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Brandon glanced over at Jaia, who was asleep in the passenger seat as he pulled into the driveway of the cottage he’d rented them for the night on the coast of Washington State. He was worried about her.
She hadn’t come inside Andy’s place, but she’d definitely seen his body. Though she hadn’t said anything, it had definitely shaken her. She didn’t pull people from mangled wrecks for a living or see violence on the battlefield like he did.
She woke when he turned the car off, blinked sleepily as she looked around. “We’re here already?”
“There was no traffic.”
She put a hand to the back of her neck. Winced. “How long was I asleep?”
“Not long. Maybe twenty minutes. Wait here while I check everything out.”
He got out and walked around the cottage, the sound of the waves filling the air as he looked for anything suspicious. No one should know they were here.
He’d used Travis’s credit card number to reserve the place in case anyone was monitoring Brandon’s cards, but still, he had to make sure it was safe. And a small part of him was worried that Travis or Kerrigan were being monitored as well.
The one-bedroom cottage was right on the road running parallel to the beach, with neighbors on each side, and more behind it. He’d chosen it specifically because of its location in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
More potential witnesses meant it was less likely anyone hunting them would try to target them here. Although they had chased her in the middle of downtown Portland in broad daylight, so anything could happen.
He unlocked the back door and stepped inside, checking all four rooms and pulling the curtains shut in each. Satisfied, he returned to the car and opened Jaia’s door. “Come on in. I’ll grab the groceries.”
Inside, he locked the door behind them and started unloading the bag of groceries onto the kitchen counter. “I’ll do that,” Jaia said quickly, coming over to take it from him. “You go ahead and call Travis, so he and your sister don’t worry.”
She’d seen a murder victim, they were in hiding from highly trained assassins, and she still was thinking about him and his family. Her thoughtfulness and consideration of others was something else he liked about her a lot.
“You sure?” At her nod, he went into the bedroom to call Travis and update him, using a burner phone to make it harder to track him.
He’d already alerted Noah when they’d left the marina. His FBI contact would no doubt be calling Brandon anytime now. “We’re in the rental for the night. Not sure where we’ll go after this, but I wanted to let you guys know we’re okay.”
“This is insane.” Frustration vibrated in Travis’s voice. “Are you guys any closer to figuring out what’s going on? Or who’s behind the cover-up?”
“Not really.” He wasn’t going to say much. He absolutely trusted Travis with his life, but he wasn’t going to put his friend in a compromising position by telling him potentially dangerous information. “We’re still working on it, but Jaia got some files that back certain things up.”
Things the company and anyone else trying to keep it buried would be desperate to smother. Things that would hopefully help connect the CEO enough to the events in Yemen to secure a conviction in court.
“Aside from that, nothing concrete yet,” he finished.
“And what about the Feds? Don’t they have any leads?”
“Not that they’re telling us. We’re still in limbo.”
He sighed. “Well, at least you’re both okay. You need anything?”
“No, we’re okay for now. But thanks. You’ll fill Ker in for me?” He was exhausted and didn’t have the mental energy to go through all this with his sister right now.
“Yeah, but you’d better talk to her yourself soon or you’ll be on her shit list.”
He cracked a grin. “I will. Later, brother.”
He returned to the kitchen and paused in the doorway when he saw Jaia standing poised in front of the sink. Her hands were braced on the edge of the counter, eyes closed and her expression peaceful.
“I love that sound,” she murmured.
“The waves?”
“Mmm. It’s wild and magical and soothing all at once.” She opened her eyes, looked over at him, those dark, liquid eyes ensnaring him.
Her delicate appearance was deceiving. There was such strength inside her. So much heart and determination. It was an incredibly desirable combination.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
“Everything’s fine.” As fine as they were going to get for the time being.
He stemmed the urge to reach out and run his fingers through the ends of her hair. To push it aside and lean in to kiss the silken curve of her neck. “Do you like the water?”
“Looking at it. Not going in it.”
“Not a swimming fan then?”
“Not a swimmer period. I fell in a pond when I was young, back in India. If Sukhi hadn’t been there to pull me out, I would have drowned. I took some lessons after that, but I was too scared of the water and only managed a doggy paddle.” She tilted her head, her dark eyes full of curiosity as they flicked over his upper body. “I’ll bet you’re amazing in the water.”
That unmistakable appreciative gleam made desire coil low in his belly. “Not as good as some, but I can hold my own. My training made sure of that.”
