"Yeah." His expression didn't waver. "It is."
The weight of what he was offering, what he was giving her, settled in her stomach. This wasn't just about physical safety. This was trust. Complete trust. The kind that saidthis is yours too now.
Rachel placed her right hand on the scanner, her thumb first. The screen flashed green with a soft beep, then her index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky. She switched hands and did the left.
Ghost watched each confirmation light up green on the display, then locked the scanner back into its case and stored it under the kitchen counter.
Around them, the team continued prepping with military precision. They'd all changed, or rather, they'd layered. Tactical vests hidden under loose jackets. Sidearms secured in concealed holsters. Brick checked his Glock, ejected the magazine, checked it again, slapped it back in. Frost adjusted a shoulder holsterbeneath his leather jacket. Echo secured his tablet and external drives in a reinforced laptop bag.
They looked like civilians. Sort of. If you didn't look too closely at the way they moved, the way their eyes constantly scanned exits and sightlines, the way they positioned themselves with their backs to walls.
Rachel felt something cold settle in her stomach. This was real. They were going out there to put themselves in danger, to take down armed men who'd already proven they were willing to kill.
One by one, the team headed for the door.
Reaper paused in front of her. "Don't burn the place down."
"She's already tried," Brick tossed back over his shoulder.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Get out of here."
Bear gave her a surprisingly gentle nod. "Take care, ma'am."
"Ma'am," she repeated. "I'm like five years older than you."
"Yes, ma'am." His grin was unrepentant.
Predator stopped, his expression more serious now. "Lock the doors. Don't answer for anyone. Ghost's got cameras—" he gestured toward a small panel by the door, "—check before you open."
"I will."
Torch clapped her on the shoulder. "We'll bring him back in one piece."
"You better."
Echo was last, pausing to adjust his bag. "There's leftover Chinese in the fridge. Thai in the freezer. Don't let him forget to eat when we get back."
Despite everything, she smiled. "I won't."
Then it was just Ghost.
The house suddenly felt too quiet with everyone else gone. Just the hum of the refrigerator and the distant sound of waves outside.
Ghost stopped in front of her. His hands came up to frame her face, thumbs brushing along her cheekbones. He just looked at her for a moment, like he was memorizing her features.
Then he kissed her.
This one was different from the claiming kiss in front of his team. This one was softer.
When he pulled back, his thumb brushed her cheek. "I'll see you later," he said, his voice low and rough. "Text me if you need anything. Doesn't matter what."
Rachel nodded, her fingers curling into the front of his shirt, not quite ready to let go. "Be careful."
"Always am." He kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger there, then stepped back, grabbed his own jacket from the hook by the door, and was gone.
The door closed with a solid click.
Rachel stood there in the sudden silence, surrounded by empty coffee cups and the lingering scent of too many men in one space. She walked to the window and watched Ghost's truck pull out of the driveway, followed by two other vehicles she didn't recognize.
