Cade turned to look at the general and curled his lip. “What are you doing here, Grim?”
“Is that any way for you to greet your employer?” Grimaldi asked.
“Formeremployer,” Rafe clarified.
“And possiblefutureemployer,” Grimaldi replied.
“I knew you wanted something,” Cade said. “You never find us to inquire about our health. My leg is mostly healed now, by the by.”
Grimaldi tilted his head to the side. “Glad to hear it.”
“I bet you are,” Cade scoffed.
Grimaldi shrugged. “You are two of my best. Is it my fault if I need your help?”
“Spit it out, Grim. What do you need us to do?” Rafe tipped up the brim of his hat.
A wide smile spread across Grimaldi’s face. “At the moment, I merely need you to board your ship and meet my other two best agents.”
Cade’s throat closed. He clutched his cane so tightly his knuckles turned white. Two months ago, Danielle would have been one of Grim’s other best agents.
Cade led the way across the gangplank, anger making his strides long and aggressive, despite the lingering pain in his leg. “Why in the hell you’ve helped yourself to my ship, Grim, I’ll never know,” he tossed back over his shoulder as he walked.
Rafe and Grimaldi followed him. The three made their way across the main deck and down the steps to the captain’s cabin.
Just as Cade pushed open the door, Grimaldi said, “My apologies. I thought perhaps the woman for whom the ship was named would be welcome on it.”
Cade stopped. All the air in the room had been sucked away. Standing across the cabin, directly in front of him was Danielle. She wore a bright blue day dress that matched her gorgeous eyes, her hair was pulled back in a chignon, and she had a look of supreme uncertainty on her face.
Daphne was there, too, standing in the corner, but Cade barely noticed her.
“What…? What are you doing here?” he breathed, staring at Danielle.
Danielle moved around the table and came to him, a wide smile on her face. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” She threaded her arms through both Cade’s and Rafe’s. “In the last year I must have participated in half a dozen missions, but the one with you two was by far my favorite.”
Cade continued to stare at her as if she wasn’t real. She was touching him, actually touching him. He could smell her familiar orchid perfume, but still he couldn’t believe it. He glanced at his brother. Rafe looked nothing other than thoroughly amused and simultaneously surprised.
“What are you doing here?” Cade asked, searching Danielle’s heartbreakingly lovely face. She looked as if she’d gained a bit of weight since he’d last seen her. It agreed with her. “You died.”
Danielle looked up at him through her dark lashes. “I didn’t die.”
“But you can’t swim,” Cade breathed.
“I never said I couldn’t swim. I said Ididn’tswim. I told you. I’ve been on ships since I was thirteen.”
“But there was so much blood.”
“Bastard got a good clean shot right through my shoulder,” Danielle replied. “Hurt like hell but it’s healed nicely.”
A storm cloud gathered on Cade’s face. “Why didn’t you come back?”
“I had no choice.” She gave Grimaldi an accusing stare. “Care to explain, General?”
“My orders,” Grimaldi replied. “She couldn’t tell you she was alive. Until today.”
Cade turned toward Grimaldi and lunged at him across the table. The man must have been expecting it because he stepped back quickly while Rafe held Cade at bay.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Cade shouted through clenched teeth.
