Page 5 of Rafe’s Future

“No one is.” Rafe’s dark stare slid back to hers as he motioned for her to climb into the van first.

Twenty minutes later, Damien was pulling the van onto the private airstrip’s tarmac. The same jet that had brought them here weeks earlier was the only one in sight. As promised, it appeared ready to go. The only thing missing was Lena and her team.

“I don’t know about any of you”—Damien put the van into park before cutting the engine— “but I’d be perfectly happy to never have to step foot in this country again.”

“I second that.” Sabrina opened the passenger door and got out.

Caleb opened the slider to Lena’s left and hopped out. “I third.”

“Don’t think that’s how you say it, brother.” Damien smirked as he shifted his body out from behind the wheel.

“I don’t know.” She snuck a glance in Rafe’s direction. “It hasn’t been all bad. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get the band back together again someday.”

The intuitive man swung his attention back her way. Their gazes locked, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to vanish.

“You’ll have to take the stage without me, I’m afraid.”

Lena frowned at the tantalizing Brit’s words. “What do you mean?”

“This was my last mission. I’m officially no longer with MI6.”

The unexpected announcement dropped with the same force as the earlier bomb. “You’re leaving the agency? Why? You’re not even thirty years old.”

“It’s not about my age.” His brows dipped. “Or . . . maybe it is.”

“Then what’s this about? You’re one of the best in the biz, and you’ve barely gotten started. Hell, you’ve got at least ten, fifteen more years to work the field while in your prime. Think of all the good we could do in that time, Rafe.”

“We?”

Shit. She had said we, hadn’t she?

“I meant you. Think of the profound difference you could make in this world. The lives you’d save, and the⁠—”

“I am thinking of the good I can do.” Rafe sighed, glancing through the window toward the team making their way to the jet. “Just not here. Not like this.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

He turned his breathtaking smile her way. “I know. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to explain it to you in a way you can understand. Until then, there’s something I need you to do.”

“You’re asking me for a favor?”

“I am.”

She could get lost in his gaze so easily. “What do you need?”

“A promise.” Rafe shifted his body to face hers more directly. “I want you to give me your word that you’ll keep yourself safe.”

Lena chuckled. “That’s sweet, but you and I both know there’s no such thing as truly being safe.”

“Fine. Promise me you’ll be careful, then. No unnecessary risks, yeah?”

“Define unnecessary.”

His lips curved into a slow-growing smile. “I’m going to miss you, Angelina Price.” Rafe reached out and covered her hand with his. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor.”

Her heart kicked hard against her ribs from the electric warmth of his palm. “I’ve enjoyed working with you, too, Rafe. And I hope whatever happens after this, life brings you everything you want.”

A haunted look flashed across his guarded gaze before giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “We should go. Don’t want them taking off without us.”