But underneath all of it, beneath the training and the discipline and the years of controlled violence, a violent monster cracks open.
A fury so deep it doesn’t have a name.
They were going to take her. Sell her. Hunt her.
Over my dead fucking body.
I practically tear the safe house door off of the hinges.
Camile jumps out of the way as I barrel into the hallway bathroom with my gear bag in my fists.
Shower.
Jade.
That order.
I’m not getting close to her reeking of stress sweat. Most of which my body leaked out because of what Mako just told me.
"She’s doing great," Camile calls through the bathroom door as I tear my clothes off.
Two minutes. That’s all I need.
The cold water hits my face, doing nothing to extinguish whatever the hell is burning under my skin.
Soap. Shampoo. Towel.
Barely drying off, I shove my legs into a pair of clean briefs and jeans from my duffel.
I brush my teeth with one hand while I shake out a clean Agile Security & Rescue T-shirt.
Is that a giggle outside the door?
Fucking insanity.Now I’m hearing things.
When I whip the door open the hallway is empty. But I hearher.Laughing softly, that throaty sound she only shared with me once.
I’m addicted. I’m terrified of how possessive and protective I am.
Prowling like a hungry lion, I move through the house. Single minded.
I find them in the living room with the lights low and mugs of cocoa on the coffee table.
Jade is curled in the corner of a couch with a plaid-wool blanket over her lap. Her hair’s down, flowing soft as a river of gold.
My heart nearly exits the top of my head when she looks up and locks eyes with me.
Man down.
"Ryker," she says softly.
Move.
Do something.
Instead, I rub my hand over my open mouth. "You good?" I finally succeed in asking.
Of course I knew she was good. I’ve had constant radio communications with the safe house tonight. But still...
