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It warms my heart and body to hear that he was thinking about our past, too. I press to my toes, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him. “We’ll find that place again, our normal. Even if it has to be on an island somewhere.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I would be happy on an island,” I assure him. “I just need you.”
He leans in and kisses me, a deep stroke of his tongue before he says, “Let’s get out of here, and for informational purposes, the rental has a king-sized bed.”
I laugh. “Does it now?”
A few minutes later, we’ve lined up delivery for our groceries as is quite common in the city, and with my hair under the winter hat, we exit to the street. With our hands still fairly full, compliments of our hotel bags and the security system, not to mention the cake, we don’t share a romantic stroll. We scan for trouble, and I’m pleased this is becoming second nature to me. On arrival, we hurry through the gate of our little rental, and Aaron unlocks the door. The minute it swings open, he drops his bags and reaches for his gun.
I don’t understand this reaction, but I react, too. I drop my bags and reach for my gun. Aaron moves inside the door, dragging me with him while keeping me behind him. There is male laughter, a low rumble of masculine voices. Two men step into our path, no three. Three men step into our path.
Chapter twenty-six
Ashley
“Smith,” I gasp. “How are you here?”
Aaron doesn’t pull his gun. “I arranged to have them meet us,” he surprises me by saying. “Shut the door, Ashley. Lock it.”
I do as he says, confused by this turn of events, and wishing like hell he’d have informed me. A conversation we’ll be having later when we’re alone.
“You didn’t invite us here,” Smith snaps. “We found you.”
“Because we used the Airbnb site and the timing and the couple connection made it obvious,” Aaron replies, while I step next to him. That’s when I find Smith toe-to-toe with Aaron while Adam stands to his right. The third man to his left, a big man with long, raven hair tied at his nape, I know as well. He’s Blake Walker.
“If I didn’t invite you here,” Aaron states, “you’d be dead right now.”
“You think you’re that good, do you?” Smith asks.
“He is,” Blake states. “I read his file. You should have, too.”
Aaron and I both look at Blake, and he offers Aaron his hand. “Blake Walker.”
“He’s one of the founding brothers of Walker,” I inform Aaron. “He’s a good man.”
“I appreciate the fuck out of that, Ashley, considering we left you as a target. And happy as hell Aaron saved you.” He turns his attention back to Aaron. “I’m also the hacker who found you and predicted, based on that file I read on your skills, that you intended for me to.”
“Then you also know that I’m not taking your hand.”
“We brought beer,” Blake comments. “None of that fucking light bullshit either.”
“Did you bring a leash for Smith?” Aaron queries.
“Loyal and protective are good fucking qualities,” Blake comments, obviously loving the word fuck. Aaron does, too, I’ve noticed. This could be a bonding moment. “I think after what you’ve been through, you can appreciate that. Can we sit and talk? I can tell you what I’ve found.”
My hands slide to Aaron’s back, the tension in the muscles there crackles with the readiness in him that I’ve come to realize is perpetually present. I wonder why I didn’t notice this in the past, or rather, why I didn’t name it as I am now. It’s that second before he kills. He’s always one second from a kill. He is what I said he was back in the diner. A killer. I just don’t see this as a problem. He’s my killer. He’s a good guy.
My eyes meet Smith’s and that’s what I tell him. “Imagine the day you fought for what was right and took down a cartel leader but then became a hunted man for that bravery. Imagine the agency that gave you a purpose, allowed you to honor our country, trained you to kill, to do what no one else could do, and then—then they turned on you. They left you with nothing. They told the woman you loved that you were a traitor. The only person you’d ever allowed into your life, since devoting yourself to protecting your country. I know that man and so do you. Smith meet Aaron, the man who has served this country, risked his life over and over. The man who has been stripped of his name and his life, not once but twice. The man I love.”
I stop speaking. Not even a pin drops. Not even a word is spoken. Seconds tick by, and I’m aware of Aaron next to me. He doesn’t look at me while the rest of them watch me, watching him, but he’s aware of me, too. He feels my words, my defense of him. My passion for him, and I know, I know, with every part of me, that no one has ever defended him but me. And I know he needs this. I know he needs me and that matters. I need him, too.
Abruptly, Smith curses, turns away and walks into the other room. I don’t even know what that room is at this point. I haven’t even dared to look around the one I’m standing inside right now.
I focus on Blake. “He’s one of the good guys.”
Blake levels me with a stare. “I believe you.” He looks at Aaron, leveling him with a steady stare now as well. “I believe you.”
