Page 52 of Rescued

But it was different for them. They were both wolves, and they were both operatives. They were used to this life—they loved it, even.

Breanna didn’t think she could handle it—all the blood and the violence and brutality. Even if Switch was interested. But she already knew he was a lone wolf—he’d made no secret of the fact that he didn’t need or want anyone. Not long-term.

He loved his life—flying helicopters, building electronics, doing missions that helped people. Not getting tied down. He would never be a white-picket-fence kind of guy, and he definitely wasn’t a mansions-and-yachts cocktails-on-the-terrace-in-Rio guy.

It would never work.

So she had to keep her insurance. For the future, when he wasn’t there.

One day, after she’d been at Outlaw Ridge over a month, Switch bounded in from the command center in the middle of the day. “Babe,” he said, grabbing one of the cookies she’d just taken out of the oven. “I think I might have something for you.”

Something on Quentin? Or Kimberly? “Really?” She went to meet him. “What is it?”

“Well, this, for one thing.” He pulled her against him and kissed her, then looked down at her with her favorite lazy ‘that was amazing’ smile that made her feel incredibly special. Then he kissed her again.

She found herself smiling back at him. She could get so, so lost in those blue eyes.

He’d told her that her doe eyes were unstoppable, but his eyes, when they got that warmth in them—they made her want to do anything he asked. Anything that would make him happy.

And that was dangerous. It gave him power over her, even if he didn’t use it. A feeling like that could cause a girl to make stupid decisions.

“Mmm,” she said. “That was a good thing to bring me. I liked it. But I got the impression you were talking about something else?”

His hands were now on her ass. “I think I was, but I forgot what.” He dropped one more kiss on her lips. “Oh! I remember. Important. I found something on Moreno. Something big.”

“Tell me.”

Switch perched on the edge of the table, while Breanna leaned on the counter. “Okay. We know Moreno is way in debt, right? Problems with his legit businesses, and even more with the dark side shit he tried to do to recoup the money.”

She nodded.

“Okay, well, I just found out that he’s taking an even bigger chance, going into more debt to produce his own drugs. And importing weapons and explosives. Rumor has it this is all happening in a previously abandoned manufacturing facility in the northeast. Eastern Pennsylvania, New York state, western Connecticut, maybe even northwest New Jersey. If we can hone in on the location and shipment date, we can catch him in the act. Maybe even with his dirty FBI buddies.”

Breanna didn’t know what to feel. The idea of Quentin being out of the picture made her almost giddy with relief. But then that meant she would leave here. Leave Switch.

You always knew that was going to happen, she told herself. You just have to suck it up.

And she also felt an incredible amount of gratitude towards him. She didn’t know any other man who would have done all this for her, even if she was sleeping with them.

One thing about her had changed: she didn’t take it for granted anymore, all the effort that went into the work these people did. Thanatos might not be doing it for her—she was just a means to an end.

But Switch was.

“Hey,” she said, going over to him and putting her hand on his arm. “I just want you to know, I know how hard you’ve been working to come up with something on Moreno, so you can take him down and I’ll be safe. I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

Switch always said he didn’t blush, but he actually did, when she said something really nice to him that he couldn’t laugh off. He got a little flush over his cheekbones that was even more adorable because he was so tough.

And then he spoiled it. “Yeah,” he said, moving slightly away from her. “Think about it. Maybe just another week or two until we can set up a mission, and then you’ll be able to leave this fucked-up place and go back to your real life. I bet you can’t wait.”

She felt like he’d thrown a bucket of cold water over her head. He’s thinking about you, she told herself. About what you always told him you wanted. And you know this isn’t a long-term thing. You’ve always known it.

But it still hurt, knowing that he could turn his back on her so lightly. That as much as he’d been willing to do for her, it would probably be a relief to him when she was gone, and he didn’t have to look out for her anymore.

“Sure,” she said, not looking at him so he wouldn’t see the hurt. “Can’t wait to meet my orgasmic plumber. He’s probably in some bar right now, looking for love in all the wrong places.”

Just like she was.

Switch sensed her mood anyway, though, and put his hands on her shoulders. “Hey,” he said. “I didn’t mean—”