“Yeah, I haven’t really dated in a long time, and I’ve never dated anyone on the job, so… this is new for me too,” I said lightheartedly.
“I know everyone has a past and all, but can you maybe not mention certain things? I don’t know why it makes me—”
“Not that this is the time or place,” I said cutting him off and putting my lips right next to his ear, “but you being all possessive is really hot.”
His body shivered and his fingers dug into my forearm like he needed something to hold on to. Then he cleared his throat and pulled himself together.
“It doesn’t scare you off?” he asked, his eyes on the ground.
“Not from you, no,” I told him, tilting his head up with a crooked finger under his chin. “Nothing you do scares me.” It was true, and I hoped he could see it in my eyes.
He would never be like his father, and if he let me, I planned to spend a lifetime proving to him that he was good.
I placed one last quick kiss on his lips.
“Go get geared up,” I ordered, forcing myself to step back.
“That commanding tone is only going to work for situations like this,” he informed me.
I smirked, knowing this already. I was more than happy to put myself in Austin’s hands and let him take care of me. I hadn’t thought that would be something I enjoyed, but for some reason, it felt natural with him.
“Let’s do this,” he said, smiling huge as he took two steps back before turning around and jogging off to the back of the closest SUV.
I let myself take one last long look at his hot backside. Then I took a deep breath and cleared my thoughts.
There was something here. I refused to think differently. Even if Lipton wasn’t hiding inside, I’d tear this place apart looking for the smallest clue. It might not be today or tomorrow, but I would find him.
32
Austin
For all of the intensity we had getting ready to raid Lipton’s vacation house, the outcome was less than thrilling.
The place was empty. We went room by room, then went back through, checking walls and closets and under beds.
Fucking empty.
There was food in the fridge, dirty dishes in the sink, and the sheets were rumpled.
He’d been staying here, sleeping in luxury while Ford had nearly died at the hands of mercenaries. While my fucking house got broken into and burned down. While people were being kidnapped and abused under his orders.
Half of us stood in the massive living room, looking at each other with a stupid kind of clueless expression that couldn’t be helped.
Ford had wanted so badly for Lipton to be here, and though he had been at one point, he wasn’t now. It sucked that we likely missed him within twenty-four hours. A fucking day.
An uneasy feeling kicked in my gut.
Something wasn’t right.
“You feel it too,” Jameson said, pressing his shoulder into mine. A move that threw me for a minute. Though we’d had that bonding talk, I didn’t think it had changed much.
“Yeah,” I said back, though it hadn’t really sounded like a question. “What is it about this house that we’re missing?”
“Hmm,” he replied deeply, eyes scanning the room with sharp focus.
“What are we doing?” Dune said as he came up behind me. Campbell and Carver from Ford’s team were right behind him, wearing matching curious looks as I moved around the room, scanning the three doorways.
“Looking for something,” I said as I moved into the hall. The sound of thumping boots behind me gave me the security of knowing I had backup.
