“Where…is…Sabrina?” he growled. The merc made a garbled, choking sound and Jayson squeezed harder. When his eyes began to roll back in his head, Jayson loosened his grip, allowing him to answer. “I won’t ask again.”
His team hovered over them, everyone waiting to see if the fucker would give a location. Or if they’d have to beat it out of him.
“Vegas,” the merc finally sputtered. “But you won’t be able to break into his compound.”
“We’ll see about that.” In a swift move, Jayson lashed out with the knife edge of his hand, landing a perfectly executed shuto tothe merc’s carotid sinus. The sharp strike caused a sudden loss of oxygen to the brain, and the merc passed out.
“Nice hit,” Chaz murmured.
Jayson hoisted himself up off the floor. “They took her to his desert house. I need to leave. Now.”
When he stalked forward, Brand grabbed his arm. “We all do. Don’t even think you’re doing this alone.”
Jayson gave him a grateful nod, forcing himself to calm down and breathe. He knew his friends would help, but he never wanted them to feel obligated to put themselves in danger. They’d found so much happiness in the past year, and the last thing he wanted to do was somehow rip that away.
“Lex, get theSpitfireready,” Brand said. “I’ll touch base with Mitch when we’re in the air. He’ll have someone clean up here.”
Nostrils flaring, Jayson held himself back from launching an assault of vicious kicks on the unconscious mercenary. First Emma, now Sabrina. Neither of them deserved to be dragged into such a deadly situation. Rocco Ferrante was well-renowned for his cruelty, and worry began to eat away at Jayson’s nerves.
She isn’t trained for this,he thought. Though his agent was tough as nails, the Bureau didn’t train their agents to withstand torture. Unlike US military personnel and CIA intelligence operatives, Feds weren’t at high risk of being captured by hostile nations.
But if anyone could handle that pissant Ferrante, he believed Sabrina could.
Even so, he hated the idea of her being hurt. Even worse, it was because of him. Forcing himself to focus on the mission, he locked down his worry. It wouldn’t do either of them any good.
I’m coming, Sunflower. Please, hang in there.
Chapter sixteen
Head down, lost in her tumultuous thoughts, Sabrina trudged through the airport, dragging her carryon suitcase behind her. Her heart hurt like it had never hurt before, a physical ache that nearly took her breath away. Pressing a fist to her chest, she sucked in a steadying inhale.
Nothing felt right about boarding this plane and leaving Jayson. In fact, everything in her rebelled at the idea of flying away from Montana. From him.
She knew saying goodbye would hurt, but she hadn’t been fully prepared for the absolute crushing pain. Like her heart was caught in an ever-tightening vise. When her relationship with Ian ended, it had hurt. But nothing like this.
“Shit.” Sabrina abruptly halted in the middle of the busy pedestrian walkway. Passengers split, going around her and continued heading for their gates. For places they wanted to be. And hopefully people they wanted to be with. Could she say the same?
Turmoil roiled through her. Frozen in place, she stared straight ahead. If she left, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. She knew it without a doubt.
Returning to D.C. wouldn’t make her happy.
Maybe it’s time to be brave and take a chance.To put her happiness above all else and take a leap of faith.
She wanted to see where things might go with Jayson. And if she found out he wasn’t on the same page, at least she’d know she tried. Then she could leave with her head held high, albeit her heart in pieces. Once she had a definitive answer, she could fly back to D.C., explain things to her father and quit the Bureau. Sure, he’d be disappointed at first, but he wanted his only daughter to be happy.
Although she had no idea what she would do or where she would go if things with Jayson didn’t work out, she needed a change. Desperately. She needed to find her happiness again. And no one else could do that for her.
Oh, God. Am I having a midlife crisis?
Too late. She’d made up her mind. Turning around, she started heading back through the airport. She’d catch a taxi and return to Jayson’s house. Lay her cards out on the table and tell him she wanted to see him. Date him. Start a relationship. She wanted it all, but she didn’t want to scare him.Easy, Sabrina. Don’t send the silver fox scurrying deep into his den.
A part of her believed he wanted those same things, too. At least, she hoped he did.
Stepping outside, she breathed in the cold air, and it felt like a weight lifted off her chest. Right on cue, a taxi pulled up to the curb, and she got inside, dragging her small suitcase in beside her.
As the driver pulled away, she told him Jayson’s address. Worst case scenario, she could always go back and stay at the house next door. At least until she figured out her next step. Bigchanges were on the horizon, and for the first time in so very long, she was back on the road to finding herself. To finding her happiness. And it felt damn good.
It didn’t take long to reach the airport exit, and Sabrina was mentally rehearsing all the things she wanted to say to Jayson when the driver turned right instead of left. Sitting up straighter, she frowned. Was he trying to take her some long, roundabout way?
