“You think you need to tell me that?I could set my clock by you, Delgado.All I have to do is find out where she’s gonna be.They’re calling you ‘Rowan’s shadow’ now.”Henderson waved him away.“Go on, you’re due in combat training with your lady love.Go work it out.I’ll see you in briefing in three hours.”
“Briefing for what?”Delgado uncoiled himself and stalked toward the door.
“The next job, what do you think?There’s a Sig installation in Florida we’re going to take a look at.We’ve also got some field testing that needs to be done, and Kate thinks Rowan can help.”
Delgado looked back over his shoulder.“Don’t wreck my reputation, General.”
“Ha.Wild horses won’t drag your little secret out of me, I promise.Get me that workup on the Grollard facility, will you?”
“Ten-four.”Del closed the door to the observation deck and stood for a moment, his hands flexing into fists.
Christ, what have I done?
He’d maneuvered her into wanting to be an operative to give her something to care about, pull her out of that numb grief of hers.Now he was seeing the consequences.Would he be able to protect her?
Then the deeper, mocking voice of his conscience spoke up.What, you thought she wouldn’t ever come out and play as an operative?You thought she’d never reach this point?
The thing was, he hadn’t thought she’d reach this point sofast.She’d thrown herself into being a trainee instead of a neophyte with such fierce determination, it made him a little uneasy.What would happen once she channeled all that energy into fighting Sigma?She was likely to become obsessed.
I’m a fine one to talk about obsession.He set off for the transports.
The transport was empty, since the gallery was at the farthest edge of Headquarters.He leaned against the wall and ran through Rowan’s training in his head, one more time.
Kate said there was nothing more to teach her.Brew let her rack her own gun.Catherine had given her grudging stamp of approval, and Yoshi had a kit all ready for her.And Del?
I don’t want her anywhere near an operation.I don’t want her shot at, or trying to open a door while the Sigs bear down on us, I don’t know how she’ll act under pressure.
Except he did.She would be as clear-eyed and calm as he trained her to be.It was up to him.
“Christ,” he muttered.
When he reached the dojo he was in a fine black mood.Rowan was waiting—or not exactly.She was in the same tank top and a pair of loose black silk pants, sparring.
With Ellis, whose lanky frame was wrapped in a white gi.
Ellis was one of Blake’s surviving team members, one who didn’t need training.He was good in a fight, quick and vicious.Delgado almost wanted to stride across the room, wrench her away and yell,What do you think you’re doing?
Instead, he faded into the shadows by the entrance from the men’s locker room to watch, driving his nails into his palms.
Rowan balanced lightly, weight evenly distributed.Ellis moved in on her, not precisely rushing, but quickly enough that she stepped back, grabbing his wrist and socking her hip into his midriff as he flew, hitting the mat perfectly, bouncing up.
Rowan evidently expected that, because she relaxed, her back to Ellis, a smile on her face.
Then he grabbed her.
Delgado’s heart leapt into his throat.
One strike, two—Rowan’s body moved without thought, stamping on Ellis’s foot, driving her elbow into his midriff until the breathwhooshedout of the tall man.He didn’t let up, though, dragging her backward, and Delgado took a step forward.If she starts to panic?—
She kicked, then went still, luminous eyes flaring.
Ellis dropped her.“Ow!”he yelled, shaking his hand out.She’d bitten him.
Rowan whirled, her knee coming up.He barely fended her off.Then he instinctively threw an elbow—and caught her in the face.
Rowan went down hard, and Delgado was striding across the floor, rage hot under his skin.
Then she leapt to her feet.Blood dripped down her upper lip, she threw four punches in a row, Ellis shuffling back, blocking.But Del could see how much it cost him, how he was scrambling to stay ahead.