She shook her head almost wistfully, a little smile tugging at her lips. “After I heard about your story, I read up on Pararescue. You guys are pretty much medic superheroes.”
He chuckled. “I’m guessing that means you read up on Superman school.”
“I did. And I was impressed.”
“I’m impressed with you too.”
She gave him a startled look. “Me? Why?”
Was it so surprising? “Because not many civilians would have handled all this half as well as you.” Maybe she was hiding her turmoil from him. “But I’m still going to ask you anyway...” Staring into those dark, fathomless eyes, it was impossible not to touch her.
He reached out, gently brushed her hair away from her face with the edge of his hand. “Are you okay?”
She went completely still, and he didn’t miss the way her pupils dilated as her gaze dipped to his mouth. But her answering half-smile was so sad, something hitched in his chest. “What’s okay?” she said with a little shrug, as if it didn’t matter how she felt.
It did to him.
In that moment he lost the fight with himself. He placed a hand between her shoulder blades and drew her to him, unable to stem the urge to comfort and protect her.
Something eased inside him when she cuddled into him with a sigh, looping her arms around his waist as she rested her cheek against his chest.
He buried his nose in her hair and took a deep breath, drew his fingers through her thick hair. “I wish I could make this all go away,” he murmured. The need to take care of her burned inside him. Anyone wanting to hurt her would have to get through him first.
“We will when we expose the people behind all this.”
We. God, he loved her quiet determination. He couldn’t believe that just a few short days ago he’d been suspicious of her.
“It was my fault,” she said softly.
“What was?”
“Sukhi. I was the one who convinced him he should apply at Graystone. Back then I thought it was an amazing opportunity for both of us. The pay was good, and so were the benefits. I kept pushing until he gave in.” She drew an unsteady breath. “And he was killed because of it.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”
“Maybe I should have.” The pain in her voice twisted something inside him.
Dropping his guard a little more, he tightened his hold and kissed the top of her head. She tipped her face up. Her gaze stopped at his mouth for a moment, then locked with his.
An invisible current flashed between them. A wave of heat tore through him, its force taking him completely off guard. She was so damn soft and sexy, and the way she gazed up at him with those big brown eyes, silent yearning written there...
His hand tightened slightly in her hair, the urge to claim those tempting lips testing the limits of his control. But if he crossed that line, he wasn’t sure he would be able to stop. And anything physical between them right now was just going to complicate things.
He forced himself to release her and stepped back, his entire body howling in protest, strung taut as a trip wire. “Can I take another look at that list of names you put together?” It came out deep and gravelly, the stunning surge of desire still pulsing through his veins.
Something like disappointment flitted across her face, but she nodded. “Of course.”
She took out her laptop and set it on the kitchen table to set it up. He took the seat next to her, every single sense heightened, attuned to her nearness, her scent. Imagining the feel of her lips parting beneath his for the stroke of his tongue, her soft curves melding to his body and her arms winding around his neck.
Fuck. He needed to keep a clear head.
“Here,” she said, turning the screen toward him a bit.
She had arranged and cross-referenced everything to make it easily searchable in the program. Everything he’d seen of her work so far convinced him that she was an organizational dynamo. “I’ll bet you’re an unbelievable executive assistant.”
“I hope so, because I’m expensive.” There was the hint of a smile in her voice.
“What’s your background?”
“Business admin.”
She was efficient, organized and detail oriented, with a quick mind and a calm temperament. What she’d compiled by herself and the risks she’d taken to do so, was impressive.
“There’s Andy,” he said, indicating the dead man’s name in the alphabetized list. “And Callum.” Every name on the list was someone who had worked for Graystone for the three years of its existence.
“And here,” she murmured, reaching over to type some commands in, “is everyone who was deployed to Yemen, along with the dates they were there.”
She hit enter and the screen changed, the list now broken up into color-coded segments listing the different names and dates. Callum and Andy were both on the Yemen list. Andy’s time there coincided with the January 17th incident in Aden. “When was your brother’s accident?”
“January twenty-first.”
Yeah, it didn’t bode well that he’d died so soon after his unit had been accused of crimes against civilians.
“What we’re missing is a statement from someone who was there, corroborating the evidence in the files I found.”
Stole. And good for her for having the balls to do it. “Where do you want to go from here?” he asked her.
