CHAPTER 23
Max
A s I drove towards Nitro’s office, I found myself thinking about the day I’d met him. It was a year after I’d left the Marines. I’d spent all my time and most of my money trying to run from the memories and heartache, and it had gotten me nowhere. I was at the airport, trying to decide where to go next, and I couldn’t make up my mind, so I decided to go get a beer from the airport bar. I went up to the counter and sat down, not even realizing there was someone sitting next to me. When he looked over to me and tried to strike up a conversation, I considered blowing him off, but there was something about him that drew my attention. Before it was all said and done, he’d convinced me to follow him to Port Angeles. To this day, I don’t know what he saw in me that day, but that brief conversation we shared altered my life in ways I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. I learned a lot from him, both good and bad, and even though I had no reservations about quitting my job, it wouldn’t be easy to walk away. Nitro wasn’t only my boss, he was my friend—a good friend. And as I walked into his office, I had no regrets.
He glanced up from his computer for just a moment before looking back down at his screen. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today. Is everything okay with Harper?”
I sat in the chair in front of him. “She’s fine.”
“Yeah. I heard all about it. Ryder said Harper had everything under control by the time you got there.” Nitro smirked. “She’s a smart one.”
“That, she is.”
“Ryder said he was taking the old guy over to the border to meet his daughter or something.”
“Um-hmm.” I nodded. “He left early this morning. He should be back in a couple of hours.”
“Okay, then. Everything should be good.” Turning his attention away from his computer, he leaned back in his chair and looked at me with a serious expression. “So, what the hell is going on with you? Why do I feel like I’ve got bad news coming my way?”
“There’s something we need to talk about.”
“Okay. Then, let’s talk.”
“I’ve known you long enough to know that there’s no point in sugarcoating it, so I’m just going to say it. I’m done, Nitro. I can’t do this anymore.”
His eye brows furrowed as he spat, “Done with what?”
“This. All of it.” I motioned between us. “I’m out.”
He ran his hand over his face, which was never a good sign. It was always one of the things he did right before he blew a gasket. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I don’t know what else you want me to say here. I’ve done my job. I’ve been damn good at it, too … but I’m done with it, man. I’m not doing it anymore.”
His face grew red with anger as he shouted, “So, you think you can just walk in here and tell me you’re fucking done? Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
“I get that you’re pissed.”
“You’re damn right I’m fucking pissed!” he roared. “You can’t just walk away. You know too fucking much. You know things that no one else—”
“Yes, I know things. I know plenty. But from the day I started working for you, I’ve stood by you—through thick and thin. I’ve put my life on the line not only for you, but for Ryder and the others. Hell, it wasn’t long ago that I took a few bullets for Tristen. I’ve been loyal to you, Nathan, and you know it. That’s not going to change when I walk out that door. I’ll be loyal to you till the day I take my last breath. Not because of the job, but because you’re family.”
“I know you’ve been loyal in the past, Max, but I’m just supposed to believe that you’re going to walk away and never speak of anything that’s happened here?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to believe, because it’s true .” I leaned towards him and looked him square in the eye. “You know me, Nathan. You know the kind of man I am. Hell, you knew it even before I did. That’s why you brought me on in the first place.”
He took in a deep breath and shook his head slowly from side to side. “And who the hell am I going to get to take your place?”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with someone.” I smiled. “I think Ryder has shown some real promise over the past year.”
“I don’t know, man.” Nitro’s eyes drifted to the ceiling. “He’s a hot head.”
“He’s quick on his feet, and he’s got heart.” I offered.
“He’s just a kid.”
“And so were we when we got started. You’ll teach him what he needs to know.” He sat there looking at me for a moment, and without him saying the words, I knew what he was thinking. “I know it won’t be the same, but we’ll keep in touch. And you know if you ever really need me, I’ll be here.”
“You give me your word on that?”
“I do.” I stood up and extended my hand to him, but he refused to accept it as he stood up and walked around his desk. He approached me with his arms opened wide, and when he reached me, he hugged me tightly. I patted him on the back and said, “Thanks for everything.”
He took a step back and looked at me. “Don’t think I don’t know that I’m losing a good man today. You were right. I knew I was meant to come across you in that bar, but deep down, I also knew this day would come. You’re too good for this shit. I’ve always known that, but I still appreciate what you’ve done for me, and for Tristen. Oh hell … She’s not going to like that you’re leaving.”
