And it focused on getting back—reclaiming—the woman he’d lost before.
But, hell, yeah, he was also going to lock away Kurt Wellington. The prick didn’t get to threaten Delaney, hurt Delaney, and escape into the night.
Nash believed in multitasking. This time, he was determined to get the woman and lock away the sadistic criminal mastermind. Really, was that too much to ask? He didn’t think so.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Jezebel praised. “Because you may be called upon to make some tough choices in the coming days. You have to remember, above all else, you are CIA. It’s not just about protecting one person. We have global work that must be accomplished.”
Not just about protecting one person.
Ah, Jezebel should really know him better than that. Because when it came to one person in particular…There is nothing I will not do for her. No risk I will not take. But he smiled at Jezebel. “You can count on me, boss.”
She grimaced. “I feel like I should be alarmed.”
Yeah, you probably should be.
“But let’s get this case rolling, shall we?” A determined squaring of her shoulders. “Time is rushing past, and we have a sadistic criminal that we need to catch. So let’s start implementing our trap.”
In other words, let the games begin.
The door to the small study opened. Delaney’s gaze had been locked on that door for the last—oh, ten minutes? Fifteen? And when she saw Nash fill the doorway, relief flooded through her.
“Everyone but Delaney—get out,” Nash ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. “Jez has instructions for you all.” He entered the room, stepped to the side, and jerked his hand toward the door.
They filed out. The two guards who’d come with Jezebel—uh, guards or agents—didn’t even spare Delaney a second glance. But Ryan did. He’d come in moments before, looking extra tense and broody.
A broody Ryan worried her.
Ryan’s watchful stare raked her. “Remember what I told you.”
Yes, she would remember. They’d just had a very fast and heated conversation. She tried to give him a reassuring smile. In response to that smile, he locked his jaw. But he walked out, too, and Ryan pulled the door shut after himself.
So that left her alone with Nash. Alone with a Nash who—like Ryan—seemed extra tense. Nash also appeared even more grim and dangerous than before. A heavy silence filled the space. Nerves crashed through her body, and she waited for him to say?—
“Marry me.”
Oh, but those were words that she’d once dreamed that he would say to her. How many times had she hoped for those words? Unfortunately…“No.”
Shock flashed on his face.
“I’m going to marry your brother,” she mumbled.
And Nash’s shock was replaced with rage.
Chapter Ten
I’m going to marry your brother.
Her words echoed in his head. No, no, she was not.
“It’s really the better choice,” Delaney added, sounding miserable as she twisted her hands in front of her body. “Ryan explained the situation to me, and you are needed more in Berlin, and he said you didn’t want to be forced to stay with me, so, you’re not. You can leave. You are free to hop on a plane to Berlin and forget all about me. You’ve already done more than enough.”
He spun on his heel. Yanked open the door. “Ryan.”
His brother rushed toward him.
And Nash clocked him with a punch in the jaw. Just like that, his brother was on his ass. “Stop trying to help.” Nash slammed the door. He whirled back for Delaney.
Her lovely mouth was hanging open.
