He’d glance at whomever was speaking, then find his way back to her. Most times, she was waiting, her penetrating gaze the hottest distraction. The longer he stared, the more he liked. Her Barbi disguise went beyond the wig or contact lenses. She held herself differently, altered her voice. He appreciated the level of detail she’d worked into her alias. He was relieved she was safe, curious if she’d missed him, and hungry to take her in his arms and love her.
The driver pulled off the main road and into an established Great Falls neighborhood. After a few turns, he drove past a NO TRESPASSING sign and onto a dirt road.
“I remember this place,” Gabriel said.
“It’s the most secure location we have,” Sin replied.
Seconds later, the dirt road became paved, and the driver brought them around a dark, windowless building made bright by the vehicle’s headlights. He stopped in front of an oversized hangar door.
Sin tapped his phone screen, the door began to rise, and the limo pulled forward, parking in the far-left lane.
“Full house,” Evangeline added.
“What’s going on?” Halston asked.
“This is our group’s Black Site and safe house,” Sin explained.
The driver opened the back door. One by one, they exited the vehicle, made their way toward the sliding glass door.
Sin stood in front of the scanner. The light turned yellow. Same for Evangeline. Then, Sin made a call.
“We’re here.”
Seconds later, Sydney came bounding over. Sin and Evangeline moved out of the way so she could see Gabriel and Halston. She broke into a grin, tapped her phone, and the door slid open.
In they went.
Sydney hugged Gabriel. “Monroe called me. She said things got ugly.” Breaking away, she continued. “I’m relieved you’re okay.” A big smile for Halston. “Hi! Welcome to Creepy Secret Zone.” She looped her arm through Halston’s. “Let’s get you something to drink.” She greeted Sin and Evangeline. “Anyone hungry?”
No one was.
Still arm-in-arm with Halston, Sydney led them down the hallway, around a corner, and into a break room. The second Sydney released Halston, Gabriel made his move.
He sidled close, placed his hand on the small of her back. He leaned close, breathed her in, and whispered, “I missed you. Did you miss me?”
Halston’s gaze sent hit after glorious hit of endorphins streaking through him. In those few seconds, all the mayhem and the bloody business between Cosa Nostra and the Bratva faded away. The person hunting him down became a distant memory. Only the loss of Angelo remained.
And Halston. She mattered a great deal to him.
Standing tall, she pressed her mouth to his ear. “Missed you, need you.”
He had his answer.
Sydney thrust bottles of chilled water at them, waggled her eyebrows. “Conference room.”
As they followed like ducklings, Gabriel slowed Halston. When the group vanished around the corner, he wrapped his arm around her tight, pulled her to a stop, and kissed her good. Her growl sent a boost of adrenaline shooting through him as their embrace turned feral. She clawed his back, nibbled his lip. He slipped his hand inside her sweater. They were like two horny teens, and he was turning hard as steel.
She broke away, gasping for air. “Wow, you do it for me. I missed you like crazy, but I wasn’t worried. You’re ruthless and a total boss. Being with you is like flying through the earth’s atmosphere at twenty-five thousand miles per hour. I think I’m going to self-combust, but I keep coming back for more.” She heaved in a huge breath, then smiled.
His heart soared. He was confident she was the one. His lifelong partner. His woman… the mother of his children.
He shot her a smile. “As long as you keep coming back for more, I got you.”
Sydney popped around the corner. “Did you two get lost?”
Halston wiped her wet lips, and Sydney smiled. “We have bedroom suites here in Creepy Secret Zone. If you need to stay, let me know.”
“Grazie, sorellina.”Thank you, baby sister.
