“Good. The team is reconvening in ten minutes. We have updates from local law enforcement.”
“Of course. I’ll—I’ll be there.”
Claire hurried past Vivi, head down, cheeks burning. She could feel the doctor’s gaze following her. Analyzing. Understanding precisely what had happened in Wolf’s room.
Behind her, she heard Wolf close his bedroom door.
“Commander.” Vivi’s voice was amused. “Interesting approach to panic management.”
“Don’t.” Wolf’s voice was tight.
Claire didn’t wait to hear more. She fled down the hallway to the ops center.
Her lips still tingled. Her body still hummed with the memory of his hands. His mouth. The way he’d kissed her like she was everything.
And I still don’t know his name.
Somehow, that felt like the biggest sellout of all.
CHAPTERNINE
Garrett watched Claire flee down the corridor, his heart still pounding, his lips still burning from the kiss.
What the hell had he just done?
He’d kissed her. Not just kissed—claimed her. Like she was his. Like he had any right to touch her when he was lying to her about everything that mattered.
I don’t even know your name.
Her words cut deeper than the killer’s knife. She’d trusted him with her body, her vulnerability, her rage. And he couldn’t even give her his real name. Couldn’t tell her he was Bobby. The boy hadn’t been there for her or her best friend fifteen years ago.
That call…if only he’d kept to his schedule with Lily like Claire had said. None of this would have ever happened.
My fault, my fault, my fault.
He ran his hands through his hair, tried to steady his breathing. This was exactly why he shouldn’t have gotten close to her. Why he should have stayed professional.
But then she’d kissed him. Fifteen years of guilt and loneliness and need had exploded between them like a bomb. Yes, dammit, he knew that everything he’d said to her applied to him, too. In many ways, it wasn’t his fault that Lily was dead—it was Brands who’d done it—but it didn’t stop the clawing pain and guilt he’d always felt. One stupid phone call could have saved his sister.
Not only her, but all of the women the Countdown Killer had murdered, too.
He absentmindedly checked his tactical vest and his weapon.Focus on the mission.Be the commander of this team.
That’s who he was now. Not Bobby. Not the failure. He was Wolf, commander of Shadow Point Security. He didn’t let emotions compromise operations.
Vivi sidled up to him, her expression carefully neutral, but her eyes assessing.
“Don’t,” Garrett said.
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You’re about to.”
Vivi crossed her arms. “You need to tell her.”
“No.”
“Garrett—”
