Sam loves you,that voice in my head supplied.
He said he did, but I had yet to notice him looking at me as though I was the only woman for him. Or maybe he did look at me like that, and I hadn’t noticed. After all, I’d been too busy worrying about my sisters, the baby, and my uncle… and feeling sorry for myself. I needed to take off the self-pitying glasses, straighten my ass out, hold my head high, and tell everyone to fuck off.
When I reached the bottom, strong hands landed on my shoulders from behind, severing me from the stern talk I was giving myself.
Sam grabbed my hand. “You’re nervous. I can smell your fear.”
I wrinkled my nose, sizing up the imposing vampire. His ebony hair was tied at the nape. His green eyes glistened even on such a cloudy day. He was dressed to fight like a badass motherfucker, and not an ounce of trepidation showed on his handsome mug. It was as though he lived for the battles, the fights, the war. Then again, I would, too, if I knew I couldn’t die easily.
“What does fear smell like?” My curious mind wanted to know, even though he was right. The last time I was among family, it didn’t go well.
He smirked, showing his dimples. “Each person is different. But you have a salty scent that mixes with your deodorant when you perspire.”
I snorted, not quite sure how to take that.
A gust of wind whipped around us and ruffled my hair to the point where I couldn’t see for a moment.
Sam brushed my strands out of my face before he produced a leather strap from one of his pockets. Then he tied my hair back. “My dad always scolds us if our hair isn’t secure before going into battle.”
I giggled. “First, you wash my hair, and now, you’re my stylist? Who are you, Sam Mason?”
He peered down at me with a serious expression. “I’m a man who is hopelessly in love with you. A man who wants you around for eternity.”
A swarm of butterflies had taken flight inside me until he said that last part. I wouldn’t be around forever, and those flutters died a quick death in my stomach. “Sam—”
He placed a finger on my lips. “Shh. Whatever you’re about to say, you can say it when we’re back on the plane. Right now, I need you to be alert. Fear is good. It keeps you on your toes, but only if you have one thing on your mind, and that’s staying alive.” He flattened his strong hands on my cold cheeks. “Can you do that for me?”
I didn’t want to believe my uncles would harm me. But I’d never thought my sister would, either, or even my cousin, for that matter.
“Jack is a wild card,” Sam said. “Your aunt might believe he wants our help to find Noah, but we need to operate like he doesn’t until Jo reads his mind.”
I agreed. Jack Aberdeen could be a loose cannon. He could also be working with Lester Worthington and using the meeting as a ploy to get the SEALs in one place.
“What if—” I swallowed a big boulder. “What if Jack shoots everyone with that drug? What if Dr. Vieira is right, and it burns all of you from the inside out?” I blew out a breath. “Maybe that’s why I’m here. So he can take me back after all of you are dead.” The nausea swished around, and suddenly, I wanted to hop on that plane and fly it out of there myself.
“That won’t happen,” he assured me. “He can’t take all of us down at once, even if he has backup.”
He might be right, but my stomach didn’t agree. Still, I wasn’t one to cower. So I gave him the best confident smile I could, knowing he could feel my true feelings since he was an empath. “I can handle my uncle.” I had to. Besides, like Jo, I was dressed to fight, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use my daggers or gun if I had to, despite family ties.
Sam studied me as his lips curled at the ends. “There’s the feisty vampire huntress I love.”
Warmth spread through my chest.
“Sam,” Webb called. “Time to go.”
He brushed his lips over mine.
“If you find Rianne lurking around here, bring her to me.” We still hadn’t heard from or found Rianne. If I knew my sister, she had her eyes on our every move. “I’ll handle her.” I was ready to go two more rounds with her.Fuck talking.
He checked that my bulletproof vest was secure. “We’ll find anyone who’s around here. And if Noah is out there,” he growled, “he’ll leave in a body bag.” He gave me a chaste kiss. “Be safe.” He started to walk backward. “Remember, you and the baby come first.” He blew me a kiss, spun on his heel, and jogged over to Tripp and Webb, who were huddled together.
I pushed out a breath, ready to get the show over with. I was ready to return to Jo’s house in Maine, tell Sam how I felt, and figure out what to do next. Of course, I didn’t think things would go back to normal after our meeting with Jack. Hell, I knew the battle was just beginning. But a girl could hope.
“Layla.” Jo’s sweet voice penetrated through my haze as I watched Sam disappear around the hangar building. “We need to go inside.”
Blinking, I shuddered as a sinking feeling gripped my stomach.
Steven broke the lock on one of six bay doors. “We’ll wait in here.”
