Liam ducked past the first man and pulled Caroline out of the limo. “They each saw me, so we have to take them all. I don't care what you do with the other two—sell them, ransom them, kill them. You know what Mr. J said. No witnesses.”
Chapter 19
Ethan grabbedthe sink and stared at his haggard expression in the mirror. He’d nearly screwed up royally. Seeing her in that dress, feeling the shackles close tight around him, and then the flash of pain and betrayal in Kate's eyes was enough to take him to his knees.
These last couple of weeks of sparring and fighting and the hottest damn sex he'd ever experienced crashed in around him. Ethan turned on the cold water full blast and splashed his face. Now he’d have to wait all night to take her in his arms.
She surprised him, constantly keeping him on his toes. She learned faster than most men he trained, her natural ability for self-defense rising to the point she'd taken him down a few times. And their nights, God their nights had been filled with heat and fire and passion and... Fuck, what was he doing in this damn bathroom staring at himself in the mirror?
He needed to get back to his post and do his job. He could make love to Kate later. After the mission.
Ethan shut the water off and dried his face. He rushed from the bathroom in time to see the door slam behind a pale and shaken Senator Cotter.
“Senator, is everything okay?”
The older gentleman slowly shook his head, his lips twisted into a wry smile that didn't reach his eyes. “One day, when youhave daughters, you'll understand.”
“One day, sir, if I have a daughter, I'm keeping her as far away from the male species as possible.”
Aaron spoke up from his post on the other side of the door, “Amen to that, brother.”
Cotter shook his head and shoved his hands into his pocket. “I thought the same thing too, boys. Keep up the good work and make sure you bring my daughter down on time safe and sound.”
The senator slapped Ethan on the shoulder and strode past them, calling over his shoulder, “You might want to make sure they have some peace and quiet for the next few minutes. They were all in a tizzy when I left.”
Both men answered with a confirmation and the senator left, leaving Ethan to stare at the thick antique white wood blocking him from the woman he loved.
Jesus. Love. He’d never even thought the word before.
Ethan's hands fisted at his sides and it took every ounce of willpower not to barge into the room right this minute and demand to see her.
“Don't do it,” Aaron said, reading Ethan’s mood. “Give them a little time to settle down. Take it from the guy with four sisters. I got to hear part of the Senator’s conversation with his daughter, trust me, you don’t want to go in there until she’s had some time to calm down first.”
Ethan blew out a long sigh and leaned his head against the door, the aching silence that greeted him a reminder that he could have lost her. “I don't know if I can wait.”
Aaron checked his watch. “The senator said you should wait. He must have experienced the full brunt of it, otherwise he wouldn't have run out of there like a scared rabbit.”
TEN minutes later Ethan knocked gently on the door. “Kate?”
No answer. He waited a full thirty seconds before knocking again. “Come on, Kate, I need to talk to you.”
“I think she's more than a little pissed,” Aaron said.
Ethan pressed his ear to the door. He didn't hear a sound, and the unnatural silence put a choke hold of fear on his chest. He rapped hard on the door. “Kate, open up!”
No answer.
Ethan and Aaron drew their weapons at the same time. Muscles tense, Ethan tried the handle, found it unlocked and pushed inside, Aaron sweeping in right beside him, both with their pistols ready.
“Shit.” Ethan ran to the bathroom, knowing it would be empty before he opened the door.
“Command, the little bird flew the coop. Need all available team members to the nest.”
Ethan stormed back into the bedroom and the white gown laid out on the bed stopped him in his tracks. An image of Kate and her broken gaze flashed in his mind.
“I don't see any signs of distress.” Aaron finished sweeping the room.
Everything looked orderly, like they just packed up and left. A gentle breeze blew through the open curtains and Ethan pressed the mic on his shoulder, his common sense rejecting the damning evidence. “Team Alpha, report.”
