Jonah’s team trudged into the grounds of the base and collapsed on the green grass, tugging helmets off and laying rifles down beside them. They gasped for breath, the wild flight across town to their pickup, pushing them all to their limits.
His eyes scanned the group before him.
They were going to be injected with the Serum J—a neuro-exciting chemical. Previously for military use only, it lowered the resistance of those injected, ensuring they answered truthfully and fully during questioning. He’d seen it in action. And the after-effects.
Grim determination filled him. He’d save them all if he could. “Someone here is a traitor.”
He spoke carefully, eyeing the team, looking for a hint. Someone who paled, sweated, or couldn’t hide the truth from him.
They stared back at him. “What do you mean, sir? We’re all loyal,” a young woman near him called out, and he turned.
Click.
He knew that sound—a small, handheld revolver.
Jonah turned slowly around.
The oldest of his crew, one he’d worked with previously, shook his head. “Well, I doubt I’ll survive, but taking you out will damage them even further than blowing up your office. The funny thing is, I wanted to kill you then, but they said no. We needed to know just how good you are. We needed to know what LV-1 said. We needed to keep tabs on the others. She’s the only one who broke, wasn’t she?” He gloated. “Your people will kill me once I drill you. I’ll be a martyr, but you’ll still be dead.”
The crack of a gunshot echoed. The man’s eyes opened wide. “What did you do?” He crumpled, landing on his knees, gaze still on Jonah who watched mesmerized. It hadn’t been him.
Glancing up, his gaze rested on a woman, blonde hair hanging down, the perfect foil for her black fitted pants and shirt. Daniella.
“You killed me.” The man pitched forward, landing in a heap. He bent down, rolled him over, eyes staring sightlessly ahead. Dead.
Daniella ran over and flung herself into Jonah’s arms, the hot metal bouncing over her shoulder. “He didn’t shoot you, did he?”
She patted and rubbed furiously while he pushed her back. “No. But he had information.”
“McNally and Maylin will find it.” She kissed him furiously as his people dropped back down to the ground chuckling.
“You’re going to have to marry me now.” He cleared his throat as she tugged back and grinned. “Can’t do something like this without ruining a soldier’s reputation.”
Daniella cocked her head like she was trying to read him. Then her smile turned sly, eyes narrowing, and he wondered what she was up to. “Then maybe you should ask me, soldier. After all, a girl needs a little romance, even in the middle of a war.”
The woman who’d spoken up chuckled. “You tell him, sister. I mean, senator.”
Jonah turned, eyed the young female soldier before him, and she returned his stare with a thumbs-up gesture. He took a second to compose himself, inhaling deeply and seeking the inner calmness. The level he usually embraced.
It wasn’t the way he’d planned to propose.
She deserved flowers and dancing—an excellent meal with good music.
She should have a night to remember.
Instead, he could give her this—a moment of green in a dark and chaotic world.
Jonah turned and dropped to one knee. Her eyes widened as he reached for her hand. “I’d do anything you wanted and more. Daniella, senator and the woman I adore. Marry me. Live with me forever. Please?”
She stared at him.
Sweat poured down his back.
She waited, the corner of her mouth rising.
She’s going to say no.
With a shake of her head—his brain nearly exploded—Daniella dropped to her knees, took both cheeks in her warm hands, and leaned close enough that her lips brushed against his. “Yes, Jonah. I will marry you.”
The kiss blew all the fears that had built up within him away. Warmth flushed through, and he slammed his arms around her, only realizing at her oomph that maybe it was a bit hard. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“Kiss me, soldier.”
He did.
Thoroughly.