“You know better. Abel only cares about establishing us here as securely as possible and the safety of our people. Monroe isn’t one of ours.”

“I can hear you.” I mean for it to come out jokingly, but the words fall flatly between us.

Shiloh clenches her fists. “No. Absolutely not. We might kill when we have to, but we don’t just murder people.” She narrows her eyes. “Especially when you’re choosing to avoid her. It’s not like she’s barricaded the door against you.”

“Still sitting right here,” I say.

Shiloh advances on Broderick, and I have to give him credit for holding his ground. I might even take a step back if she came at me with that look on her face. She pokes his chest. “Fix this right fucking now, Broderick.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” He exhales roughly. “It’s why I’m here. Why we’re having this conversation right now.”

Do either of them notice how close they are right now? His gaze drops to her mouth before he forcibly jerks it back to her eyes. Their determination to ignore the chemistry flaring hotly between them would make me laugh if I didn’t feel so sick to my stomach over the topic of this conversation.

Broderick looks at me. “Starting tonight, I’ll be staying here. That’s the first step, probably the most important. We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”

“One problem with that brilliant plan of yours.” I hold up a finger. “Shiloh also sleeps here.” She hadn’t been sharing a bed with me, preferring to sleep on the horribly uncomfortable-looking couch tucked up against the wall, but I was hoping tonight that would change. “You aren’t planning to kick her out just because you made an executive decision without speaking with either of us, were you?”

He opens his mouth, looks at me and then at Shiloh, and hesitates. Finally, Broderick says stiffly, “Do you have an alternate option?”

Yeah, that all three of us sleep in that massive bed together. I start to suggest exactly that, but Shiloh speaks first. “If you’re here, I don’t have to be. I’ll sleep in the barracks and circle back in the morning.” She starts for the door.

Yeah, I don’t think so.

“Shiloh.” I put enough snap in my tone to stop her in her tracks. She slowly turns to face me, and the redness spreading from her face down her neck is all the confirmation I need. She was just about to run from me. From us. I hold her gaze. “That is not a good solution, and you know it. All your stuff is here. It’s late, and mid-shift at that. Are you going to take someone away from their job to help you haul your shit to the barracks just because you’re scared of a little conversation between friends?”