“Sorry, yes, I’m Ashley. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m Chad.” The guys shake hands. “Thank you for agreeing to do this.”
“Harlow and I go way back,” he cryptically explains. “I’ll be honest, this isn’t something I do anymore, but our friend can be mighty persuasive when she needs to be.” His lips twitch, and warmth fills his face.
I smile, instantly feeling at ease with this man. Which is strange, cause he’s pretty fucking intimidating. “Lo is awesome. I miss her.”
“The feeling is mutual. But she’s happy and safe, and that is all I have ever wanted for her.”
There is obvious affection in his tone and his expression, and now I’m all kinds of curious about who this man is to Harlow Westbrook.
“We’re not big into names for security reasons,” he explains, adopting a professional face again. “We will also not divulge anything about our facility, who we are, or what we do. You won’t ask questions. You come here to be trained in combat and weaponry, and you never speak of it.Ever. You take this to the grave.” His eyes probe mine and then Chad’s.
My heart is thumping against my rib cage with all he isn’t saying.
This dude is someone important, and what we have stepped in is something high level, top-secret, and most definitely classified.
“We understand,” I say, and Chad nods.
Lo’s friend drills us with a look, and it takes effort to hold his gaze and not back down when he just stares at us in silence for a couple minutes. It’s a test of sorts, I assume, and I don’t want to let Lo down. She obviously went out on a limb to arrange this, and I’m ever so grateful. I just know the skills we will learn here will be invaluable.
“Lo assures me you can be trusted, and I trust her judgment, but this needs to be said before we go any further. You cannot tell anyone about this. It has got to remain a secret. You can’t tell siblings, friends, parents, teachers,anyone. Especially not law enforcement or government bodies or representatives.”
“We hear you, and we can be trusted to keep it confidential,” Chad says.
“We can sign NDAs if it would help,” I suggest because I know that’s usually the done thing.
A grim smile stretches his lips. “We don’t ask visitors to sign NDAs because it’s a waste of time and effort. If anyone talks, we don’t take them to court to seek redress.” All the tiny hairs lift on the back of my neck as his intense gaze bores a hole in our skulls. “We just eliminate the threat.”
ChapterTwelve
Ashley
The screeching ringtone of the alarm shakes me from a blissful sleep. Blinking my eyes open, I roll onto my side as Chad snatches his phone from the bedside table and turns it off. “I ache in places I didn’t realize could ache,” I moan as my strained limbs protest the rolling motion.
“I work out daily and train most every day with the team, and even I’m sore. That dude really put us through our paces.”
“He did, but it was good. I’m glad I asked Lo now.”
“Speaking of Lo, did you call her last night when I was in the shower?”
I shake my head as I move closer to my man, draping my arm over his toned waist. “We were told not to ask questions. Those guys strike me as the type who could easily get into our phones and tap into our messages. I don’t want to risk it.”
“Good call, sweetheart.” Chad idly toys with my hair. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re watching us for a while to ensure we can be trusted.”
A chill skitters up my spine at the thought, but if that’s the price to pay for becoming a badass ninja, I’ll pay it. “Nor me,” I reply. “Besides, it would be a waste of time. I know Lo. She clearly got the same memo we did, so she won’t tell me a thing. I don’t want to risk our friendship or ruin the arrangement we have. Sore as I am, I like that I’m learning how to defend myself in all manner of ways, and it comforts me to know you are upskilling too.”
Chad threads his fingers through my messy hair, pressing his lips to my brow. “Please stop worrying, beautiful. I promise nothing is going to happen to me.”
“I’ll try.” I snuggle into his warmth, trailing my finger over my name inked in a love heart over his chest.
My boyfriend went through a bit of a metamorphosis this summer. Cutting and dying his hair, adding piercings in his brow and nose, and inking parts of his chest and one arm. I know he wants to get more tattoos when he has the money. I would pay for them, but I know he’d reject my offer, and it’ll only cause another argument, which I want to avoid. I want to firmly get my relationship with Chad back on track.
“I’ve got to go. Coach arranged an early-morning workout. Team bonding, apparently.” Chad dots kisses all over my face. “You should go back to sleep.” He peels back the covers and climbs out of bed, stretching his arms up over his head.
The muscles in his abs flex and roll with the motion, and his sleep pants slip a little lower, offering me a tantalizing glimpse of the V-indents on each hip and the trail of dark-blond hair snaking underneath his waistband. I’m licking my lips and squirming on the bed as I eye the considerable bulge at his crotch, wondering if I’d get away with tackling him and handcuffing him to the bedpost so he can’t leave.
Chad spots the direction of my thoughts, chuckling. “I want to, Siren, but it’ll have to wait.” He adjusts his morning wood, piercing me with a look loaded with devilish promise. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
