They went into the study together. She saw Merc first, her attention drawn automatically to him as his presence dominated the room. Her mouth watered. He was dressed in heavy boots, sinfully snug fitting blue jeans, and a white V-neck T-shirt. The material stretched taught over his broad chest, straining to keep the bulging muscles contained before tapering down into a tight V. He shifted and his abs rippled beneath the shirt.
Nightshade licked her dry lips and glanced up, caught in the heat of his stare. There was no mistaking the desire heating his gaze.
She fought the urge to squirm and forced herself to break eye contact. She had no business thinking these lust-filled thoughts about him, especially now when she was so close to completing her mission. She’d made her choice. Team Mayhem and her sister. Merc would never have a future in that life.
“Caroline?” A soft melodic voice drifted across the room and her attention snapped to the right, taking in the frail presence of Celine Latimer. She hovered near Aaron's arm, clutching his hand with a white knuckled grip. “Caro, is it really you?”
Oh crap. Celine Latimer. The tenacious blonde who’d been inadvertently kidnapped with Caroline. Nightshade hadn’t thought about her since arriving. Her close connection to Caroline, as evidenced by Celine’s constantly demanding to see Caroline when they’d been back at the palace, could be a problem for Nightshade.
Celine took a hesitant step forward, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
“Go on, honey. She won't bite.” Aaron gave Celine a nudge, his expression filled with so much warmth it made Nightshade's teeth hurt.
“I – I can't believe you're alive.” The damn burst and Celine flew across the room, wrapping Nightshade in a fierce hug, her soft sobs cracking through the thin ice around Nightshade’s heart.
She let go of Cotter and wrapped her arms around Celine. “I’m so glad to see you again, I missed you.”
As if those simple words were a life-changing event, Celine sobbed harder. “I've been so worried about you. I – I – I've prayed every day for you.”
Even more of Nightshade's resistance melted. So many people here truly loved Caroline, including Celine Latimer.
A wave of guilt caught Nightshade by surprise, slamming through her so hard it caused physical pain to spread down her arms into her fingertips. She’d never considered the collateral damage to innocents in all of her cold-hearted calculations of revenge against Tom Cotter.
Throat tight, Nightshade hugged her tighter. “I'm sorry.”
Celine sobbed harder and Nightshade bit her tongue at the slip-up. Caroline had nothing to be sorry for. It was Nightshade who was beginning to realize her actions affected more lives than she'd ever imagined.
“Celine, sweetheart, I think you might be choking her.”
Nightshade was grateful for Aaron's gentle interruption. Her entire foundation had just tilted precariously to the side and she needed to put some distance between herself and this ride of emotions brought on by Caroline's friends and family.
Flailing for sure footing, she sought out the one person in the room who could give her strength: Merc.
He came to her without hesitation, wrapping his arm around her, and in her vulnerable state, Nightshade collapsed into his side, drawing on his strength and warmth. “Are you ready for one more?” Merc leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“One more what?” Nightshade honestly didn't know if she could handle another emotional gut punch.
Merc nodded to the far corner of the room where a beautiful black haired woman stood by Ethan's side. Nightshade had no idea who the woman was, only that she wasn't a sobbing mess like Celine.
The woman strode confidently across the room, her green gaze bright. “I'm so sorry for what happened at your wedding. I should have known. Can you ever forgive me?”
Forgive her for what? Nightshade did a mad mental scramble trying to figure out the woman's identity but came up blank. This person was obviously another one of Caroline’s friends, so she simply replied with, “There's nothing to forgive.”
The woman’s stiff posture melted, and before Nightshade had a chance to react, she yanked Nightshade into a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you're back.” Just as quickly the woman stepped back leaving Nightshade grateful that she wouldn’t have to handle another sob show.
She might break down herself.
Ethan placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “See, Kate, what did I tell you?”
Kate rolled her eyes and gave a light jab to Ethan's ribs. “If this man right here hadn't threatened to have me locked up,Iwould've been in Afghanistan with the rest of the team, searching for you.”
Ethan chuckled and rubbed his ribs. “Just because you’re an ex-CIA agent doesn't mean I'd let you go on a special ops mission. Not after I almost lost you once.”
Ex-CIA agent? Nightshade would have to tread carefully here or risk blowing her cover.
Kate touched Ethan’s hand, her gaze filled with affection. “Well, from what I heard, Caro didn’t need me.” She dipped her head in Nightshade’s direction. “You held your own pretty damn good against his team. Girl power.” Kate held up her hand.
Nightshade hesitated the briefest second, then gave her a high five. “It was just instinct, I think.”
