NORA
“What the fuck is he doing?”
I peer through my scope, keeping an eye on the man working for the Skulls.
He’s a big guy, dressed in black, wearing a skullcap, the same as the rest of the men. He doesn’t move as fluidly as some, but he’s clearly had training.
Somehow, he gets separated from the rest of the men on his team. When I see what’s happening, I sling my rifle over my shoulder and descend the hill to find a better vantage point.I’m not sure why, but something is pushing me to make sure he’s okay.
I find a good spot and set up my rifle. Steadying my breathing, I peer through the scope. Whoever he is, he’s boxed—pinned down behind a low-level garden wall. I already know where the Skull’s sniper is positioned, and there is no chance he’ll be able to help his teammate.
I draw in another breath and release it slowly as I fire, dropping one guard, then the other, who had him pinned. Once I’m sure my guy is in the clear, I pick up my rifle and head down the steep hill towards the house.
Picking my way through the carnage from the bomb, I inch toward the front of the house and the man who caught my attention. I ease into the shadows at the corner of the house, watching as he checks on the dogs but completely ignores the fallen men.
From the corner of my eye, I see one of the guards move.
“Fuck, no,” I mutter. “You’re not killing him when I just saved his arse.”
I pull my handgun from my holster and hurry towards them, catching a glimpse of acceptance in my guy’s eyes. He thinks this is it, his time to die.
Well, not on my watch.
Taking aim, I fire, hitting the guard in the centre of his forehead. He drops like a stone. I don’t have to check to know he’s dead.
I turn my attention to the man who, for reasons I don’t fully understand, has held my focus from the moment I first saw him. Anger surges through me at his complete lack of awareness—at how casually he gambled with his life and the danger he put himself in.
“Seriously, dude, what the fuck was that? That’s the second time I’ve saved your arse tonight.”
He’s much taller than me, good-looking, with a black, neatly trimmed beard. Heat flares in his eyes as they settle on me, sending a shiver of awareness down my spine.
He smiles. “Hi.”
Hi? That’s it? What the bloody hell is wrong with him? He doesn’t seem at all concerned that he nearly had his head blown off. I’m starting to question his intelligence.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, dude, what the fuck?” I demand. “You checked the dogs, but not the guards?”
“You’re right. I fucked up. I should’ve checked them. Thanks for saving my life.”
Surprise rushes through me before I school my features. I expected him to go on thedefensive, but his easy acceptance takes the wind right out of my sails.
Colour me shocked. Surprise rushes through me. “You need a keeper,” I mutter, checking my weapon out of habit—I always count my rounds as I fire. Better to stay careful. “Where are the Skulls?” I ask, still scanning the area.
Bee’s familiar voice crackles through the comm in his ear, and I almost shake my head. How he’s able to ignore her is beyond me.
“You should answer Bee. I can hear her from here.”
He grins as he reassures Bee he’s okay, his gaze never leaving mine. I want to bean him. We’re in the middle of an op, and he seems more interested in staring at me than watching our surroundings. The man seriously needs a keeper, and it looks like I’m it.
I wonder if I’ve heard him right when he says something to Bee about me being an “oldlady.” Cheeky bastard. I’m pretty sure we’re around the same age.
I glare at him. “Did you just call meold?”
His grin widens, and his piercing green eyes hold me captive. “No, ma’am, I did not.”
His voice is low and rough, gravelly enough to send another shiver down my spine. Jesus, the man is too handsome for his own good, and the unexpected flutter of desire in my belly catches me off guard.
“Bee says hi, and Ramzi is on his way,” he adds.
