“Not yet, honey, but Agent K and my whole team are looking into it.”
“It’s just that I keep seeing her in my mind and for some reason I think she looks like Caroline. Maybe I’m losing it.” There really wasn’t any other explanation. The worst nightmare that held her was of his daughter actually turning into Caroline, which was just insane.
“You went through a lot of trauma, both physically and mentally. Give yourself some more time to recover,” Aaron said.
But what if she could remember more – it would help their mission. Maybe even be what helped them find Caroline and safely return her home. “I want to help more.”
“You are, baby. More than you know.” Aaron’s stomach grumbled against her ear.
The loud sound turned her thoughts to a more immediate need. “You know what would make this night even more perfect?”
“Hmmm…”
“Food.”
“Hungry?”
“I think I’ll be hungry for the rest of my life,” she answered honestly.
He laughed, a deep and rich sound that made her own lips curl in response.
“I aim to please. Stay put, I’ll be right back.” Aaron easedher onto his pillow and went downstairs. She lay there, half on the verge of sleep and consciousness, listening to him move about in the kitchen.
She’d completely fallen for Aaron Speirs. A warm feeling that had nothing to do with the hot bath stole across her chest and left her fuzzy.
She’d known it would happen, known with every fiber in her being, and yet she'd been helpless to stop. Even after what he did. Even knowing from firsthand experience how dangerous his job was and that she’d chew her nails off with worry when he deployed – he was worth the pain.
Every single bit of it.
Chapter 24
A bright redlight flashed on the bed stand by her head. She tried to ignore it, but it kept flashing. No way she could nap with that and what if it was Mr. K? Or Merc?
Celine eased up, blinking, and reached for the small black box, turning it in her hand as she tried to figure out what the heck it was. Definitely not a cell phone or a clock. In fact, it was nothing but a flashing light.
“How does a grilled cheese sound?” Aaron stood at the top of the stairs, his smile fading as he stared at the box.
“I’m sorry. I just didn’t know if this alarm was something important. I didn’t mean to mess anything up.” Celine nibbled her lip, hoping she hadn’t done any damage.
“How long has that been blinking?”
“Maybe a minute, why?” Her heart started to pick up pace.
Aaron dropped the tray on the foot of the bed and snatched her up. “Get dressed, now.”
He left her standing by the bed to filter through his bag. When he came up with a pistol, she swallowed. “Aaron, you’re scaring me.”
“Someone’s breached my first tripwire. I need to check downstairs. Get dressed and wait for me here.” The sweet, kind expression was gone from his face. Instead she saw the soldier coming out in him, the one that could kill with ease ifneeded. She nodded and he ran downstairs. She hurried to yank on her t-shirt and shorts. The moonlight cast long shadows that seemed to shift and move across the dark room.
The men were back; the ones who tried to have her killed. Fear turned her legs to ice and she wavered as nausea rolled through her stomach. Aaron reappeared in the room and pulled her to the bedside, shoving her down into a crouch. He’d acquired a rifle and an extra pistol, which he checked and then handed over to her. “You remember how to use this?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Just keep your finger off the trigger unless someone makes it past me. If you see someone you don’t recognize, do not hesitate, aim for his chest and empty your gun. Got it?”
“I, I think so. How did they find us?”
“I don’t know. No one knows about this place, not even my teammates. Everything was secure.” Aaron said.