She studied the screen for another few moments, then met his gaze. “Honestly? I think we’ve done as much as we can by ourselves. Much as I don’t like or feel comfortable with the idea, after what happened to Andy today...it might be time to roll the dice and pick someone else in a position of authority to trust with all of this.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right, and I don’t love it either.” He exhaled, mentally running through their options. Without knowing exactly who was involved or how far up the chain this cover-up went, it was hard to know who they could trust. “The FBI’s a huge organization. And once they hear about Andy and us being there, they’re going to want to bring us in anyway. Maybe we start there.”
An agent had already tried calling him several times on their way here from Seattle. He’d left a message for Brandon to call him ASAP, but he’d been holding off until they had a chance to discuss their next move.
“Maybe,” she agreed, her expression wary. “Can we sleep on it?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” They were both running on fumes at this point. “I’ll call the agent in the morning.”
He stood and crossed to the hall closet. Finding a blanket and a pillow inside, he walked over to the sofa and set them on it.
It was only a love seat. Spending the night folded in half on it wasn’t going to be exactly comfortable, but it was a hell of a lot better than a lot of places where he’d had to bed down over his years in the military.
“What are you doing?” Jaia asked from the table.
“I’m going to crash here. You can have the bedroom.” She needed a decent night’s sleep, and privacy.
“I’d much rather you slept next to me.”
He looked over at her, another pulse of desire shooting through him at the thought of getting horizontal with her. Even if they were both clothed. Not a good idea. “Why?”
“Because I’ll feel safer, for one. And...less alone,” she finished.
The first part triggered every protective urge in him. The second made his muscles bunch with the need to close the distance between them right now, pick her up and carry her to the bed so he could pin her to it and make her desperate for him to be buried inside her.
Really not a good idea.
He should say no. He meant to. But that soft, unguarded vulnerability in her eyes, the echo of those same needs inside him, made refusing impossible.
It would also be better if they were in the same room if the house was breached, and he was so damn tired he wasn’t worried about having a nightmare in front of her. “Okay.”
She used the bathroom first, emerging with a cloud of steam and damp hair ten minutes later. He took his turn next, brushing his teeth and washing his face.
After checking the cottage one last time to ensure all the locks were in place, he entered the bedroom to find her already under the covers, lying on her side facing the door. She was still dressed, which was both a disappointment and a relief.
Closing the door behind him, he went to the far side of the bed, placed his weapon on the bedside table and climbed in, covering himself with just the duvet. She rolled to face him, her face barely visible in the dimness as his eyes adjusted to the relative darkness. “Thank you.”
“No worries.” Hell, she didn’t have to thank him for this. He was glad to be next to her in the darkness, and that he made her feel safer. But her presence soothed him on an elemental level in return.
She turned back over and scooted toward him. He stiffened—all over—as her hips and ass snuggled into his groin. Stifling a groan, he was powerless to stop from wrapping an arm around her to hold her close. They both needed this.
Within moments, the pressure of her ass pressed to his groin had predictable results. Most of the blood circulating in his brain rushed straight between his legs. He didn’t dare move, not wanting to draw attention to it.
There was no way she could miss it, but she didn’t say anything and didn’t pull away. He closed his eyes and took a slow breath, forcing himself to think about anything except the way she felt.
Her hand came up to cradle the back of his, her touch soothing. “I’m glad you listened to me when I called you that first time,” she said softly.
“Me too.” It was damn hard to concentrate with his cock this hard, and the tempting curve of her breasts just inches from his hand. “There’s something about your voice though.”
“What do you mean?”
“I love the sound of it. It’s soothing.” He allowed himself to nuzzle her damp hair slightly, his mind busy conjuring up all the things he would love to do to her right now.
Like rolling her to her back and stretching out on top of her, kissing her and rocking against her until she was twisting and gasping beneath him before stripping her completely and exploring every delectable inch of her body with his hands and mouth.
“Hmmm.” The soft, sultry sound slid across his nerve endings like a silken caress, making the ache in his cock twice as intense.
He wondered if she would make that same sound if he set his mouth against the side of her neck right now and trailed his fingers over the curve of her breast. Wondered what sounds she would make when he sucked at her tight nipples, and when his tongue found the sensitive bud between her thighs.
But as he lay there getting more and more turned on, her weight sank into him harder as the seconds passed. Her breathing deepened. And with a stab of disappointment, he realized she was already drifting off to sleep.
Telling himself it was for the best, he forced all the erotic images of them together out of his mind and let himself follow her.
Only to slide right into hell.
