows were raised in surprise. She felt immediately defensive. “What?”
    “Just not used to uh, a partner that’s so…” he paused and seemed to mull over his word choice before continuing, “forthcoming.”
    He meant young , she could tell. She shrugged one shoulder.
    “Sorry,” she didn’t bother even trying to sound apologetic and he sighed.
    “Men come and go-“ he started, and she made a noise of derision in the back of her throat, stopping him short.
    “Don’t give me the daddy-talk. I don’t need it.” Daria popped the last of her bread in her mouth and chewed. Fine, Nico was going to be a dick and maybe-maybe-not dump her in a spectacularly ambiguous way? Fine, she could handle that. When she next saw him in the training gym he best hope