Slade opened his mouth, ready to finish the point he’d been trying to make. But something strong and determined reached up from his heart and stopped him before he could lie.
Holy shit. I love her.
The realization nearly caused him to lose his footing right there in the hall. Sure his feelings for the maddening beauty were growing stronger, but love? He’d never been in love with a woman in his entire life.
Just because it’s never happened before doesn’t mean it never will.
The four-man team got onto the elevator and began their descent from the fifth floor to the first. Slade didn’t speak the entire ride down to the lobby. He refrained from uttering a single word as they walked half-a-block to where the team’s SUV was parked.
As he and the others began the ten-minute drive to Andrew Reiner’s home, Slade’s mind became filled with thoughts of Shadow and what Bones had said.
She needs to know how you really feel.
Fear raced through his veins at the thought of putting himself into such a vulnerable position. Then again, Slade had never been one to let fear stop him from doing the right thing.
I’ll tell her the truth the first chance I get. Just as soon as I get done beating Andrew Reiner’s ass.
CHAPTER13
Shadow stood on the balcony,arms crossed and hair blowing in the breeze. She looked out over the city below.
Buildings, short and tall. Construction crews and cranes. Cars driving this way and that, their owners oblivious to the trail of violence a United States senator had brought to their city.
Oh, the exploding SUV had made the news. Of that, she was certain. But thanks to her father’s influence and political connections—as well as her expert computer hacking skills—her face and name, the team’s, and her father’s company would not be mentioned on TV, social media, or anywhere else.
Rafe Owens is nothing if not thorough.
Shadow sighed, her mind recounting all she’d done to help with the cause.
For starters, once she’d downloaded the hospital security footage to use for her facial rec software, she’d uploaded an irreversible virus into the files to prevent anyone else from gaining access after the fact. After that, it was a matter of giving the program time to do its thing until they got a positive ID on Reiner.
She sucked in a breath as memories of how she’d spent that time rolled over her in waves. Sex with Slade had been…she didn’t even have the words for what it was.
Amazing. Incredible. Mind-blowing. Unforgettable.
In bed. The shower. Both times had been all those things and more. Shadow had a feeling it didn’t matter how many times she slept with the former SEAL. The truth was, she’d never get her fill.
But then he’d left her behind, cutting her out of the most important fight of her life. And she was stuck here, being babysat by her father with nothing to do but wait.
“You do know he’s only trying to protect you.”
Shadow looked to her left as her father came to a stop at her side. His gaze scanned the city below.
“I should be with them.”
“You are exactly where you need to be.”
“Bullshit.” She turned to fully face him. “I need to be out there, Dad. I wanted to be the one looking into Andrew Reiner’s beady eyes when he admits Stanton hired him to kill me. I’ve earned that much, don’t you think?”
“It’s not about what you’ve earned, sweetheart.” Her father brought his intelligent stare to hers. “It’s about making sure those bastards don’t get another chance to hurt you.”
“Are you saying you don’t trust the team’s abilities to keep me safe?”
Emotion filled the powerful man’s gaze. “I trust those four men with my life and yours. But you’re not just Tac Ops’ overwatch. You’re my daughter. My flesh and blood. And you’re the only family I have left. So no.” He gave a shake of his head. “When it comes to you and your safety, I’m not sure I trust anyone completely.”
“Not even Slade?” she challenged, knowing full well he wouldn’t have locked her away in a cabin in the wood with the man if he didn’t trust him.
“Mr. Garrison is the team leader,” her father countered. “It only makes sense that he would be the one I’d ask to serve as your bodyguard.”