“I don’t know. I think she’ll understand better than anyone.” Nitro nodded and watched as I started towards the door. “I’ll get what I want out of the condo. Tell Ryder, the rest is his.”
“I want to know where you end up, and I don’t want Ryder to have to hunt you down.”
“Understood.” Before I walked out, I looked over to him and said, “Goodbye, Nathan. See ya on the flip side.”
I headed out to my car and drove straight to my condo. Before I went back over to the cabin, I wanted to pack up my stuff. There wasn’t much I wanted to take with me, just a few odds and ends and my clothes. When I walked in, there was no moment of reminiscing, no thinking back on fond memories, because there were none. The condo wasn’t my home. It was just a place where I laid my head at night, so there was no second guessing as I pulled my clothes out of my drawers and loaded them into my duffle bags. I grabbed the picture off my night stand, a few trinkets I collected while in the Marines, all my suits and shoes from the closet, and I was set to go. I was about to walk out the door, when I passed by the picture hanging over the fireplace. Knowing that was one thing I couldn’t leave behind, I took it down from the wall and carried it out to my car.
Once I had everything loaded I locked the door, and just as I turned around, Tristen was standing behind me. “Were you even going to tell me goodbye?”
“I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.”
“And why not? Was I really nothing more than just a stupid job to you?” she cried. “I thought we were friends.”
“You know that wasn’t the case, Tristen.”
Her eyes were filled with disappointment as she said, “Then, you should’ve told me you were leaving.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I should have. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. Like I told Nathan, you two are like family to me.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “What am I going to do without you? Who’s going to give me advice when things get crazy around here? Where am I supposed to get all those infinite words of wisdom you’re always dishing out”
“Tristen, you’re going to be fine. You don’t need me, and you know it .”
“I don’t know about that,” she sighed. “So, where are you going anyway?”
“Don’t know yet, but when I do, I’ll let you know.”
“You promise?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
“I promise.”
She reached up and gave me a hug. “Goodbye, Max. I’m really going to miss you.”
Knowing she meant it, I looked at her and smiled. “I’ll miss you, too, Tristen. Take care of yourself.”
“I’ll do my best.”
As soon as she headed back upstairs, I went back out to my car. I sat there for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. It wasn’t going to be easy to leave my friends behind, but in the long run, I knew it would all be worth it. Knowing I still had one more person I needed to talk to before I could get home to Harper, I got out my phone and dialed Ryder’s number. As soon as he answered, I asked, “Where are you?”
“Just coming into town. Why?”
“Need to talk to you. Meet me at the parking lot beside my condo.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in two minutes.”
After I hung up, I started the car and pulled across the street. While I waited for him, I took the keys to the condo off my keyring and slipped them into my pocket. When I saw him pulling in, I got out and started walking towards him. Once he stopped, I opened the passenger door and got in next to him. As soon as I closed the door, he asked, “Is everything alright?”
“I just left Nitro’s office.”
“And?”
“I quit, Ryder.”
“You did what ?”
“Look. I already hashed all this out with him. I’m not going through it all over again with you.” I reached in my pocket for the keys and handed them over to him. “Here are the keys to my place. They’re yours now. Along with everything inside.”
“Okay?”
Ignoring the confused look on his face, I said, “Nitro is good at what he does. So, even when it doesn’t make sense, just listen to him … do what he says.”
Ryder nodded.
“You know he has a temper. It’s best to just let him blow up and get it all out before you try to talk to him. You’ll just be wasting oxygen if you try hashing it out with him.”
He nodded, again.
“Like always, you watch his back, and he’ll watch yours.”
He looked down at the keys in his hand and asked, “You’re really leaving?”
“I am.” I gave him a stern look as I continued, “And when it comes to Tristen, run everything by Nitro. Everything. Even when it seems trivial.”
“Okay.”
“I know I don’t have to say this, but watch yourself with her. She’d be an easy girl to fall for, but—”
“You can stop there, man. I want to keep my balls exactly where they are.”
“Then, I think you’re good.” I opened the door and as I started to get out, I said, “Take care of Nitro.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, man. I’ve never been one to believe in all that happy ending bullshit, but if I have one out there, I’m sure as hell going to try and find it.”