Page 41 of Rafe’s Future

“Ready?”

She nodded, following him toward the building’s entrance. Minutes later, they were in his car and back on the road, heading to a doctor who, as far as the rest of the world was concerned, didn’t even exist.

Three hours later . . .

Rafe stood in his den, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window behind his desk as he sipped bourbon from the glass in his hand. The soft glow of the interior lights above shimmered its way onto a long stretch of grass. Beyond that were dozens of acres of dense trees. A natural barrier of protection.

The property had been purchased with safety and seclusion in mind. For Rafe, it was a haven of sorts. A place to escape from the dangers and realities of his world.

He hoped, at least for tonight, it would offer that same peace to Lena. After the day she’d had, the woman deserved quiet, and doctor’s orders had been to rest.

Rest. Ibuprofen. Ice applied to her neck in ten-to-twenty-minute intervals as needed.

Rafe brought the glass to his lips for another slow sip, welcoming the liquor’s slow, smooth burn. According to the doctor, the damage to her throat was minimal. Minor swelling. Some bruising. A scratchy voice, and a few scrapes from her own nails.

Those seemed to be the worst of Lena’s afflictions, thank God. No broken bones, and she never fully lost consciousness.

It could have been so much worse.

That man could have easily ended her life. If that had been his goal, Rafe’s close proximity wouldn’t have mattered.

She shouldn’t have removed his cuffs.

She also shouldn’t have put herself within the bastard’s reach. His thoughts wandered back to the part he’d played in the well-orchestrated plan. Not his, but the man he’d killed.

It was impressive, to say the least. The way their would-be assassin had moved despite the cuffs holding his legs to that chair. He was highly skilled, which only solidified Rafe’s theory that it had been the perfect setup.

He knew I’d fight to the death to save her.

And that was exactly what Rafe had done. He’d killed a killer to keep someone he cared about alive.

I couldn’t stand there and watch her die.

Rafe turned his back on the window in search of more bourbon as the sound of running water reached his ears. Lena was upstairs, taking a shower in one of the home’s several second-floor, en-suite bathrooms.

If this were a different day, he might allow himself to imagine her naked and wet. It wouldn’t be the first time, but that’s as far as it went. A fantasy that would never come to fruition.

Not tonight, anyway. Rafe was too angry to think about sex.

She could have died today.

The terrifying thought refused to stray far from his mind. He could have lost her forever. Not that she’d ever been his to lose.

When they’d first met years before, the loss of his late wife had been too recent. The pain in his heart too fresh. After the op in Syria, they’d gone their separate ways, their lives taking them each along very different paths. He’d gone back home to be the father his little girl deserved, and Lena had continued fighting the demons of this world.

Years later, here they were. Partners once again. Except partners typically gave each other a courtesy heads-up when planning a reckless stunt like the one Lena had pulled.

The water shut off above him, signaling her shower had come to an end. He swallowed the rest of his drink before making a move toward the bottle. Minutes later, Rafe was standing in that very same spot, lost in various theories as to why she’d done it when he heard the rasp of her damaged voice.

“Hey.”

With a blink, he looked up to find Lena standing in the opened doorway. Even from across the room, her natural beauty was easily seen.

Her brown hair was damp, her face freshly washed, and she was wearing a set of baby blue pajamas. The satin pants and button-down top shimmered beneath the lights as she cautiously entered the room.

“Hey.” Rafe gave a slight dip of his chin. “How are you feeling?”

Lena’s shoulder lifted with a casual shrug. “Sore throat and sore muscles. But that’s to be expected, I suppose.” Her rosy lips curved. “Especially at my age.”