“I woke up.” She smiled sadly, her throat working a painful swallow. “I went straight to my computer and pulled up Stanton’s picture. That’s when I knew.”
The pilot maneuvered the team’s private jet toward the large, open hangar to their left before bringing the giant metal bird to a complete stop. Shadow expected Digger to hop up from his seat, but he didn’t. Instead, the surprising man remained in place with a solemn expression crossing over his handsomely rugged face.
“There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered.”
Hope flourished for the first time in what felt like forever.
“But?” she asked, her breath freezing inside her lungs.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you uncover the truth, as long asyoupromise to accept whatever that truth is. Even if it means Michael Stanton isn’t our guy.”
“Oh, he’s our guy, all right. I’d bet my life on it.”
Those deep brown eyes seemed to reach deep as he rumbled a low, “From where I’m sitting, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
That may be true, but…
“You and the others risk your lives all the time in the name of justice. How is this any different?”
“That you even asked that question should tell you everything you need to know.”
“Well, by all means, Dig…please enlighten me.”
The muscles in his strong, chiseled jaw bulged with the clenching of his teeth as his broad shoulders and chest expanded with a slow, deep breath. And when he spoke, it sure seemed as if he were struggling to reign in his frustration.
“For starters, the guys and I don’t go off on our own half-cocked without our teammates backing us up. We also don’t hunt down a target without plenty of hard evidence to justify the actions we take. And unlike you, we’re trained for the shit we do out in the field.”
“How do you know I’m not trained?” She wasn’t, of course. Not like him, anyway. But still, “Until last night, you didn’t even know my first name.”
“Don’t need to know your name to see you’re already in this way over your head. And if I hadn’t shown up when I did, you and I both know we wouldn’t be able to sit here and have this conversation.”
He wasn’t wrong, and she was more thankful for his unexpected visit to her motel room than he’d ever know. But pushing the man’s buttons had always been a favorite past time, so…
“I think I held my own with you pretty well.”
“Was that before or after I pinned you down on the ground? Or did you already forget about that part?”
“Oh, I remember.” Shadow purposely let her gaze lower to the zipper of his jeans before bringing it back up to his overly intense stare. “I’ve been meaning to ask, when you were straddling my hips, was that another gun I felt in your pocket…or were you just happy to?—”
“Shadow…” Her name came out all growly like a warning even as his eyes grew dark with pure male heat.
She parted her lips, fully prepared to come back with some sort of smartassed, witty quip when the jet’s intercom system dinged to life, and her father’s trusted pilot spoke to them from inside the cockpit.
“The engines are off, and it’s safe to exit. Mr. Owens sent a car to take you both straight to Tac-Ops headquarters whenever you’re ready.”
“Looky there.” Shadow grinned, reaching down between her feet to grab her backpack from the carpeted floor. “Guess I was saved by the bell.”
Though Digger looked as though he had plenty more to say, the former SEAL held her gaze a moment longer before pushing himself to his feet. He slid out of the way, waiting not-so-patiently as she stood and followed his lead.
“We’ll finish this conversation later.” The surly man grabbed his own go-bag from the empty seat across from where they’d sat.
“Or not.” She gave a slight shrug. “Personally, I’d much rather focus my time on finding that evidence you so badly need.”
She started to walk past, toward the jet’s curved exit. But the man her father had sent to bring her home apparently had other plans.
“Wait.” Digger put a surprisingly gentle hand on her upper arm.
Shadow schooled her expression, unwilling to reveal just how much the simple touch truly affected her. “Yes?” She pulled the ends of her long hair free from where the strap of her bag had them trapped.
