Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
5
Draden and Shylah approached the little hut that Agus Orucov and the Williams brothers had used while they were in the forest. The position of the small hut was perfect: It was set in a little clearing surrounded by trees, but the trees were far enough from the structure to allow for uninterrupted satellite access.
He wasn’t too worried that the MSS would find them—he was certain the terrorists would stay close to the river—but he wasn’t going to take chances. He’d already allowed Shylah to tie her fate irrevocably to his. He was crouched low in the brush, studying the hut, perfectly still, every muscle locked in place. He could have approached using the slow-motion movements of the leopard, but instead, he lifted his hand and touched his lips with his fingers.
He glanced to his side where his little peony was right there with him. She lay stretched out in the dirt, her gaze fixed intently on the hut. She had perfect lips. They were naturally pink and full, and she had a habit of making a little moue with them, which he loved. Now he’d tasted her. The best thing he’d ever tasted in his life was homemade strawberry lemonade from the bayou. She had the faint taste of sass and sweet. Lethal and homey. The combination was deadly to a man like him.
Will you stop? There was a faint hint of laughter, but mostly exasperated embarrassment.
You kissed me, gave me that obsession. Now you’re just going to have to live with the consequences. That’s the way it works. You always have to pay the piper. You’ve got yourself a bona fide stalker.
She gave the mental equivalent of a sniff. I was the one doing the kissing. I think I turned the tables on you.
She had. It had been the last thing he’d expected from her. She was a little quirky, but very focused when she was onto something. She was also way out of his league. Classy. Beautiful. Smart. Funny. Every trait he could ever want, yet stubborn as hell. She wasn’t going to accept leadership or …
Call it what it is, handsome. It’s dictatorship. I get that from Whitney and pay him the least amount of attention possible. I’m not going to rely on someone else when I have perfectly good judgment.
It didn’t show good judgment to kiss me when I’m infected with a hemorrhagic virus.
Her amusement slipped into his mind and wrapped around his heart. Occasionally I have lapses, and you have to admit, you’re pretty irresistible.
He had an urgent desire to kiss her again. This kiss wouldn’t be so damned sweet either. He held himself in check.
Whitney must love having you. You’ve got to be an enormous asset to him.
The humor faded from her mind. There’s no pleasing Whitney, and after a while I gave up trying. I truly don’t care that he thinks I’m flawed. I sometimes get so focused that I can’t see or hear what’s going on around me. That drives him insane because no soldier can survive that way.
Yet he sends you out alone on one of the most dangerous assignments imaginable.
She gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. I’m good at what I do, and I like the freedom of working alone. Whitney treated Zara the worst. I hope whoever she ends up with loves her like crazy.
He does. Gino can’t breathe without that woman. He looks at her like the sun rises with her. He hadn’t understood that look until he was in Shylah’s mind. He liked just looking at her. She had the kind of face that lit up when she was happy or excited. Her frown was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. And those freckles … He could spend a lifetime kissing every one of them.
Stop, crazy man.
The laughter in her voice teased at every one of his senses.
I’m so glad she’s found someone like that, she added. Tell me about him. Will he take care of her? Will he see how special she is? She needs a family, Draden. She’s so brilliant, but she wasn’t cut out for this way of life. Whitney despised her for that, even though she kept him well ahead of everyone else. She’s the best industrial spy ever created.
Gino watches over her and is quite willing to put himself on the line for her, against anyone. She was sent to China and Cheng caught her and tortured her. She never broke. Never gave up the GhostWalkers. There was admiration in his voice because it was impossible not to admire Zara. Gino’s building her a research center along with the house they both want. He plans to travel with her if she speaks anywhere. Otherwise, she’ll be staying home, protected by Gino and our team.
He understands her?
I believe he does. She looks to him often in uncomfortable situations and he immediately takes the weight off her shoulders. He’s that kind of man, and I think it’s what she needs and wants.